10 Facts about Residential Schools

Facts about Residential Schools will inform us with a network of schools for the Indigenous people in Canada. The residential schools are often called boarding schools. They are intended for the First Nations people, Inuit and Metis people. All of them are considered as the indigenous people of Canada. The Christian churches administered the residential schools. The Canadian government’s Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development funded the schools. If you are curious to know more about the schools, check the complete post below:

Facts about Residential Schools 1: the objective

The objective of the school is to assimilate the indigenous people into the dominant culture in Canada.

Facts about Residential Schools

Facts about Residential Schools 2: the number of native children

The number of the native children attended the residential schools were around 150,000 children. They made up around 30 percent of all native children. While in attendance, around 6,000 of them died.

Facts about Residential Schools 3: the active system

After the Indian Act in 1876 enacted, the system of residential schools was active.

Facts about Residential Schools 4: the last closed residential school

The last residential school closed was situated in Saskatchewan in 1996.

Facts about Residential Schools 5: the compulsory attendance

It was compulsory for the First Nations Children to attend the industrial schools, day schools or residential schools after Indian Act in 1894 was passed.

Facts about Residential Schools 6: the distance

The residential school was the only option for the native children whose houses were far away from the schools.

Facts about Residential Schools 7: the pass system

The usage of pass visit restricted the parent to meet their native children in the residential school.

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Facts about Residential Schools 8: the negative impact

The native children who stayed in the residential schools were prone to sexual and physical abuse. Removing the children from their families made them alienated. When they graduated from the schools, most of them could not fit to the Canadian society. They could not communicate with the families since they were forced to speak French or English.

Check Also: (10 Facts about Religious Education)

Facts about Residential Schools 9: a public apology

Prime Minister Stephen Harper offered a public apology on 11 June 2008. The truth about the schools was exposed by the Indian Residential Schools Truth and Reconciliation Commission nine days before the public apology.