NationStates Jolt Archive

So I am writing an article that I am hoping to be published in a journal with regards to residential school. What I am looking at is that the objective of these schools wasn't to educate the students that resided in them but to ensure that their culture was destroyed completely. However, I have found a little bit of both and have printed with broad brushstrokes about what occured at these schools, some estimates saying 50,000 people died in a one hundred year history.

So I have written 8 pages so far and hope to have the goal of 16-20 pages completed by Nov.

I remember reading a book about res schools when I was younger, called "My Name is Seepeetza," by Shirley Sterling. I believe it has some factual content, or something. It might help you get an idea of the times, even if it is technically a kid's book.

So I am writing an article that I am hoping to be published in a journal with regards to residential school. What I am looking at is that the objective of these schools wasn't to educate the students that resided in them but to ensure that their culture was destroyed completely. However, I have found a little bit of both and have printed with broad brushstrokes about what occured at these schools, some estimates saying 50,000 people died in a one hundred year history.

So I have written 8 pages so far and hope to have the goal of 16-20 pages completed by Nov.
...what the devil are you talking about?

...what the devil are you talking about?

I think you need to be Canadian to understand.

...what the devil are you talking about?

Im curious about this too, do you have a lnk or something that explains what you're talking about? It sounds intruiging.

I think you need to be Canadian to understand.

I understand, can we widen the rule a bit?

http://www.religioustolerance.org/sch_resid.htm

Link.

Basically in short, since the early 1890s, to 1996 when the last Residential school was in Canada, these were created to assimilate and destroy Aboriginal Canadian culture in all the Native tribes we have in Canada, including our Inuit and Metis.

So in a hundred years, there was at its maximum nearly 80 schools built in Canada for native students and nearly 200,000 native children were place in these schools, some violently, they were ripped away from their families, and some authors make the claim that nearly 1/4 or 50,000 died of disease, and were plainly murdered.

I think you need to be Canadian to understand.

That may be more and more likely as time goes on...me being Canadian, that is. Assuming you Canucks can accept me. If I immigrate to Canada. Which I may.

http://www.religioustolerance.org/sch_resid.htm

Link.

Basically in short, since the early 1890s, to 1996 when the last Residential school was in Canada, these were created to assimilate and destroy Aboriginal Canadian culture in all the Native tribes we have in Canada, including our Inuit and Metis.

So in a hundred years, there was at its maximum nearly 80 schools built in Canada for native students and nearly 200,000 native children were place in these schools, some violently, they were ripped away from their families, and some authors make the claim that nearly 1/4 or 50,000 died of disease, and were plainly murdered.

...Thanks :(

http://www.religioustolerance.org/sch_resid.htm

Link.

Basically in short, since the early 1890s, to 1996 when the last Residential school was in Canada, these were created to assimilate and destroy Aboriginal Canadian culture in all the Native tribes we have in Canada, including our Inuit and Metis.

So in a hundred years, there was at its maximum nearly 80 schools built in Canada for native students and nearly 200,000 native children were place in these schools, some violently, they were ripped away from their families, and some authors make the claim that nearly 1/4 or 50,000 died of disease, and were plainly murdered.
...that's horrible. Canada performed its own genocide...how disgusting and cruel!

There certainly are regrettable moments in our history, yes. This was certainly one of them - though it must be noted that in the aftermath, successive Canadian governments have gone well out of their way to address this injustice, not to mention make amends for it - and of course, this is an ongoing process, due to the scope of the original wrongheaded policy.

We've had our share of idiocy and darkness. I like to think we've made a lot of progress between then and now.

There certainly are regrettable moments in our history, yes. This was certainly one of them - though it must be noted that in the aftermath, successive Canadian governments have gone well out of their way to address this injustice, not to mention make amends for it - and of course, this is an ongoing process, due to the scope of the original wrongheaded policy.

We've had our share of idiocy and darkness. I like to think we've made a lot of progress between then and now.

Wasnt there recently an armed standoff between Canada and some village?

There certainly are regrettable moments in our history, yes. This was certainly one of them - though it must be noted that in the aftermath, successive Canadian governments have gone well out of their way to address this injustice, not to mention make amends for it - and of course, this is an ongoing process, due to the scope of the original wrongheaded policy.

We've had our share of idiocy and darkness. I like to think we've made a lot of progress between then and now.

I certainly hope so. I was thinking Canada stood as a beacon of justice amongst the various nations of North America that practiced genocide at one point or another. Shows what I knew.

Wasnt there recently an armed standoff between Canada and some village?

There is a continual standoff between the Aboriginal six Nations near Caledonia and the O.P.P. For a housing development which is native land.

