The Indian Residential School System - 852 Words

The Indian residential school system was brought upon by the Canadian government with the Christian churches running them. The schools were an attempt to eradicate Indigenous culture and to coerce the Indigenous children into assimilating with white European culture under the assumption that the European lifestyle was superior to the ‘savages’ that were aboriginals. (Jacobs) The principle of the Gordon’s reserve school even stated that â€Å"change the philosophy of the Indian child. In other words since they must work and live with ‘whites’ then they must begin to think as ‘whites.’† [T1] It is estimated about 150,000 children attended these inhumane schools from the early 19th century up until 1996.[T1] The buildings were situated in poorly maintained buildings where the children were isolated and lonely. Treatment of the children was harsh as well—they were prohibited from speaking their language and indulging in their cu ltural and spiritual practices. The effects of the system resonate among the Indigenous communities from all the spiritual, verbal, physical, and emotional abuse they faced, which has furthermore impacted the next generations who don’t speak their native language which is like losing a sense of identity, and face higher rates of poverty and inequality. This is historical trauma where the collective emotion injury spreads across generations, causing trauma to all. (Jacobs) The residential school system is a mechanism of cultural genocide. The CanadianShow MoreRelatedExploring the Current day Impact of the Canadian Indian Residential School System2758 Words   |  12 Pagesthis is well understood. Commonly known today as Indian residential schools, a great act of wrong was committed under the command and leadership of the Canadian government starting back with elementary roots through the passage of the Indian Act in 1876. More specifically in 1884, it became mandatory for a ll native children in Canada to attend day or residential schools (Miller, 1996). For many native children in Canada at the time, the only schools available in this mandatory requirement put forthRead MoreThe Indian Residential School System1531 Words   |  7 PagesFirst Nation children were forced to attend Indian residential schools dating back to the 1870’s and spanned many decades with the final school closing in 1996. These educational institutions were government funded and church run by Roman Catholic, Presbyterian, United and Anglican denominations (Truth and Reconciliation Commission, n.d.). There were 139 schools where more than 150 000 First Nations children attended. The children of these schools were mentally, physically, emotionally and sexuallyRead MoreDevelopment Of The Residential School System1740 Words   |  7 Pagesdown† : A quote from Aggie George recalling of her experience in the Lejac Indian Residential School (Legacy of Hope Foundation, 2001). In the 1880s all the way to the 1990’s roughly 150,000 aboriginal children where removed from their communities and homes to attend the residential school system set up by the government and operated by the Christian churches (Government of Canada, 2015). The purpose of these residential schools was to isolate Aboriginal children from their families and assimilate themRead MoreReflecting On The Residential School System1509 Words   |  7 PagesRESIDENTIAL SCHOOL SYSTEM 3. In reflecting on the Residential School System in Canada, discuss why Elders teachings and courses in Indigenous studies are important today. Between 1875 and 1996, First Nations children were forced to attended residential schools to be systematically assimilated into an English-Christian society through abuse, segregation, and racism. Residential schools were created by the Canadian government to transition First Nations children into a newly colonized Canada, butRead MoreThe Canadian Government And The Aboriginal People1503 Words   |  7 Pagesindustrial schools that would be run by the churches and government funded. They chose children to go to these schools because they are easier to manipulate and mold than the adults and felt that school was the best way to do so. With the hopes of the assimilated children will teach their children their new way of life and that their traditions and culture will diminish or be completely gone in a few generations. In the 1880’s, the government began to construct the residential schools across CanadaRead MoreThe Damages Caused by Canadian Residential Schools for Indigenous Children in the 19th Century1618 Words   |  7 Pagesnations people to educate the Indigenous population of the country. The federal government sought to pursue this task through the development of residential schools. Under this system, framed by the Davin Report, Congregations of Christian missionaries were responsible for providing compulsory education to Indigenous children within governmentally constructed schools. They were charged with assimilating these children into mainstream culture and convert them into members of â€Å"civilized society†. The resultingRead MoreCanada Is A Nation Free Of Racism Essay1350 Words   |  6 Pagespopulation with the crumbs of society. A prime example of this can be demonstrated in the mass overrepresentation of Aboriginal youth in care. By the year 2010, there were around twenty-seven thousand Indigenous children in the Canadian child welfare system who were living in some sort of out-of-home care (Chappell, 2014). Although they re presented only seven percent of the children in Canada, they made up 48 percent of all children in foster care. (Yukselir Annett, 2016). This phenomenon is not aRead MoreSeparation And Education Of Young First Nations Children1386 Words   |  6 PagesChristian churches, the residential school system was created and schools were built throughout the entire country. The Kamloops Indian Residential School was attended by students from the nations surrounding Kamloops including children from the Secwepemc Nation who occupied the much of the southern-interior of British Columbia. The school was ran by the Roman Catholic Church. The Secwepemc children were no exception to the abominable conditions in the residential school systems facilities and theRead MoreThe Indian Act1558 Words   |  7 PagesIntroduction: The Indian Act was first proposed in 1876. The Indian Act was mainly used as a way for the federal government to control aspects of Native American lives. During the 1880’s the federal government told Indian families that if they wanted their children to have an education, it was to be done under them. These institutions would be known as Residential Schools. Residential Schools were not good for the Native Americans due to the education being taught was there to â€Å"take away† the Indian withinRead MoreThe Social Determinants Of Health1555 Words   |  7 Pagesdeterminants of health such as historical background and events have moulded the personal health and well-being of Indigenous people for many generations (Health Canada, 2013). Historical determinants include colonization and establishment of systems such a residential schools (Health Canada, 2013). In addition, social determinants of health also contribute majorly to many mental health issues. Examples of soc ial determinants of health include income and social status, employment, physical environment, culture