Impact of Residential Impact of Residential Schools Schools

in Canadain Canada

In 1928, a government official In 1928, a government official predicted Canada would end its predicted Canada would end its

"Indian problem" within two "Indian problem" within two generations. generations.

What are residential schools?What are residential schools? In the 19th century, the Canadian government believed it In the 19th century, the Canadian government believed it

was responsible for educating and caring for the country's was responsible for educating and caring for the country's aboriginal people. It thought their best chance for success aboriginal people. It thought their best chance for success was to learn English and adopt Christianity and Canadian was to learn English and adopt Christianity and Canadian customs. Ideally, they would pass their adopted lifestyle on customs. Ideally, they would pass their adopted lifestyle on to their children, and native traditions would diminish, or be to their children, and native traditions would diminish, or be completely abolished in a few generations.completely abolished in a few generations.

The Canadian government The Canadian government developed a policy called developed a policy called "aggressive assimilation" "aggressive assimilation" to be taught at church-run, to be taught at church-run, government-funded government-funded industrial schools, later industrial schools, later called residential schools. called residential schools. The government felt The government felt children were easier to children were easier to mould than adults, and the mould than adults, and the concept of a boarding concept of a boarding school was the best way to school was the best way to prepare them for life in prepare them for life in mainstream society.mainstream society.

Residential schools Residential schools were federally run, were federally run, under the Department under the Department of Indian Affairs. of Indian Affairs. Attendance was Attendance was mandatory. Agents mandatory. Agents were employed by the were employed by the government to ensure government to ensure all native children all native children attended.attended.

How many residential schools and How many residential schools and students were there?students were there?

Initially, about 1,100 students attended 69 schools Initially, about 1,100 students attended 69 schools across the country. In 1931, at the peak of the across the country. In 1931, at the peak of the residential school system, there were about 80 residential school system, there were about 80 schools operating in Canada. There were a total of schools operating in Canada. There were a total of about 130 schools in every territory and province about 130 schools in every territory and province except Newfoundland, Prince Edward Island and except Newfoundland, Prince Edward Island and New Brunswick from the earliest in the 19th New Brunswick from the earliest in the 19th century to the last, which closed in 1996.century to the last, which closed in 1996.

In all, about 150,000 aboriginal, Inuit and Métis In all, about 150,000 aboriginal, Inuit and Métis children were removed from their communities and children were removed from their communities and forced to attend the schools.forced to attend the schools.

What went wrong?What went wrong?

Residential schools were established with the Residential schools were established with the assumption that aboriginal culture was unable to assumption that aboriginal culture was unable to adapt to a rapidly modernizing society. It was adapt to a rapidly modernizing society. It was believed that native children could be successful if believed that native children could be successful if they assimilated into mainstream Canadian they assimilated into mainstream Canadian society by adopting Christianity and speaking society by adopting Christianity and speaking English or French. Students were discouraged English or French. Students were discouraged from speaking their first language or practising from speaking their first language or practising native traditions. If they were caught, they would native traditions. If they were caught, they would experience severe punishment.experience severe punishment.

Throughout the years, students lived in Throughout the years, students lived in substandard conditions and endured physical and substandard conditions and endured physical and emotional abuse. There are also many allegations emotional abuse. There are also many allegations of sexual abuse. Students at residential schools of sexual abuse. Students at residential schools rarely had opportunities to see examples of normal rarely had opportunities to see examples of normal family life. They were in school 10 months a year, family life. They were in school 10 months a year, away from their parents. All correspondence from away from their parents. All correspondence from the children was written in English, which many the children was written in English, which many parents couldn't read. Brothers and sisters at the parents couldn't read. Brothers and sisters at the same school rarely saw each other, as all activities same school rarely saw each other, as all activities were segregated by gender.were segregated by gender.

When students returned to the reserve, they often When students returned to the reserve, they often found they didn't belong. They didn't have the found they didn't belong. They didn't have the skills to help their parents, and became ashamed skills to help their parents, and became ashamed of their native heritage. The skills taught at the of their native heritage. The skills taught at the schools were generally substandard; many found schools were generally substandard; many found it hard to function in an urban setting. The aims of it hard to function in an urban setting. The aims of assimilation meant devastation for those who were assimilation meant devastation for those who were subjected to years of mistreatment.subjected to years of mistreatment.

Remembering the Children who Remembering the Children who never returned home.never returned home.

Controversy has been a part of the residential school Controversy has been a part of the residential school system since the early 20th century because of the number system since the early 20th century because of the number of Aboriginal children who died while attending the schools. of Aboriginal children who died while attending the schools.

"Throughout the industrial school era, children in the "Throughout the industrial school era, children in the schools had been dying in unbelievable numbers. schools had been dying in unbelievable numbers.

In that conjunction of the condition of the schools and the In that conjunction of the condition of the schools and the health of the children lay, as Dr. P.H. Bryce termed it in health of the children lay, as Dr. P.H. Bryce termed it in 1922, the 'national crime.' 1922, the 'national crime.'

The main consequence of inadequate government funding, The main consequence of inadequate government funding, poorly constructed schools, sanitary and ventilation poorly constructed schools, sanitary and ventilation problems, inadequate diet, clothing and medical care was problems, inadequate diet, clothing and medical care was an epidemic of tuberculosis for Indian Schoolsan epidemic of tuberculosis for Indian Schools

When did the calls for victim When did the calls for victim compensation begin?compensation begin?

In 1990, Phil Fontaine, then leader of In 1990, Phil Fontaine, then leader of the Association of Manitoba Chiefs, the Association of Manitoba Chiefs, called for the churches involved to called for the churches involved to acknowledge the physical, emotional, acknowledge the physical, emotional, and sexual abuse endured by students and sexual abuse endured by students at the schools. A year later, the at the schools. A year later, the government convened a Royal government convened a Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples. Commission on Aboriginal Peoples. Many people told the commission Many people told the commission about their residential school about their residential school experiences, and its 1996 report experiences, and its 1996 report recommended a separate public recommended a separate public inquiry into residential schools. That inquiry into residential schools. That recommendation was never followed.recommendation was never followed.

Over the years, the government worked with Over the years, the government worked with the Anglican, Catholic, United and the Anglican, Catholic, United and Presbyterian churches, which ran residential Presbyterian churches, which ran residential schools, to design a plan to compensate the schools, to design a plan to compensate the former students.former students.

In 2007, two years after it was first In 2007, two years after it was first announced, the federal government announced, the federal government formalized a $1.9-billion compensation formalized a $1.9-billion compensation package for those who were forced to attend package for those who were forced to attend residential schools.residential schools.

Under the federal compensation Under the federal compensation package, what will former package, what will former

students receive?students receive? Compensation called Common Experience Payments was made Compensation called Common Experience Payments was made

available to all residential schools students who were alive as of May available to all residential schools students who were alive as of May 30, 2005. Former residential school students were eligible for $10,000 30, 2005. Former residential school students were eligible for $10,000 for the first year or part of a year they attended school, plus $3,000 for for the first year or part of a year they attended school, plus $3,000 for each subsequent year.each subsequent year.

Any money remaining from the $1.9-billion package will be given to Any money remaining from the $1.9-billion package will be given to foundations that support learning needs of aboriginal students.foundations that support learning needs of aboriginal students.

As of March 31, 2008, $1.19B had been paid, representing 61,473 As of March 31, 2008, $1.19B had been paid, representing 61,473 cases.cases.

Acceptance of the Common Experience Payment releases the Acceptance of the Common Experience Payment releases the government and churches from all further liability relating to the Indian government and churches from all further liability relating to the Indian residential school experience, except in cases of sexual abuse and residential school experience, except in cases of sexual abuse and serious incidents of physical abuse.serious incidents of physical abuse.

What will happen in those cases What will happen in those cases of alleged sexual or serious of alleged sexual or serious

physical abuse?physical abuse? An Independent An Independent

Assessment Process, or Assessment Process, or IAP, was set up to address IAP, was set up to address sexual abuse cases and sexual abuse cases and serious incidents of serious incidents of physical abuse. A former physical abuse. A former student who accepts the student who accepts the Common Experience Common Experience Payment can pursue a Payment can pursue a further claim for sexual or further claim for sexual or serious physical abuse.serious physical abuse.

THE APOLOGYTHE APOLOGY June 11, 2008June 11, 2008 Prime Minister Stephen Prime Minister Stephen

Harper Harper apologizesapologizes to to former students of native former students of native residential schools, residential schools, marking the first formal marking the first formal apology by a prime apology by a prime minister for the federally minister for the federally financed program.financed program.

"The treatment of children "The treatment of children in Indian residential in Indian residential schools is a sad chapter in schools is a sad chapter in our history," he says in a our history," he says in a speech in the House of speech in the House of Commons.Commons.

Who else has apologized for the Who else has apologized for the abuse?abuse?

