1. Residential Schools An Attempt to Assimilate Aboriginal People and Culture

2. Who did it Impact? Around 150,000 Aboriginal children were sent to Residential Schools against their will Around 150,000 Aboriginal children were sent to Residential Schools against their will

3. Why did this Happen? The objective was to assimilate Aboriginals into mainstream society The objective was to assimilate Aboriginals into mainstream society

4. What happened in Residential Schools? Children were taught Christian values and either English or French Children were taught Christian values and either English or French Their own language and culture was forbidden within the school Their own language and culture was forbidden within the school

5. Assimilation

6. Children were away from their parents for 10 to 12 months of the year Children were away from their parents for 10 to 12 months of the year Often communication between the families during the school year did not occur or was forbidden Often communication between the families during the school year did not occur or was forbidden

7. School Conditions Substandard conditions Substandard conditions Poor nutrition Poor nutrition Inadequate sleeping arrangements Inadequate sleeping arrangements Little healthcare Little healthcare Physical, emotional and spiritual abuse Physical, emotional and spiritual abuse

8. Some children never returned home, due to disease that spread rapidly amongst the schools Some children never returned home, due to disease that spread rapidly amongst the schools

9. A day in the life of a student Get up early (6 am) Clean and do daily chores Get in line stay in line Go to the Chapel - Go to school to learn the 3 R’s Beaten if you acted, thought, or spoke Indian

10. Attempts to Reconcile the Past The Last Residential School closed in Yellowknife 1996 The Last Residential School closed in Yellowknife 1996 In 2005 the federal government offered In 2005 the federal government offered a compensation package for former a compensation package for former students of Residential Schools On June 11, 2008 On June 11, 2008 Prime Minister Stephen Harper offered an official apology offered an official apology

11. Lasting Negative Impacts Many Aboriginal families continue to deal with the physical, emotional and spiritual turmoil they encountered in Residential Schools Many Aboriginal families continue to deal with the physical, emotional and spiritual turmoil they encountered in Residential SchoolsQuestion: Does financial compensation make up for the turmoil placed on Aboriginal people? Does financial compensation make up for the turmoil placed on Aboriginal people?