RESIDENTIAL SCHOOLS Before and After Education

RESIDENTIAL SCHOOLS

Before and After

Education: Assimilation u u 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!!!!

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

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

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

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

Volunteer u Some families did see ‘education’ as progress and voluntarily sent their children

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

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

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

Life at school u Children were often severely punished for practicing traditional beliefs u Children were punished for speaking their languages u Life was harsh and rules were strict u Food was of questionable quality and quantity u 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)

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

Inter-generational Effects u 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 u residential schools as a major factor in the high rates of: – substance abuse, suicide and family problems u Schools destroyed one of the most important values of the First Nations: – Kinship and Family Relationships

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

Discipline vs Abuse? u To accomplish this goal of assimilation, discipline was the answer in many missions. u "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.

u u u 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…

Other u u u 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)

A Poem: Mission Bean u u u u u 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

u u u u u u 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.

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

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

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

Questions to Ponder u u u 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?