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Period: 1534 to
Early colonization of Canada
The early colonization of Canada came with the brutal take over of indigenous land. The process of assimilation started early when the europeans started to introduce christianity and other religions to indigenous communities. -
Earliest Missionary school
The Récollets establish the first missionary school near Quebec City. Ever since the discovery of the "New World" the assimilation of indigenous communities has been a priority of the church. -
The First Residential School
Again the the Récollets establish the first Residential school near Quebec City. This was the start of the aggressive assimilation of aboriginal children. This was the beginning of a horrible history that to this day effects many indigenous people and communities. They would cut children's hair, forbid them from speaking their own tongue, forced them to convert to European religions and ways of life. If they did not listen to the rules give they would be beaten or worse. -
Mohawk Indian Residential Opens
Known as the "Mushhole"by survivors because of the terrible food served there. This is considered the oldest residential school of the Residential School System as acknowleged by the Indian Residential Schools Settlement Agreement (IRSSA). “If I were appointed by the Dominion Government for the express purpose of spreading tuberculosis, there is nothing finer in existance that the average Indian residential school.” — N. Walker, Indian Affairs Superintendent (1948). -
Period: to
Gradual Civilization Act, Constitution Act and Dominion Lands Act
All these acts further separated and assimilated the indigenous community. -
Indian Act
“And I looked at my dad, I looked at my mom, I looked at my dad again. You know what? I hated them. I just absolutely hated my own parents. Not because I thought they abandoned me; I hated their brown faces. I hated them because they were Indians.” Mary Courchene, formerly a student at the residential schools at Fort Alexander in Manitoba and Lebret in Saskatchewan. -
Indian Act
Once the Indian Act is created the government had full control to Indian affairs and land. This act has had many versions the earliest ones held the most rules that pushed assimilation and stripped many of human rights. From a persons status to their will after they die, the government had control over. This act had three main focuses, band councils, reserves and status but it's primary purpose was to assimilate the aboriginal communities. -
Restrictions on Traditional Ceremonies
Potlatches and other ceremonies such as the Sun Dance, became prohibited. -
Accusations of abuse
Allegations of sexual and physical abuse surface from Rupert's Land School in Slekirk, Manitoba.
Most of the time it was teachers or church officials that would be the abusers but as time went on, the older students turned to abusing younger students as a way to deal with their own trauma and emotions.
1 and 3 students were sexually assaulted during their time at residential schools. -
Government and Church join forces
The federal government and certain christian churches create a formal agreement to operate residential schools. “Those schools were a war on Aboriginal children, and they took away our identity. First of all, they gave us numbers, we had no names, we were numbers, and they cut our hair. They took away our clothes, and gave us clothes … we all looked alike.” Doris Young, who attended the Elkhorn residential school in Manitoba. -
Forty-Five Residential Schools Operating across Canada
“If I were appointed by the Dominion Government for the express purpose of spreading tuberculosis, there is nothing finer in existance that the average Indian residential school.” — N. Walker, Indian Affairs Superintendent (1948). -
Amendment to the Indian Act Constrains Growth of Reserves
Amendment to the Indian Act: Aboriginal people can be removed from reserves located near or within towns of more the 8,000 inhabitants. -
A National Crime
A officer for the Indian Affairs, Peter Henderson Bryce reports on the terrible conditions within the residential schools stating they are "Dangerous to health". In 1922 he self-published a complete report on these finding tilted "A National Crime" -
New regulations added to the Indian Act
Amendment to the Indian Act : Western aboriginals must seek official permission before appearing in Aboriginal "costume" in any public dance, show, exhibition, stampede or pageant. -
Residential schools made Mandatory
Duncan Campbell Scott, Deputy Superintendent of Indian Affairs, makes Residential Schools mandatory. Government officials had the righto remove children from reserves with as much force as nessecary -
Inuits gain Indian Status
The Supreme Court of Canada determines that Inuits are now "classified" as Indians. -
Integration and standardization
The federal government begins to enforce provincial curriculum standards to residential schools and began to integrate aboriginal students into the regular school system. -
Period: to
Residential Schools In the North?
The residential school system expands north adding schools and hostels for Inuit students in the north -
The Beginning of "Scooping" of indigenous Children
When amendments to the Indian Act gave the provinces jurisdiction over indigenous welfare (Section 88). After nearly a century of discrimination, abuse and neglect from the Canadian government, many indigenous communities were left in poverty, high death rates and high substance abuse rates. The government saw it as their responsibility to take children out of those communities and provide a more "suitable" home for them instead of providing community resources and support. -
Revisions to the Indian Act
With the new revisions added to the Indian Act, women are allowed to participate in band votes and the prohibitions on traditional practices and ceremonies are removed. -
Should we Close Residential Schools?
