Indian Residential SchoolsIndian Residential Schools

Part 1 - The ReportPart 1 - The Report

Presented by Gail SmithPresented by Gail Smith

The History The History Pre-residential SchoolsPre-residential Schools

Early 19Early 19thth century – Mission Schools century – Mission Schools Goals:Goals:

Teach native people to read English so Teach native people to read English so they could read the biblethey could read the bible

Convert natives to ChristianityConvert natives to Christianity Catholic, Anglican, United and Catholic, Anglican, United and

Presbyterian Churches involvedPresbyterian Churches involved Indian Act – government’s Indian Act – government’s

responsibility to educate native responsibility to educate native children – Treaty Rightschildren – Treaty Rights

Churches’ and Governmental Churches’ and Governmental AssumptionsAssumptions

Aboriginal culture were unable to Aboriginal culture were unable to adapt to modern Canadian societyadapt to modern Canadian society

Without intervention, native people Without intervention, native people would be left behindwould be left behind

Children were easier to mould than Children were easier to mould than adultsadults

Children must be removed from Children must be removed from family/cultural influencefamily/cultural influence

Residential schools far from homes Residential schools far from homes were the answerwere the answer

GovernanceGovernance

1890 -1950’s – Parents had no choice but 1890 -1950’s – Parents had no choice but to send children to a residential school.to send children to a residential school.

Many parents wanted this schooling as Many parents wanted this schooling as they thought it best for their children’s they thought it best for their children’s future.future.

All Aboriginal people – wards of the state.All Aboriginal people – wards of the state. ““Indian Agents” (white men) – employed Indian Agents” (white men) – employed

by Dept. of Indian Affairs recruited by Dept. of Indian Affairs recruited students and ensured native students students and ensured native students went to school.went to school.

Where did they go?Where did they go?

To Residential SchoolsTo Residential Schools

Here are a few of them.Here are a few of them.

Gordon Anglican Residential SchoolGordon Anglican Residential School

CurriculumCurriculum

Children aged 5 – 16 to attendChildren aged 5 – 16 to attend School day:School day:

Half time classroom studyHalf time classroom study Half time learning a tradeHalf time learning a trade Girls – sewing, cooking and domestic skillsGirls – sewing, cooking and domestic skills Boys – blacksmithing, carpentry, and auto Boys – blacksmithing, carpentry, and auto

mechanicsmechanics Added duties: milk cows, clean dorms, Added duties: milk cows, clean dorms,

chop wood (provide labour to run schools chop wood (provide labour to run schools cheaper)cheaper)

Canadian Indian Residential Canadian Indian Residential Schools StatisticsSchools Statistics

Total Indian Residential Schools – Total Indian Residential Schools – 135135

None in NB, PE or NLNone in NB, PE or NL AB – 29AB – 29 BC – 28BC – 28 SK – 20SK – 20 ON – 18ON – 18 MB – 17MB – 17 NT – 8NT – 8 QC – 6 QC – 6 YT – 6YT – 6 NU – 2 NS – 1NU – 2 NS – 1 Department of Indian Affairs funded Department of Indian Affairs funded

all residential schools.all residential schools.

Assimilation PlanAssimilation Plan

Goal: To prepare Native children for Goal: To prepare Native children for white societywhite society

Began consideration in 1928Began consideration in 1928 Geared to end the “Indian Problem”Geared to end the “Indian Problem” Guesstimated time for success was Guesstimated time for success was

two generationstwo generations Church runChurch run Government fundedGovernment funded

Results of Residential SchoolsResults of Residential Schools

Children were removed from their Children were removed from their homeshomes

Forced assimilation of white societal Forced assimilation of white societal cultures, values, religion and cultures, values, religion and languageslanguages

Some children subjected to physical, Some children subjected to physical, emotional and sexual abuseemotional and sexual abuse

Devastation of families and culturesDevastation of families and cultures

Aboriginal ReactionAboriginal Reaction

Decades later, Aboriginal people begin Decades later, Aboriginal people begin to share their storiesto share their stories

Accuse government of systematic Accuse government of systematic racismracism

Demand governmental Demand governmental acknowledgementacknowledgement

Want compensation for lost childhoods Want compensation for lost childhoods and abuseand abuse

Abuse also affects the next generationAbuse also affects the next generation

A Move towards Healing A Move towards Healing

1990 – Phil Fontaine, Grand Chief of 1990 – Phil Fontaine, Grand Chief of Manitoba Chiefs, first leader to tell the Manitoba Chiefs, first leader to tell the story of his abuse at a residential Schoolstory of his abuse at a residential School

Calls for recognition of the abuse, Calls for recognition of the abuse, compensation and an apology for racismcompensation and an apology for racism

1991 – Lawsuits are launched, groups 1991 – Lawsuits are launched, groups are formedare formed

1996 – Royal Commission on Aboriginal 1996 – Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples recommends public inquiryPeoples recommends public inquiry

1997 – Phil Fontaine negotiates out 1997 – Phil Fontaine negotiates out of court settlement with federal of court settlement with federal governmentgovernment

1998 – Statement of Reconciliation -1998 – Statement of Reconciliation -Settlement of $350 Million Healing Settlement of $350 Million Healing Fund –Gov’t admits wrongdoing and Fund –Gov’t admits wrongdoing and apologizesapologizes

2001 – Dept. of Indian Residential 2001 – Dept. of Indian Residential SchoolsSchools

Resolution Canada formed Resolution Canada formed 2003 – Alternative Dispute 2003 – Alternative Dispute

Resolutions (ADR) process formedResolutions (ADR) process formed 2004 – U of A Law School and 2004 – U of A Law School and

