Indian Residential Schools in Canada the painful legacy

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• published: 18 Feb 2008
• views: 135746

Just a note for anyone wanting to post bullshit. I am not obligated to post racist (on either side of the spectrum), nonsensical ("at least they got an education", "the holocaust was worse so what are they complaining about", or "they should just pull themselves up by the bootstraps" just a few examples) comments or anything which just shows 1) you didn't watch the video 2) you have no knowledge of history or 3) you are an ass. Don't like it? Tough shit. My video, my rules. Canada's Indian Residential School system was responsible for the loss of culture and self-identity for hundreds of thousands of Aboriginal children. Recently, the government has made an apology to former students and the First Nations, in general, for the policy that was the root cause of many of the problems in aboriginal communities and with individuals, today. As well, legal cases - both individual as well as class-action -- have gone forward against individuals for physical, mental and sexual abuse perpetrated by staff at these schools. The government has instituted dispute resolution processes to deal with cases of abuse, as a method of achieving healing. The Common Experience Payment, a landmark agreement involving the federal and provincial governments, the courts, First Nations groups, the communities and individuals to compensate every former Residential School Student in Canada for each year they spent in Residential School is well under way. It marked an historic point in Canadian history, a turning point in the treatment and recognition of Aboriginal people across Canada. In the next several years, The Truth and Reconciliation Commission will begin hearings to bring about healing to those people who lost loved ones to the system, who were damaged physically and emotionally by their removal to Residential School, and to bring together the Native peoples and the rest of Canada.