Minds on.

How Do You Feel?

Read the following statements and mentally note your responses.

This is the Think About It icon. Think About...

Consider your responses to the statements above.

  • What feelings did you have when reading the statements?
  • If you could summarize your thoughts to the above statements with one word, what would it be?

In this activity, you are going to discuss residential schools in Canada (formerly termed Indian residential schools). As you investigate this topic, be mindful of your own feelings as you read those introductory statements; they describe some of the happenings experienced by Indigenous people in Canada.

Action.
This is an image of a house with a heart above the chimney.

Safe Space

Due to the sensitive nature of the issue of Canadian residential schools, some of the content of this activity may trigger strong feelings or emotions. Triggers may recall experiences of abuse, trauma, family separation, oppression and/or violence by governments, other individuals, and/or social institutions. Some may experience feelings of guilt as a result of learning about this issue.

Canadian Residential Schools

The History of Canadian Residential Schools

Indigenous children were sent to residential schools funded by the Canadian government and often run by churches. The goal was to try to make Indigenous children more like children in mainstream society. Canadian residential schools were in operation from the mid-1800s to the mid-1900s. Although most schools were closed by 1960, the last Canadian residential school closed in Saskatchewan in 1998.

Take a look at the timeline of events that mark the history of Canadian residential schools.

This is a screen capture of the link.

To see where the Canadian residential schools used to operate, take a look at this interactive map.

This is a screen capture of the link.

What Happened in Canadian Residential Schools?

The government promoted the positive benefits of Canadian residential schools with videos like the one below. However, you will learn the reality was far different than the propaganda, news stories, articles and reports.

Canadian Residential School Propaganda Video, 1955

the deliberate spreading of false or exaggerated information to help a cause

As you know, early socialization is vital for the growth and development of children. However, Canadian residential schools had a tremendous impact on Indigenous children in many ways. In this next assignment, you will investigate the impact that Canadian residential schools had on Indigenous children’s daily lives, as well as how they impacted their development and socialization.

This is the dropbox icon. The Impact of Canadian Residential Schools on Child Development and Socialization

Using search engines and databases, investigate the Canadian residential school experience for Indigenous children.

  1. Describe the treatment and daily life of the children.
  2. Consider the impact that this experience had on children’s growth and development - physically, emotionally and socially.
  3. Consider what happened to Indigenous children when their early socialization by their parents was disrupted. What impact did Canadian residential schools (church and government) have on knowledge, language, social skills and values?

You may wish to complete this template to help you organize your information.

Resources

  1. Residential Schools, The Canadian Encyclopedia
  2. “At least 4,000 aboriginal children died in residential schools, commission finds”, The National Post
  3. “The Survivors Speak: A Report of The Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada” 

The Long-Term Impact and Legacy of Canadian Residential Schools

The impact of residential schools has had far-reaching consequences. Residential schools have disrupted socialization patterns, and this has impacted the family and child-rearing practices, as well as the broader culture and community. In addition, the abuse and trauma suffered by victims has had a lasting impact on individuals, the family system, and the Indigenous culture and community.

This is the dropbox icon. Long-Term Impact of Canadian Residential Schools

Take a look at the following resources to examine the long-term impact of Canadian residential schools and their legacy of abuse and trauma. Complete this template to organize your information. You may also use search engines and databases to expand your understanding and information.

Resources

  1. Manitoba Trauma and Information and Education Centre: Residential Schools 
  2. The Globe and Mail - “Residential schools linked to suicidal thoughts: Statscan” 
  3. “Integrating Canadian Aboriginal Themes in Elementary Curriculum: Residential Schools”

This is the did you know icon. Did You Know?

The Indian Residential Schools Settlement Agreement

Canada has apologized for their treatment of Indigenous persons in their residential school system. However, the Indian Residential Schools Settlement Agreement is the largest class action lawsuit settlement in Canadian history.

For more information on what is being done to reconcile the damage caused by residential schools, please review the following resources:

Resources

  1. Indian Residential Schools Settlement Agreement, The Canadian Encyclopedia 
  2. The Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada 

This is the enrichment icon. Terminology Throughout History

Throughout history, there have been many terms used to describe Indigenous persons.

Research the history, usage and implications of each of the following terms:

  • Indian
  • Native
  • First Nations
  • Aboriginal
  • Indigenous
Consolidation

In 1958, when he was a six year-old boy, Marcel Petiquay’s mother lovingly packed a small brown suitcase for him to take with him on his leave to a Canadian residential school. In 2007, recalling that suitcase, he wrote this poem:

My Little Residential School Suitcase

The first time I left for residential school,
my mother carefully prepared my
little suitcase. She took care to put in it everything
I would need. My clothes, some
toys I would never see again. I was
six years old on this first trip.
In my little suitcase, my mother had also put
all the love she had, without forgetting the love from my father.

There were also embraces,
tenderness, respect, for me
and for others, sharing, and many
other qualities she had taught me.
The trip lasted 12 years.
When I returned home, my
little suitcase was heavy. What my
mother had put in it was gone; love
embraces, all those beautiful things had
disappeared. They had been replaced
by hatred, self-rejection, abuses of all
kinds (alcohol, drugs, sexual abuse), by
violence, anger and suicidal thoughts.
That is what I carried for
a long time.

But I've been cleaning out this
suitcase. I put back everything my mother had put in it when I left the first time: love,
respect for myself and others, and a great
many other qualities.

Oh yes...added sobriety and
especially spirituality. My little
suitcase is very light. It is full
of good things I can
share with everyone
I meet along the way.

Regardless of skin colour—
white, red, black, yellow—we
are all human beings, we
are all God's creatures.

Marcel Petiquay (2007)

(Translated from French with permission of Marcel Petiquay, April 2013)

This is a photograph of 5 people looking at an open brown suitcase.

Marcel Petiquay, second from right, puts a copy of his poem and a medicine bundle in a suitcase as a gesture of healing and reconciliation as (L to R) Archbishop Fred Hiltz, Dennis Drainville, Harold Petiquay and the Rev. Cynthia Patterson look on.
Source: Marites N. Sison

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