RESIDENTIAL SCHOOLS BY CAYDEN SADIE AND LARYSSA WHO

RESIDENTIAL SCHOOLS BY: CAYDEN, SADIE AND LARYSSA

WHO WAS INVOLVED • Sir Charles Bagot, Gov. Gen, decided to assimilate aboriginal children into Canadian society • The Bagot Commission Act allowed residential schools to help with the process • Indigenous and aboriginal leaders also thought residential schools would be good to help the children make a successful transition to the new world/society • Sir John A. Macdonald created a fund to support the school system • Catholic churches ran the residential school, taught the children • An estimated 150 000 kids attended the schools and 6000 of those died. Records are incomplete so they are only estimates.

WHAT IS A RESIDENTIAL SCHOOL? • A boarding school • Supported by the Canadian government • Made for aboriginal children to assimilate them into the Canadian society • They were isolated from their culture and had to give it up • Removed from their homes and families • Taught to forget their culture • Eliminate parental influence of culture on their kids • Indian Act 1876, made attendance mandatory

HOW WERE THEY TREATED? • . . . in my first meeting with the teacher , he showed me a long black leather strap and told me, threw the interpreter, "if you are ever caught speaking Indian this is what you will get across you hands. " • Considered less than equal • If mentioned their culture/family or spoke in their first language, they would be abused • Some would try to escape • When they were caught leaving or disobeyed the rules, there would be severe punishments (physical and emotional abuse)

WHERE WERE THE RESIDENTIAL SCHOOLS • Schools were located in every province and territory in Canada except for: Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick, and Newfoundland • The schools operated from 1870 s to 1990 s

WHY WERE THERE RESIDENTIAL SCHOOLS? • To assimilate different cultures (intergrate them into Canadian society) • Remove and isolate from the influence of their home, family, traditions and cultures.

BEFORE AND AFTER This is what it would look like after they cut their hair and change their clothes. It shows how they would change their look so they would forget their culture.

This would be at bedtime when they pray before going to bed that the catholic priests would teach them to do

HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE • It is significant today because we now see it as a symbol of racism and discrimination of our country’s history • We have learned from their mistakes • Aboriginals have learned to stand up for their rights • We today now know the difference between right and wrong from our past • We know that residential schools were abusive and went against all aboriginal rights • Created Truth and Reconciliation commission of Canada to help others understand the history of the tragedy • To bring both cultures together to have a mutual understanding and respect for each other

NEWSPAPER ARTICLE • This shows what goes on inside a residential school. That it isn't the safest place.

LETTER FROM A RESIDENTIAL SCHOOL • Students were allowed to send letters home from the school. • Most likely the letters were read by someone else before sent home to make sure they weren’t revealing what was going on during school, how they were treated

5. 30 Pupils rise 6. 00 Chapel [religious service] 6. 30– 7. 15 7. 30 Bedmaking, washing, milking and pumping Inspection of pupils in the school rooms to see if they are clean and properly dressed, their condition, health & c. , a note being taken of those requiring attention, if of clothes, this is done by the sister directly after dinner Breakfast 8. 00– 9. 00 Fatigue [chores] for small boys 8. 00 Trade boys go to work 9. 00– 12. 00 School with 15 minutes recess. 12. 00– 12. 10 Prepare for dinner [lunch] 12. 10– 12. 40 Dinner [lunch] 12. 40– 2. 00 Recreation 2. 00– 4. 00 6. 00– 6. 10 School and Trades Fatigue [chores], such as milking, carrying coal, ashes, filling tanks, wood boxes, pumping, sweeping Prepare for supper 6. 10– 6. 40 Supper 6. 40– 8. 00 Recreation 8. 00 Prayer and retire [to bed] A DAY IN A RESIDENTIAL SCHOOL 7. 15– 7. 30 4. 45– 6. 00

SOURCES • https: //www. thecanadianencyclopedia. ca/en/article/residential-schools • https: //www. google. ca/amp/s/stutig. wordpress. com/2014/12/15/historicalsignificance/amp/ • https: //goo. gl/images/jb 5 MJq • https: //goo. gl/images/DSRBHn • canadiangenocide. nativeweb. org • archives. algomau. ca