"In 1928, a government official predicted Canada would end its 'Indian problem' within two generations. Church-run, government-funded residential schools for native children were supposed to prepare them for life in white society. But the aims of assimilation meant devastation for those who were subjected to physical, sexual and emotional abuse. Decades later, aboriginal people began to share their stories and demand acknowledgement of —and compensation for— their stolen childhoods" (picture & text from: http://archives.cbc.ca/society/education/topics/692/).
Originally started in the 19th century, Canada’s residential schools system reached its peak in the early 1930s; the last school of its kind closed its doors in 1996. The principle of the system was very simple: assimilation of Aboriginal kids to white culture and erasure of indigenous heritage. The means to implement such goals are pretty common, among others: sequestration of children and interdiction to speak native languages. Canadian society has taken some steps in order to deal with this past, but Aboriginal families are of course suffering from it in ways that are difficult to fully measure. On June 2, 2008, The Indian Residential Schools Truth and Reconciliation Commission started its work; it is still active and working on finding ways to heal (http://www.trc.ca/).
Every single person we met from the Anishinaabe Nation during our visit in Kenora and Grassy Narrows mentioned the residential schools system. Every one of them had a memory of it, either from having experienced the system themselves or from knowing someone in the family who had. Telling this story is difficult and heavy; listening to it is difficult and heavy too. The wounds left by this past are long to heal. It is the story of survivors who carry the weight of memories through time. The community as a whole needs to heal.
We are sitting outside in Grassy Narrows, looking out on to the lake and the Pow Wow ground; something there is very peaceful and traditions have been preserved despite all of it. If only the past could lose its grip and let go of these heavy memories! Maybe each of us, by listening to them, made them very very slightly lighter… the echo, at least, has stayed with me!
*Current exhibit on the history of residential schools: http://www.wherearethechildren.ca/
It sounds as if Canadians are very "American" in their treatment of their native peoples.
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