1. Residential Schools

2. A Opening Quote
“The most terrible result of my residential school experience was they took away my ability to hold my children. They took that from me, the ability to hold my children.”
- Inez Deiter

3. Background
Prior to the late 1800’s, First Nations children lived in the reserve communities
Traditional methods were used to pass on Native beliefs and values
Their language and much of their culture was still relatively intact

4. A Change In Policy
1879 – the Canadian government adopts a more aggressive form of assimilation
They set up residential schools across the country
– status Indian children, by law, had to attend residential schools

5. Justification
It was assumed that aboriginal culture was unable to adapt to a rapidly modernizing society
Integrate Native children into the dominant culture by having them adopt
Christianity and speaking English or French

6. Who Runs It? Who Funds It?
1920 – all First Nations children had to attend residential schools
Schools were run by the church and funded by the Canadian government

7. All Denominations Involved
Catholic church ran 60% of the residential schools
The Anglican, United, Methodists and Presbyterian churches ran 40% of the schools

8. Christian Church Perspective
Christian churches in Canada believed that education should be available to all children. As the traditional economies of First Nations peoples came under heavy pressure, with the killing of the buffalo and the creation of reserves, many in the church felt the best way to assist First Nations was to provide means to educate the young in new economic systems and trade, hence industrial schools. Residential schools were seen by the churches not only as a vehicle for converting Native people to the Christian faith, but also as a way of equipping the younger generation of Native people to survive in a world where the old ways had either been destroyed or were considered unworkable or unworthy or both.

9. Punishment
50% + of Aboriginal youth were raised AWAY from their families and communities during most of their formative years
Children caught speaking their first language or practicing native traditions were severely punished

10. Everyone Attends
These children were forced to speak English and adopt Christianity and Canadian customs
The government believed that children were easier to mould than adults
Government agents made sure that all native children attended

11. School Conditions Lived in substandard conditions
Endured both physical, sexual and emotional abuse
first allegations of sexual assault at a native boarding school; principal is reprimanded
They rarely saw examples of normal family life because they were in school 10 months out of the year

12. Robbed Of Their Childhood
Children could write letters home to their parents, but it had to be in English (many parents couldn’t read it)
Brother & sisters rarely saw each other
Boys and girls were segregated from each other

13. Consequences Native children became ashamed of their own heritage
When students returned home, they often found they didn’t belong
The skills taught at the schools were useless

14. At the peak of the residential school system, there were about 130 schools operating in Canada
They were in every territory and province except PEI, New Brunswick and Newfoundland

15. How Old Would They Be Now?
1960’s – the Canadian government abandons their residential school policy
The last school closed in 1996
86,000 people living in Canada today have attended residential schools
Children who attended residential schools would now be
35-44 years old = 6%
45-54 years old = 11.4%
55 and over = 13.7%

16. Damaged Generations
Several GENERATIONS of children have been raised without the beliefs and values that formerly guided their traditional Native approaches to parenting
On top of that, generations of parents had limited experience with parenting because their children had been raised in residential schools

17. Assembly of First Nations
former students begin to report abuse
1990 – Chief of Assembly of First Nations, Phil Fontaine, calls for the churches to acknowledge the physical, emotional and sexual abuse endured by students at the schools

18. Government Response
The Canadian government has stated that this residential school policy was wrong. The government has apologized and has offered compensation and reconciliation to residential school survivors.
1991 – the Canadian government set up a committee that heard from many former students telling them of their residential school experiences
Dec 1996 – former students will get an initial payment of $10,000 plus $3,000 for each year they attended school

19. Making Up For The Past
The total value of this compensation package is $2 billion
Average payout is $25,000
Those who suffered physical or sexual abuse may be entitled to payments up to $275,000

20. Legal Action
If students accepted these payments, they had to promise to not sue the government or the church
They COULD pursue legal action in cases of sexual abuse and serious incidents of physical abuse

21. Who Is Eligible
It is estimated that about 86,000 former students are eligible for this payment
Those who are 65 years or older can receive an advance payment of $8,000

22. An Independent Assessment Process (IAP) would be set up to deal with sexual abuse cases and serious incidents of physical abuse

23. Lasting Impact
Many generations of Inuit, Métis and First Nation children spent the greater part of their childhood in residential schools.
The abuse and neglect they suffered while there left its mark on their adult lives, as well as the lives of their descendants whose families have been characterized by further abuse and neglect.

24. Did You Know?
Did you know that Canada was not the only nation to experience the effects of residential schools?
Australia had a similar practice of assimilation. May 26 is National Sorry Day in Australia to commemorate the thousands of aboriginal children who were taken from their homes.