aboriginals & residential schooling
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Aboriginals & Residential Schooling. Aboriginals in the 1920’s & 30’s. For Aboriginals, the 20’s were not the prosperous time that they were for many other Canadians 1920- residential schooling became mandatory 1925- many cultural ceremonies such as Pow -wow’s and Sun Dance’s were banned. - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
Aboriginals & Residential Schooling
For Aboriginals, the 20’s were not the prosperous time that they were for many other Canadians
1920- residential schooling became mandatory
1925- many cultural ceremonies such as Pow-wow’s and Sun Dance’s were banned
Aboriginals in the 1920’s & 30’s
I927- Indian act forbade First Nations people from forming political organizations to represent their interests
By the 1930’s there were 74 residential schools nationwide
Aboriginals in the 1920’s & 30’s
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s_V4d7sXoqU
“A New Future”
1892 the department of Indian affairs established the residential schooling system in collaboration with the Roman Catholic church
A result of Euro-Canadians seeking greater control
Became boarding schools under Nicolas Davin’s claim that “the influence of the wigwam was stronger than that of school”
History
Forced to conform with European traditionsTaught basic skills such as reading, writing, and mathBoys and girls were separated upon means of
different instructionSiblings were intentionally separated in efforts
to weaken family ties
Life in a Residential School
Students also worked as unpaid labourers as they were responsible for cleaning the school, cooking meals, and doing repairs
Punctuality, order, cleanliness, and strict obedience was enforced
Restricted from speaking their native language
Limited positive reinforcement
Life in a Residential School
Harsh punishments were used as means of control
Starvation, confinement, strapping, and humiliation were common forms of punishment
Many reported cases of sexual and physical abuse
Abuse in Residential Schools
Living conditions were poor Inadequately dressed, malnourished, and
overworkedSchools were often overcrowded
Poor academic instructionMore often than not, teachers were under qualified
Abuse in Residential Schools
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CReISnQDbBE
Abuse in Residential Schools
Impact of Residential Schools
DeathIllnessLonelinessHungerDepressionSuicide
Disconnection from family and culture
Loss of valuesIdentity crisisLoss of self worthPovertySuicide
Immediate Effects
Lasting Effects
Residential schools were an extremely traumatic experience for children that attended
When children returned home, familial relationships were distant as contact was prohibited during the school yearChildren could no longer speak their native tongue,
and their family could not speak EnglishNo longer practiced their beliefs or customsNow viewed native communities as backwards
Has been called cultural genocide
Impact of Residential Schools
The last residential school was officially closed in 1996Failed because of:
Underfunding Inadequate management Disregard for health/well being of the students
Many survivors began to file lawsuits on accounts of sexual and physical abuseAboriginal leaders wanted compensation,
acknowledgment, and apology on Canada’s behalf
The End of Residential Schooling
2008- Stephen Harper officially apologized to Aboriginal Canadians for “failing them so profoundly”
A truth and reconciliation commission was created in efforts to begin the healing process
Many events began to be held locally featuring survivors, relatives, mayors, police, and social workers to discuss reconciliation
Acknowledgment & Apology
Healing will occur when it is felt that apologies have been sincerely made
For many former students it may still be too soon to talk
Over 250,000 statements have been taken from survivors as well as 100 from former employees
Many survivors claim that there is no healing
Healing
Genocide means any of the following acts committed with intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnical, racial, or religious group such as:
a) Killing members of the group;b) Causing serious bodily or mental harm to
members of the group;c) Deliberately inflicting on the group conditions
of life calculated to bring about its physical destruction in whole or in part;
d) Imposing measures intended to prevent births within the group;
e) Forcibly transferring children of the group to another group
Should Residential Schooling be Considered Genocide?
If you were part of the Truth & Reconciliation Commission,
what would you suggest in order to bring about healing?
Does Residential Schooling have any responsibility towards the current social and
economic status of Aboriginal Canadians?