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Residential Schools. Residential school in Brantford. Background . Purpose was to educate and civilize the First Nation to adopt a more Western lifestyle 1857: Gradual Civilization Act passed to assimilate Indians.
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Background • Purpose was to educate and civilize the First Nation to adopt a more Western lifestyle • 1857: Gradual Civilization Act passed to assimilate Indians
1870-1910: Period of assimilation where the clear objective of both missionaries and government was to assimilate Aboriginal children.
1920: Compulsory attendance for all children ages 7-15. • Children were forcibly taken from their families by priests, Indian agents, and police officers. • Earlier schools were strictly church-run institutions (Several Christian denominations)
The school environment expected children to follow strict guidelines of conduct they were not used to • Many children knew nothing of the English language upon their arrival. • Once at the school, students were not permitted to speak their native tongue and the supervisors spoke only English to them • Children lost the ability to speak their own language
Working in Brantford (Students grew their own food and tended the grounds.)
Were taught at school that their cultures was inferior and not worth preserving • Residential schools disrupted the passing of tradition, beliefs, skills, and knowledge from one generation to the next.
Thomas Moore as he appeared when admitted to the Regina Indian Industrial school
Thomas Moore after tuition at the Regina Indian Industrial School
Compare the photos. What changes do you notice in Thomas Moore’s appearance, clothing, pose, and surroundings? What effects do you think these changes would have on children of Aboriginal nations? What do these photos show about the purpose of residential schools?
Solutions • 1996- The last federally run residential school, the Gordon Residential School, closes in Saskatchewan • 1998- the AFN establishes the Indian Residential Schools Resolution Unit • 2004- Compensation for abuses in Residential Schools • 2008- Stephen Harper officially apologized to the First Nations on behalf of Canada
Today: • Many First Nations youth today have negative feelings towards the education system • Official apologies were made from the Anglican, United and Roman Catholic Churches which operated residential schools • Schools are still being charged criminally for past abuse cases • Truth and Reconciliation committee stilling operating