RESIDENTIAL SCHOOLS

1. RESIDENTIAL SCHOOLS

2. Before and After

3. Education: Assimilation • Indian act gave the agents of the Dept. of Indian affairs almost dictatorial control over Aboriginal peoples’ lives, including education • Education became one of the ‘tools’ to ASSIMILATION!!!!

4. Funding • Schools were funded by the federal government but were operated by the Catholic, Anglican, Presbyterian and United Churches

5. Residential Schools in Canada • 1920- Compulsory attendance for all children ages 7-15 years old. • Children were forcibly taken from their families by priests, Indian Agents and police officers

6. The Process • By 1931 these organizations operated 80+ residential schools across the country, as well as day schools on some reserves • Children were removed from their homes, often under threat of ‘law’

7. Separation • ‘Assimilation’ worked best through separation from families, communities and culture • Separation from a traditional support system was a key strategy

8. Volunteer • Some families did see ‘education’ as progress and voluntarily sent their children

9. The Schools • They were also meant to promote economic self-sufficiency by teaching First Nations children to become farmers and labourers

10. Christianity • The goal of the missionaries was to ‘convert the children to Christianity’.

11. Medicine Wheel • Schools basically took healthy children with a well-rounded wheel and proceeded to destroy or alter each part of what makes us human: • SPIRITUALITY • EMOTIONAL • PHYSICAL • MENTAL • Essentially, Identity issues resulted

12. Life at school • Children were often severely punished for practicing traditional beliefs • Children were punished for speaking their languages • Life was harsh and rules were strict • Food was of questionable quality and quantity • Much of the day was spent in Christian religious instruction, learning English or French, doing chores such as laundry, kitchen work, field work and other practical skills (boys/girls)

13. Lasting Impacts • Education for the most part was poor (1945 very few students passed grade 9 and over 40% of teaching staff had no professional training) • Many children died from illnesses, fires, murder • Many children caught disease such as TB which destroyed their health • Physical and sexual abuse had long term effects on students • Children learned isolation, abuse, anti-aboriginal education, were unable to express love and unable to receive love for much of the year!!!! • The schools broke the connection between the children and their family and culture. • It destroyed the central aspect of ‘relationship’

14. Inter-generational Effects • Residential School Survivors have long lasting Inter-generational negative effects: • Identity crisis • Unable to connect to family, culture • Long term effects of physical, sexual and psychological abuse • residential schools as a major factor in the high rates of: • substance abuse, suicide and family problems • Schools destroyed one of the most important values of the First Nations: • Kinship and Family Relationships

15. The inter-generational problems could include any one or more of many dysfunctional behaviors: • Anger • Lack of identity • Language loss • Substance abuse • Family • Community

16. Discipline vs Abuse? • To accomplish this goal of assimilation, discipline was the answer in many missions. • "Historians suggest that discipline was more harsh at residential schools than at other schools and would not have been accepted in Euro-Canadian institutions at the time. . . These methods included isolation cells, flogging and whipping, and humiliation."** **From Residential School Update, AFN March 1998.

17. Essentially, the child became isolated and was forced to function in a societal structure not of his own construction, and not within his scope of understanding!!!! • With the child’s wheel out of balance, adjustment to society became one of survival versus meaningful integration into society • Children stayed stuck in the cycles of dysfunction and became dysfunctional parents. And it goes on in an ever expanding circle of influence…

18. Other • Residential schools worked for some children. • Metis children were excluded from this process as they didn’t fall under the Indian Act, however, one residential school for Metis was run by the Catholic Church in Ile a la Crosse, Sask. This school also included FN children • It is estimated that 100,000 to 150,000 children attended these schools (Windspeaker Magazine)

19. A Poem: Mission Bean • A little boy I was, just lost my home • So the mission took me in, so I wouldn't roam • A hair cut, a bath, new shoes on my feet • Plaid shirt & coveralls, that was my beat • Up in the morning, fall down on my knees • Pray to the Lord the right way I see's • Off to school after porridge, lard and bread • Trying to pound math and Catechism in my head • Never too brilliant was I in school • But serving the Altar, I was no fool • Our Father which art in Heaven, Amen • I could 'cite that backwards - in Latin • Yes, a little boy, lost with no mom or dad • In the third year there, I became a "Wetbed" • They swatted my bum with a big black strap • The backside of me should be a horizontal crack • Yes, I would jump and jig and howl in pain • Then fly in a tub, hoping the Nun had right aim

20. Sometimes the tub's faucets would bang on my head • But that was the downfall of being a "Wetbed" • Now it's 5:30 a.m. and we're off to pray • Three times on Sunday, that was the way • The Nun like my mother, the Priest like my dad • With guardians like that, who could go bad • The mission was army, we walked two and two • Discipline was the order, what else could they do • Some missions were good, some were bad • Those who suffered, I feel real sad • I have words for those who dwell in self pity • That's not the answer, just say "tough titty" • The $350 million we got to cure decades of scars • The Vultures will get most of it to buy new cars • They'll travel all over, eat up the fund in time • The victims of missions will not see a dime • For those of us left, not yet in our coffin • These wise words, you will hear often • Lift your chin high and proudly walk on • Keep a smile on your face, • like the sun always shone. • - The Mad Trapper, (Fred Stevenson) • Kinuso, Alta.

21. Residential School Propaganda video- 1955 Prime Minister Harper’s Apology

22. The Apology heard around Canada • Residential School Survivors • Their struggles are many!!!! Their pain is real!!!!

23. Truth and Reconciliation • With the support of the Assembly of First Nations and Inuit organizations, former residential school students took the federal government and the churches to court. • Their cases led to the Indian Residential Schools Settlement Agreement, the largest class-action settlement in Canadian history • Estimated $350 million in compensation for survivors and healing initiatives • Common Expense Payments were given to survivors of abuse, based on a set criteria • Who paid: Canadian Government and Churches

24. Questions to Ponder • In what ways did residential schools encourage/force students to lose their Aboriginal identity? • Explain how residential schools caused social problems in Aboriginal communities? • What might be the effects of offering money as compensation, for pain and suffering, to the survivors?