Assembly of First Nations (AFN) find Assembly of First Nations (AFN) find ADR process flawedADR process flawed

2008 – Apology from Stephen Harper2008 – Apology from Stephen Harper

Mission StatementMission StatementAssembly of First NationsAssembly of First Nations

To address the expedient resolution of To address the expedient resolution of the residential schools claims filed in the residential schools claims filed in court by the survivors with the court by the survivors with the emphasis on the elderly and sick and to emphasis on the elderly and sick and to ensure an effective process is identified ensure an effective process is identified and carried out for healing strategies in and carried out for healing strategies in relation to the loss of languages and relation to the loss of languages and culture of First Nation people and their culture of First Nation people and their communities.communities. http://www.afn.ca/residentialschools/index.htmlhttp://www.afn.ca/residentialschools/index.html

Report on Canada’s Dispute Resolution Plan Report on Canada’s Dispute Resolution Plan to Compensate for Abuses in to Compensate for Abuses in

Indian Residential SchoolsIndian Residential Schools

Lump sum – all survivors $10,000Lump sum – all survivors $10,000 $3,000 for every year attended$3,000 for every year attended Early payment for elderlyEarly payment for elderly Truth CommissionTruth Commission Healing FundHealing Fund Commemoration FundCommemoration Fund Individual settlement of abuse claimsIndividual settlement of abuse claims

Summary of School StatisticsSummary of School Statistics

An estimated 80,000 people alive An estimated 80,000 people alive today attended Indian Residential today attended Indian Residential SchoolsSchools

Over 150,000 children attended Over 150,000 children attended Indian Residential SchoolsIndian Residential Schools

Timeline: How it Happened?Timeline: How it Happened?Assembly of First Nations - http://www.afn.ca/residentialschools/history.htmlAssembly of First Nations - http://www.afn.ca/residentialschools/history.html

1857 – Gradual Assimilation Act passed to 1857 – Gradual Assimilation Act passed to assimilate Indians.assimilate Indians.

1870 – 1910 – Period of assimilation by 1870 – 1910 – Period of assimilation by government and missionaries to assimilate government and missionaries to assimilate Aboriginal children into the lower fringes Aboriginal children into the lower fringes of mainstream society.of mainstream society.

1920 – Compulsory attendance for all 1920 – Compulsory attendance for all children ages 7 – 15. Children forcibly children ages 7 – 15. Children forcibly taken from families by priests, Indian taken from families by priests, Indian agents and police officers.agents and police officers.

1931 – 80 residential schools in Canada.1931 – 80 residential schools in Canada.

1948 – 72 residential schools with 9,368.1948 – 72 residential schools with 9,368.

1979 – 12 residential schools with 1,899 1979 – 12 residential schools with 1,899 students.students.

1980s – Students disclose forms of 1980s – Students disclose forms of abuse.abuse.

1996 – Last residential school in 1996 – Last residential school in Canada (Gordon Reserve in SK) Canada (Gordon Reserve in SK) closescloses

1998 Assembly of First Nations (AFN) 1998 Assembly of First Nations (AFN) establishes the Indian Residential establishes the Indian Residential Schools Resolution UnitSchools Resolution Unit

2009 – Less than half of the 2009 – Less than half of the settlements completedsettlements completed

Indian Residential Schools Indian Residential Schools Resolution Unit includes:Resolution Unit includes:

Independent Assessment ProcessIndependent Assessment Process – – students who suffered serious abuses that students who suffered serious abuses that caused serious psychological effectscaused serious psychological effects

Truth and Reconciliation CommissionTruth and Reconciliation Commission

Commemoration initiativeCommemoration initiative

Aboriginal Healing FoundationAboriginal Healing Foundation - other - other health support programs.health support programs.

Discussion QuestionsDiscussion Questions

Why is this a historically significant Why is this a historically significant event?event?

Who did it affect?Who did it affect? How many people did it affect?How many people did it affect? What view did the church take?What view did the church take? What was the result?What was the result? Was an apology necessary?Was an apology necessary?

File Hills Residential SchoolFile Hills Residential School

SK-7 File Hills Indian Residential School (File Hills Colony School) (MD) (File Hills Colony School) (MD)

Okanese Reserve; opened 1889; closed 1949Okanese Reserve; opened 1889; closed 1949A Letter of Remembering - HomeA Letter of Remembering - Home

Resource WebsitesResource Websites Assembly of First Nations - Assembly of First Nations - www.afn.ca/residentialschools/index.htmlwww.afn.ca/residentialschools/index.htmlwww.afn.ca/article.asp?id=2586www.afn.ca/article.asp?id=2586 Turtle Island - turtleisland.org/resourcesTurtle Island - turtleisland.org/resources The Anglican Church - The Anglican Church -

www2.anglican.ca/rs/history/schools/old-sun.htmwww2.anglican.ca/rs/history/schools/old-sun.htm The United Church - The United Church -

www.united-church.ca/aboriginal/schools/faq/histwww.united-church.ca/aboriginal/schools/faq/historyory

Where are the Children? Where are the Children? www.wherearethechildren.ca/en/remembering2.hwww.wherearethechildren.ca/en/remembering2.htmltml

Inquiry QuestionsInquiry Questions

What effects did the loss of What effects did the loss of languages and culture of First Nation languages and culture of First Nation people and their communities have people and their communities have as a result of living in Indian as a result of living in Indian Residential Schools?Residential Schools?

What is being done to facilitate What is being done to facilitate healing for former residents? healing for former residents?

What did we learn from this?What did we learn from this?