Residential schools operated for 150+ years. Over 150,000 Indigenous children were taken against their will and thrown into schools, where christianity was forced upon them, and they suffered sexual, physical and emotional abuse. At least 6000 or more of those children died while in the system, buried in unmarked graves on school grounds. 67 percent of schools were run by the Roman Catholic Church, 20 percent by the Anglicans, 10 percent by the United Church, 3 percent by the Presbyterian Church. The last school closed in the year 1996.
In justifying the government’s residential school policy, Canada’s first prime minister, Sir John A. Macdonald, told the House of Commons in 1883: “When the school is on the reserve, the child lives with its parents who are savages; he is surrounded by savages, and though he may learn to read and write, his habits and training and mode of thought are Indian. He is simply a savage who can read and write. It has been strongly pressed on myself, as the head of the Department, that Indian children should be withdrawn as much as possible from the parental influence, and the only way to do that would be to put them in central training industrial schools where they will acquire the habits and modes of thought of white men.”
The residential school system was basically cultural genocide, devised to annihilate the identities of Indigenous Peoples by literally beating the traditional ways, cultures and languages out of Indigenous children. Now that (including the fact that Canada whitewashed its bloodsoaked history) truly is savage.
Former students are called “survivors,” and my grandparents were among them. When my grandfather was still a boy, he remembered how his parents had chased him away from home. He was told to hide and to be quiet. So he stayed hidden in the bushes and watched as other children were being separated en masse from their families.
Listening to recollections of their traumatic experiences within residential schools always made my heart ache; but my grandparents were strong and resilient throughout their hardships. I loved them dearly. My grandmother died 12 years ago, and I recently lost my grandfather. He passed away on May 2, 2019 at 3AM. Attending his funeral has been difficult for me… I held his cold hands for what seemed like an eternity, I did not want to let him go. Then I kissed him goodbye on his forehead.
Through my everyday strife nohkom gave me advice, started changing my life by making a paradise for me. Taught the discipline I needed to know, she used to be the old chief so I’m a leader in my soul. Thanks to nihmasohm for teaching me the wisdom. With language in my blood I am keeping tradition. Nijanihwak, since you believed in your children, I’d like to say: Kisakihitin, forever and a million.
Payatakih-nipanihmasohm. Nohkom eko nataw. Moht osome kaywisakenten.
6 comments
I’m Canadian, however my parents were first generation Eastern European immigrants so I don’t have ancestral ties here. Regardless, I do recognize residential schools are our national shame and I support indigenous self-governance. RIP to your grandfather.
It’s good to know that we have non-Native allies in Canada. Gives me a bit of hope that things might change in the future. So your words are gratefully acknowledged and appreciated.
May your Grandparents rest peacefully now. I am sorry for your loss.
Thank you. From the bottom of my heart, it sincerely means a lot to me.
Interesting didn’t know about that, but I’m not surprised trying to control the masses has been going on since the beginning of time. Most of the time it starts with good intentions then turns into something Evil.
Yeah but from the get-go Canada’s intentions were pure evil. Calling us uncivilized godless savages is dehumanizing and racist. It’s ridiculous that my culture was even considered to be “satanism.”
PS. Ignore the cross and bible in the picture. I’m not religious. Accepting christianity would be like spitting in the faces of my ancestors — personally it’s just wrong and disrespectful; but the idea of it comforted my late grandfather and there was no harm in that.