residential schools

what powers did the indian act give the Canadian government?

virtual complete control on first nations on reserves

what is a residential school

system of boundary schools funding by the Canadian government taught by christian churches to assimilate the indigenous

System began in the 1840s; most schools closed by 1970s; last school closed in 1996.

purpose of residential schools

assimilate indiengous into society

“kill the indian in the child”

how many r estimated to have attended a residential school

150,00 kids, 30% of the national population

living conditions at res. school

poor funded

lack of medical care

poor marinated facilites

what king of education was provided at res. schools

inadequate, insufficient,

teachers had no credituals and would teach them bc they did care

abuses occurred at res. schools

sexually, psyicoal abuse

malnutrition,

forced labour

what challenges did those who attended res. schools often expiernece

trouble fitting into either cultures

how was inter generational trauma caused by the school system

ppl had be scared by expierneces, and those scars pass on to their children

reconciliation definitions

regaining friendly relations / repairing a broken relationship

why is reconciliation a long processes

actions speak louderr than words and it takes longer to show that we are sorry, we need to uncover all truths

role of truth and reconciliation commision

to gather evidence on the truths surging residential schools, make suggestions as to how can we make ammends

the components of the res. school settlement agreement

#1 - the common expiernece payment

2 - independent assessment process

3 truth and reconciliation commison

4 commemoration

5 health and healing services

what r explores of calls to actions in the 94 calls to action

land acknowlemneg

gr 11 course dedicated to indigenous

establishment of our nation day for truth and reconcillation

pope allogizing

why is the a hesitance to call residential schools system a genocide

some who experience genocide r hesitant to equal as the same thing it to a genocide bc its a delicate word to say

it would lesson the meaning of genocide of their experience to holocaust survivors

why is it important that canadian understand the impact of res. school and other injustices epxpeirenced by first nations

we can be more familiar w reconicllaiton

the indian act

•In 1876 Parliament passed the Indian Act, which gave the government nearly complete control over the lives of First Nations people on reserves. 

•The goal of the Indian Act was to assimilate Indigenous peoples into the broader Canadian society.

but in

•In 1920 Parliament changed the Indian Act and required all children between the ages of 7 and 15 to go to a residential school (and illegal for them to attend any other educational institution).

why was punishment ‘ok’ in res. schools and what other deaths were there

•Physical punishment was often justified by a belief that it was the only way to save souls, civilize the savage, or punish and deter runaways. 

•Overcrowding, poor sanitation and water quality, inadequate heating, and lack of medical care led to high rates of illness and death.

why labour ?

•Residential schools were severely underfunded and often relied on the forced labour of their students to maintain their facilities. 

This was often presented as training the students skills that would be needed to obtain employment and integrate into Canadian society after graduation.

what was the prize for graduating

• Residential school graduates could vote, but most Indigenous people couldn't until 1960.

• Citizenship and status: To gain full Canadian citizenship, Indigenous people had to give up their status, losing certain government benefits.

challenges for ind. to come home

• Struggles fitting in: Residential school graduates often couldn’t fit into their communities or Canadian society.

• Poor education: The quality of teachers and training was inadequate, making it hard for graduates to find jobs.

• Cultural disconnection: Returning home was difficult due to a loss of cultural knowledge and language barriers with family.

number 1 the common experience payment

• $1.9 billion set aside: For all surviving residential school residents.

• Payment structure: $10,000 for the first year of schooling, and $3,000 for each subsequent year.

• 80,000 eligible students were entitled to the compensation.

• Average payment: $28,000 per former student.

the independent assessment process

• Independent Assessment Process: An out-of-court process to resolve claims of sexual, physical, and psychological abuse.

• Compensation: Maximum payment of $275,000, with an additional $250,000 for loss of income.

• Applications: Over 38,000 people have applied for compensation.

• Payouts: More than $3 billion has been paid, with claims still being processed.

3 - truth and recnoncillition commission

• Truth and Reconciliation Commission: $60 million set aside for a 5-year commission to uncover the truth about residential schools.

• Task: To create a comprehensive historical record of the schools’ policies and operations.

• Survivor statements: The commission gathered statements from around 6,000 survivors through public and private meetings across Canada.

4 - commemoration fund

• Commemoration fund: $20 million set aside for 144 commemorative projects.

• Purpose: Promote Aboriginal languages, cultures, values, and recognize resiliency and achievements.

5 - Health and Healing Services

• : $125 million allocated to the Aboriginal Healing Foundation.

• Purpose: To support former students' mental and emotional health.

Enfranchisement

is a legal process that granted full Canadian citizenship to First Nations people in Canada, ending their status as "Indians" under the Indian Act: