1. Residential Schools
Lesson 40
CHC 2DR

2. Residential Schools Learning Goal:
Analyze the impact of residential schools on the lives of generations of Indigenous Canadians.
Warm-up
Note and discussion
Video

3. Warm-Up Questions:
List 3 words that describe how you felt on your first day of kindergarten.
List 3 words that describe how you felt on your first day at Weldon.
How might you have felt if none of the adults spoke your language or if you did not go home at the end of the day? (Explain in 3-5 sentences)

4. History of Residential Schools
First opened in 1880s in a joint arrangement by the churches and the government
To educate and convert indigenous children and integrate them into Canadian society
Disrupted lives and ruined relationships, creating more problems
The last school closed in 1996
children attended these schools

5. Education was an important part of treaty negotiations
Indigenous people saw it as a way to build a bridge between cultures
But custodial schools were not what they had expected
By 1896, there were 45 schools across Canada
Gov’t paid for education at a per student rate
What might be the implication of this method of payment?

6. 1907- Dr P. H. Bryce releases a report saying that the children are dying at alarming rates (maybe 42%) Superintendent of Indian Affairs, Duncan Campbell Scott, makes it mandatory for indigenous children to attend these schools (ages 7-16) Dr Bryce publishes “Story of a National Crime” exposing the gov’t’s mistreatment and neglect of children 1930s schools with students enrolled

7. Task: Read pages 226-229 of Creating Canada
Answer the Recall… Reflect… Respond questions on page 229
After discussing Q2 with a partner, turn your response into a 9- sentence paragraph.

8. Where are the Children?

9. Truth and Reconciliation Commission
To learn the truth about what happened
To listen and hear the testimony of the students
To inform all Canadians about the facts
Encourage all Canadians to work for reconciliation
Prepare a complete historical record

10. Task:
1. With a partner, identify 2 of the ‘calls to action’ that you feel are the most important.
Explain why these are important for Indigenous Canadians and why they are important for all Canadians
Make a plan of action with ideas to achieve each point.
Who is involved?
When could this take place?
How would the process unfold?
2. On your own, write a 9-sentence paragraph explaining what you can do now to support these ‘calls to action’.

11. http://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/aboriginal- heritage/Pages/residential-schools-photo-sets.aspx f
Resources/CR8-12/Documents/Residential%20School%20Lesson%202.pdf