Justice versus Conscience

The key points of the First Nations Residential Schools in Canada are as follows:

1. Establishment: The First Nations Residential Schools were established in the late 19th century and operated into the late 20th century, with the last school closing in 1996. These schools were primarily run by Christian churches in partnership with the Canadian government, and were funded by the federal government.

2. Forced Removal of Indigenous Children: Indigenous children from First Nations, Inuit, and Métis communities were forcibly removed from their families and communities and sent to residential schools. This policy of forced removal was part of the Canadian government’s attempt to assimilate Indigenous peoples into Euro-Canadian culture and suppress their language, culture, and spirituality.

3. Cultural Genocide: Indigenous children in residential schools were subjected to cultural genocide, as they were forcibly stripped of their language, culture, and traditional practices. They were forbidden from speaking their native languages, practicing their spiritual beliefs, or engaging in traditional cultural activities, resulting in the loss of language, culture, and intergenerational trauma.

4. Abuse and Neglect: Many Indigenous children in residential schools experienced physical, sexual, and emotional abuse, as well as neglect. There were numerous reports of physical punishment, sexual abuse, malnutrition, and inadequate healthcare in these schools, resulting in significant trauma and impacts on the mental, emotional, and physical health of the survivors.

5. High Mortality Rates: Many Indigenous children died while attending residential schools due to disease outbreaks, inadequate healthcare, and unsanitary living conditions. The mortality rates in these schools were often much higher than those in the general Canadian population, and the bodies of many children who died were never returned to their families, leading to the discovery of unmarked burial sites in recent years.

6. Intergenerational Impacts: The legacy of the residential schools continues to affect Indigenous communities in Canada today. The trauma, loss of language and culture, and other impacts have been passed down through generations, resulting in ongoing challenges such as mental health issues, substance abuse, poverty, and cultural dislocation.

7. Truth and Reconciliation: The Canadian government established the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) in 2008 to investigate and document the history and legacy of the residential schools. The TRC held hearings across the country, heard testimony from thousands of survivors and their families, and released its final report in 2015, which included 94 recommendations for reconciliation.

8. Calls to Action: The TRC’s final report included 94 Calls to Action, which provide a roadmap for addressing the legacy of residential schools and achieving reconciliation. These Calls to Action include measures such as implementing the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, addressing the health and welfare of Indigenous children, supporting language and culture revitalization efforts, and addressing the over-representation of Indigenous children in the child welfare system, among others.

9. Apologies and Reparations: The Canadian government and various Christian churches have issued apologies for the role they played in the establishment and operation of the residential schools. Some churches have also provided financial reparations to survivors and their families as part of the reconciliation process.

10. Importance of Indigenous Perspectives: The First Nations Residential Schools have brought to light the importance of listening to and centering Indigenous perspectives and knowledge in addressing the impacts of colonialism, promoting healing, and achieving meaningful reconciliation with Indigenous peoples in Canada.