Indigenous Residential Schools

We are all a product of our history. Unfortunately, the Aboriginal community of Canada’s past is quite devastating. Although residential schools were decades ago, we are still seeing the aftermath of them lingering amongst us today. Some very apparent examples of mental health issues due to this fallout are: depression, suicide, and violence. “The effects of colonization and governmental policies of forced assimilation continue to cause acculturative stress and marginalization amongst the Aboriginal population.” Residential schools put a huge gap in cultural life as those students were raised without the love or the benefit of oral tradition passed along from their ancestors. In contrast, they were only capable of passing their torturous experiences

It is said, that First Nations living off the reserve have depression rate of 12% compared to the general populations rate of 7%. Sadly, the rate is much higher for First Nations living on reserves. Ways to help treat and prevent this on-going issue of depression in Aboriginal communities is to host cultural events. Promoting personal wellness through community and school based activities have already proven to bring much enlightenment to this society. Furthermore, also having counseling and treatment services readily available to Aboriginals on and off reserves is another alternative to decreasing the vast amount of cultural

Therefore, this contributed to a lack of a family unit. “One time he dragged me by my hair from behind the skidoo.” That quote is part of a story a thirty six year old Saskatchewan First Nations woman tells as a punishment her husband gave her. Statistics show that Aboriginals are three times more likely than non-Aboriginals to experience violent victimization. The most frequent violent offense reported is physical assault. Approximately 75% of sexual assault survivors in Aboriginal communities are girls under the age of eighteen. However, even more astonishingly, twenty five percent of those girls are under the age of seven. Also, between the years of 1997 to 2000 the murder rates for Aboriginal women compared to non-Aboriginal was almost seven times higher. Strategies to help this on-going issue, are to transform family and community systems as well to build long-term community healing. This includes active protection of victims from abusers, confrontation, and containment of abusers as well as the use of safe