There is a continual standoff between the Aboriginal six Nations near Caledonia and the O.P.P. For a housing development which is native land.

Im just saying, the US did many miserable things to its Native American population, but now there is at least something resembling a peace. As long as we keep our noses out of their rituals that violate federal law, we seem to get along just fine. Why is it that Canada still has fierce problems with their native nations?

I certainly hope so. I was thinking Canada stood as a beacon of justice amongst the various nations of North America that practiced genocide at one point or another. Shows what I knew.

Sorry to let you down. No, we have had just as much potential for abuse as any other nation in North America. But like I said, we're trying very hard to make up for it, not just sweep it aside. And yes, Montacanos there is an ongoing dispute in Caledonia, in southern Ontario - with friction between natives and townsfolk happening. I think it's fair to say all sides would like to resolve that and other disputes to the satisfaction of all - or at least to the accomodation of as many on either side as possible. After all, the spirit of compromise is something we all ostensibly pride upon ourselves.

Im just saying, the US did many miserable things to its Native American population, but now there is at least something resembling a peace. As long as we keep our noses out of their rituals that violate federal law, we seem to get along just fine. Why is it that Canada still has fierce problems with their native nations?

I think you're characterizing the nature of this and other disputes improperly. Smacks of sensationalism.

I think you're characterizing the nature of this and other disputes improperly. Smacks of sensationalism.

Im far too tired today to engage in sensationalism. Im simply remarking that Canada seems to have a modern problem with communication and diplomacy in regards to its native element. Im curious as to why.

Im far too tired today to engage in sensationalism. Im simply remarking that Canada seems to have a modern problem with communication and diplomacy in regards to its native element. Im curious as to why.

I disagree. I think we have a native population that is increasingly self-confident and not afraid of taking stands when and where they deem it necessary. And I don't have a problem with that. There's still work to be done where righting wrongs are concerned, and if it takes lighting a fire under our asses to force an end to perceived inaction, so be it.

Sorry to let you down. No, we have had just as much potential for abuse as any other nation in North America. But like I said, we're trying very hard to make up for it, not just sweep it aside. And yes, Montacanos there is an ongoing dispute in Caledonia, in southern Ontario - with friction between natives and townsfolk happening. I think it's fair to say all sides would like to resolve that and other disputes to the satisfaction of all - or at least to the accomodation of as many on either side as possible. After all, the spirit of compromise is something we all ostensibly pride upon ourselves.
Meh, it's okay. For a wee bit there I was wondering if you guys were inhuman monsters with no human faults whatsoever. Polite monsters, that is. Extremely polite.

...yes I'm kidding.

In any case, I hope that situation does resolve itself soon. It's a shame that kind of situation even happens in this day and age, all things considered.

So I am writing an article that I am hoping to be published in a journal with regards to residential school. What I am looking at is that the objective of these schools wasn't to educate the students that resided in them but to ensure that their culture was destroyed completely. However, I have found a little bit of both and have printed with broad brushstrokes about what occured at these schools, some estimates saying 50,000 people died in a one hundred year history.


Experiences with residential schools seem to have been quite varied, although largely negative. the policy was definitely assimilation at best and cultural genocide at worst, and "education" was largely a tool to achieve that end. However, different nations and different people had different experiences; the program was quite different depending where you lived, and what nation you came from. I've even heard one prominent native leader describe his residential school experience as overwhelmingly positive. However, that leader is something of an assimilationist himself.

This is by no means a problem that is unique to Canada. Parts of the US had a similar set-up (indian boarding schools), as did Australia.

The biggest downstream effect is probably the effect it has had on family life in native communities. Combined with the 60's child welfare scoop, the residential school system meant that generations of native children did not grow up in their homes. As a result, many communities were unable to pass on parenting skills from one generation to the next, having a devastating effect on family life. Residential schools were also rife with sexual and other forms of abuse, contributing greatly to the high levels of abuse, alcoholism, and other social problems experienced in native communities today.

We've had our share of idiocy and darkness. I like to think we've made a lot of progress between then and now.

I think for the most part our hearts are in the right place, but I question how much progress we are actually making. While it should be evident that it is impossible for people to prosper without a land base, land claims negotiations are moving at a snail's pace, and all of the while native communities are accumlating debts just in order to fund the costs of staying at the table. It could get to the point where the value of the settlements will be severely if not entirely eroded by the debts incurred to negotiate them.

Also, we seem to be heading entirely the wrong direction on governance. We keep trying to impose our own mechanisms for accountability onto an already flawed band council system, ignoring the fact that you can't really hold bands accountable for the success or failure of programs that were designed in Ottawa anyway.

bump