Residential schools

Definition

Residential schools were government-sponsored religious schools established in the 19th and 20th centuries aimed at assimilating Indigenous children into Euro-Canadian culture. These institutions forcibly removed children from their families and communities, often leading to significant cultural loss, trauma, and long-lasting effects on Indigenous populations, especially women, who faced unique challenges during and after their experiences in these schools.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Residential schools were primarily run by Christian religious organizations with government funding and aimed to erase Indigenous identities.
2. Children were often taken from their families against their will, with many facing physical and emotional abuse in these institutions.
3. The legacy of residential schools has led to intergenerational trauma within Indigenous communities, affecting mental health and cultural continuity.
4. Indigenous women often faced heightened violence and discrimination both during their time in residential schools and after their return to communities.
5. In recent years, there has been a growing movement toward recognizing the harms caused by residential schools, with calls for accountability and reparations.

Review Questions

• How did residential schools impact the cultural identities of Indigenous children and their communities?
  • Residential schools aimed to assimilate Indigenous children into Euro-Canadian culture, which severely disrupted their cultural identities. By removing children from their families and communities, these institutions created a disconnection from languages, traditions, and practices that are vital to Indigenous identity. This cultural loss has had lasting effects, contributing to ongoing struggles for cultural revival and identity within Indigenous populations.
• Discuss the role of the Indian Act in shaping the policies surrounding residential schools in Canada.
  • The Indian Act played a crucial role in shaping policies that facilitated the establishment and operation of residential schools. By defining who was considered an 'Indian' and restricting various rights, the Indian Act allowed the government to exert control over Indigenous peoples' lives. It provided a legal framework that supported the removal of children from their families and endorsed the assimilation efforts seen in residential schools, making it a key factor in this tragic chapter of Canadian history.
• Evaluate the long-term consequences of residential schools on Indigenous women and how these consequences continue to affect them today.
  • The long-term consequences of residential schools on Indigenous women include not only cultural dislocation but also an increase in violence, mental health issues, and socio-economic challenges. The trauma experienced in these institutions has been passed down through generations, affecting family structures and community cohesion. Today, many Indigenous women advocate for justice and healing as they confront both the historical impacts of residential schooling and contemporary challenges rooted in systemic inequalities that persist in society.

Related terms

Indian Act: A Canadian federal law that governed the affairs of Indigenous peoples and established the framework for the residential school system, often restricting the rights of Indigenous individuals.

Cultural genocide: The systematic destruction of a group's culture, often through policies that suppress language, traditions, and community structures, as seen in the impact of residential schools on Indigenous cultures.

Truth and Reconciliation Commission: A commission established in Canada to address the legacy of residential schools by documenting experiences, promoting healing, and making recommendations for reconciliation between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples.