Residential schools

Definition

Residential schools were government-sponsored religious institutions designed to assimilate Indigenous children into Euro-American culture by removing them from their families and communities. These schools aimed to erase Indigenous languages, traditions, and identities, often subjecting children to harsh discipline and abusive treatment in the process.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Residential schools operated in various countries, including Canada and the United States, from the late 19th century until the 1990s, forcibly taking children from their families.
2. The goal of these schools was to assimilate Indigenous children into mainstream society by promoting Christianity and English or French languages while punishing any display of Indigenous culture.
3. Many children suffered physical and emotional abuse in residential schools, leading to long-term psychological trauma that affected generations of Indigenous families.
4. The Truth and Reconciliation Commission in Canada highlighted the lasting impacts of residential schools on Indigenous communities and called for acknowledgment and reparations.
5. Survivors of residential schools have shared their experiences, shedding light on the harmful legacy of these institutions and advocating for healing and reconciliation.

Review Questions

• How did residential schools contribute to the separation of Indigenous children from their families and communities?
  • Residential schools were specifically designed to remove Indigenous children from their families and communities, enforcing a policy of assimilation. Children were forcibly taken from their homes and placed in these institutions where they were isolated from their cultures. This separation not only disrupted family ties but also prevented children from learning their languages and traditions, fundamentally altering their identity and sense of belonging.
• Discuss the impact of residential schools on Indigenous identities and cultures over generations.
  • The impact of residential schools on Indigenous identities has been profound and lasting. By stripping children of their languages, cultures, and familial connections, these institutions aimed to eradicate Indigenous identities altogether. As a result, many survivors faced challenges in reclaiming their heritage, leading to a disconnection from cultural practices that have been passed down for generations. The effects continue to resonate today as communities work towards healing and rebuilding their cultural identities.
• Evaluate the role of governmental policies in perpetuating the system of residential schools and its consequences on Indigenous communities.
  • Governmental policies played a crucial role in establishing and maintaining residential schools as a means of cultural assimilation. These policies facilitated the removal of Indigenous children from their families under the guise of education while actively promoting Eurocentric values. The consequences were devastating; not only did they inflict trauma on individual children, but they also disrupted community structures and eroded trust between Indigenous peoples and government institutions. The legacy of these policies still impacts contemporary discussions on reconciliation, reparations, and the rights of Indigenous peoples.

Related terms

assimilation:

The process through which individuals or groups adopt the cultural norms of a dominant or host culture, often leading to the loss of their original cultural identity.

colonization: The act of settling among and establishing control over the indigenous people of an area, often leading to significant cultural, social, and economic changes for the local population.

cultural genocide: The deliberate and systematic destruction of a group's culture, including their language, traditions, and identity, often carried out through policies and practices that undermine their way of life.