Residential Schools Case Study

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Over 150,000 students with 80 schools across Canada, and a goal to diminish native traditions (CBC News, 2008, “History of Residential Schools” para. 2). This was what many children had to endure because of their family tree. The pain and suffering started in 1857 (Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada, 2010) when Canada's first residential school opened. Teachers and nuns ran the schools in hopes of changing the lives of native children. Brutal beatings, and sexual abuse was only a fraction of punishments toward the children. All across Canada residential schools were opened to manipulate the minds of students living there. The purpose of residential schools was to eliminate all aspects of Aboriginal Culture. Students had their hair cut short, they were dressed in uniforms, and their days were strictly regimented by timetables. Unfortunately residential schools caused a tragedy for many Aboriginal people and because of this, there were many lessons to be learned. The Human Rights Violations were ignored in many ways, the children were forced to learn unfamiliar context and the United Church of Canada played a major role in the teaching and beliefs of the students, and the students were stripped from their identity; left with nothing but traumatizing memories. Even though the Aboriginal community suffered greatly and had to live through the emotional, physical, and sexual abuse many Canadians have gained information about this topic and now know what the Government was doing to eliminate the Aboriginal culture. Firstly, the living conditions in residential school were well below par and many of the faculty members who were unqualified as teacher did not care about the well being of the children attending their scho... ... middle of paper ... ...to liability - because he was buggering boys in the basement and that sort of thing - and he sues us we’re in all sorts of trouble.’” (Milloy, 2010). If the all the archives were to be presented as proof many members of the Catholic churches would be in situations where they would have to explain their actions for the abuse towards many children. Although the majority of people knew what was going on the representatives of the Presbyterian and Anglican churches refused to provide documents because Protestant faiths do not share the same privacy concerns of those who are of Catholic faith (Curry, 2010). One major reason the churches will not disclose held information is because there has been a concern among Catholics that retirees living in the church residences will be embarrassed knowing their church has been a subject to the residential schools (Curry, 2010).

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