Indian Affairs inspectors recommend abolition of residential schools.
Children were being starved, neglected, abused and more. Even the students that made it all the way through residential schools, they would only have the equivalent to an 8th grade level of school and they would not be accepted into euro society nor their previous band. “I am going to tell you how we are treated. I am always hungry.” — Edward B., a student at Onion Lake School (1923). -
Sixty Residential Schools in Operation
Appox. 10,000 students attending 60 residential schools across Canada.
“And I looked at my dad, I looked at my mom, I looked at my dad again. You know what? I hated them. I just absolutely hated my own parents. Not because I thought they abandoned me; I hated their brown faces. I hated them because they were Indians.” Mary Courchene, formerly a student at the residential schools at Fort Alexander in Manitoba and Lebret in Saskatchewan. -
How many were effected by the sixties scoop?
During this height of the sixties scoop indigenous children were overrepresented in the child welfare system. In 1964 the number of aboriginal children in provincial care in British Colombia was over 50 times more than it had been in 1951. The scooping was most popular in the prairies. In Manitoba between 1971 and 1981 appox. 3,400 indigenous children were adopted, up to 80% to non-indigenous families. -
Period: to
The Sixties Scoop
Provincial governments decided the removal of indigenous children was the fastest and easiest way of dealing with Aboriginal child welfare issues. Most of the time the system did not require the social workers to have specific knowledge or training about indigenous child welfare. They also did not gain or ask permission of communities to "scoop" children. It wasn't until 1980 that the workers had to notify the band councils of a child's removal from the community. -
Indians get to vote
Amendment to the Indian Act: Indians can vote without having to give up their Indian status. -
Government takes back control
The partnership between the federal government and churches ends. The federal government takes over the residential school system and transfer of the control of the schools back to Indian bands begins. -
Twelve Residential Schools operating in Canada
These 12 schools are defined by the Indian Residential Schools Settlement Agreement. This does not include the many schools that were not part of that agreement. -
Canada Recognizes Aboriginal Peoples
The constitution Act is amended and affirms and recognizes the rights of "Indian, Inuit and Metis peoples of Canada" -
Period: to
Some churches apologize
The United Church, the Catholic Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate, the Anglican Church and the Presbyterian Church issue formal apologies for their affiliation and participation in Residential Schools. -
Oka Crisis
Beginning on March 11, between the Mohawk Nation and the town of Oka, Quebec. It was the first series of violent conflicts in the late 20th century between Aboriginal peoples and the government. -
Phil Fontaine Speaks Out
Phil Fontaine, later the National Chief of the assembly of First Nations, speaks publicly about the abuse he suffered at residential school. "It needs to be addressed immediately. We can't afford to wait," — Phil Fontaine -
Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples
The final report of the royal commission on aboriginal peoples in released. -
Last Residential School Closes
The Gordon Indian Residential school, closes in Punnichy Saskatchewan. Making it the last federally-run residential school to close. -
Class Action Lawsuit Annouced
AFN National Chief Phil Fontaine announces a class action lawsuit against Government of Canada over the residential school system. -
Federal Apology
Prime Minister Stephen Harper apologizes to Residential school survivors on behalf of Canada. -
The Catholic Church Apologizes.. Kind of?
Even though the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops continues of refuse to issue a formal apology, Pope Benedict XVI expressed "sorrow" about the abuse during residential schools to Phil Fontaine. -
Todays effect from Residential Schools
Even to this day you can see the effects of residential schools. Many reserves are still in poverty and are still dealing with loss of children to the provincial care system. There are more people Many of those who were victims of residential schools turned to alcohol or drugs too numb the trauma. Since there had been so much abuse put onto these children, a lot did not learn how to properly handle their emotions and with that came abusing their own children, creating a very sad cycle. -
Today's effect from Sixties Scoop
Since so many children had been taken from their "unsuitable" homes and relocated by the province it was hard to keep track of all the cases open. Meaning most caretakers didn't have proper background checks and families only saw a social worker one after the adoption went through. Many children, now grown adults still out of place, not belonging in their native lands or in their adopted families. Some resented the families that could not take care of them while others understood.