Though the Catholic church oversaw three-quarters of Though the Catholic church oversaw three-quarters of Canadian residential schools, it was the last church to have Canadian residential schools, it was the last church to have one of its leaders officially address the abuse.one of its leaders officially address the abuse.

On April 29, 2009, Pope Benedict XVI expressed his On April 29, 2009, Pope Benedict XVI expressed his "sorrow" to a delegation from Canada's Assembly of First "sorrow" to a delegation from Canada's Assembly of First Nations for the abuse and "deplorable" treatment that Nations for the abuse and "deplorable" treatment that aboriginal students suffered at Roman Catholic Church-run aboriginal students suffered at Roman Catholic Church-run residential schools.residential schools.

Assembly of First Nations Leader Phil Fontaine said it Assembly of First Nations Leader Phil Fontaine said it wasn't an "official apology" but added that he hoped the wasn't an "official apology" but added that he hoped the statement will "close the book" on the issue of apologies for statement will "close the book" on the issue of apologies for residential school survivors.residential school survivors.

Other churches implicated in the abuse apologized in the Other churches implicated in the abuse apologized in the 1990s.1990s.

Archbishop Michael Peers clearly offered an apology on Archbishop Michael Peers clearly offered an apology on behalf of the behalf of the Anglican Church of CanadaAnglican Church of Canada in 1993, stating in 1993, stating "I am sorry, more than I can say, that we were part of a "I am sorry, more than I can say, that we were part of a system which took you and your children from home and system which took you and your children from home and family."family."

Four leaders of the Four leaders of the Presbyterian ChurchPresbyterian Church signed a signed a statement of apology in 1994. "It is with deep humility and statement of apology in 1994. "It is with deep humility and in great sorrow that we come before God and our in great sorrow that we come before God and our aboriginal brothers and sisters with our confession," it said.aboriginal brothers and sisters with our confession," it said.

The The United Church of CanadaUnited Church of Canada formally apologized to formally apologized to Canada's First Nations people in 1986, and offered its Canada's First Nations people in 1986, and offered its second apology in 1998 for the abuse that happened at second apology in 1998 for the abuse that happened at residential schools.residential schools.

"To those individuals who were physically, sexually, and "To those individuals who were physically, sexually, and mentally abused as students of the Indian Residential mentally abused as students of the Indian Residential Schools in which the United Church of Canada was Schools in which the United Church of Canada was involved, I offer you our most sincere apology," the involved, I offer you our most sincere apology," the statement by the church's General Council Executive said.statement by the church's General Council Executive said.

Intergenerational ImpactsIntergenerational Impacts

The unresolved trauma of Aboriginal people who The unresolved trauma of Aboriginal people who experienced or witnessed physical or sexual experienced or witnessed physical or sexual abuse in the residential school system is passed abuse in the residential school system is passed on from generation to generation. on from generation to generation.

The ongoing cycle of intergenerational abuse in The ongoing cycle of intergenerational abuse in aboriginal communities is the legacy of physical aboriginal communities is the legacy of physical and sexual abuse in residential schoolsand sexual abuse in residential schools

The definition of intergenerational impacts and the The definition of intergenerational impacts and the legacy of residential schools abuse follows:legacy of residential schools abuse follows:– ““Intergenerational impacts” refer to “the effects of the Intergenerational impacts” refer to “the effects of the

physical and sexual abuse that were passed on to the physical and sexual abuse that were passed on to the children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren of children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren of Aboriginal people who attended the residential school Aboriginal people who attended the residential school system.system.

Impacts that intergenerational Impacts that intergenerational survivors face on a day to day basissurvivors face on a day to day basis

Alcohol and drug abuseAlcohol and drug abuse Sexual abuseSexual abuse Psychological and emotional abusePsychological and emotional abuse Low self esteemLow self esteem Dysfunctional Families and interpersonal Dysfunctional Families and interpersonal

relationshipsrelationships Chronic depressionChronic depression Rage and angerRage and anger Sleeping disordersSleeping disorders Wide variety of other psychological effectsWide variety of other psychological effects

Many generations of Inuit, Metis and First Many generations of Inuit, Metis and First Nations children spent the greater part of Nations children spent the greater part of their childhood in residential schoolstheir childhood in residential schools

The abuse and neglect that they suffered The abuse and neglect that they suffered while there, left its mark on their adult lives, while there, left its mark on their adult lives, as well as the lives of their descendents as well as the lives of their descendents whose families have been characterized by whose families have been characterized by further abuse and neglect.further abuse and neglect.