Residential Schools: Reconciliation Project

Written Dialogue:

The current (2006-2017) Government of Canadas views on Residential

schools

What role did Canadas government play in Residential Schools?

Stephen Harper: During my time as Prime Minister, I, on behalf of the Government

of Canada, offered an apology to all former students of residential schools in
Canada. This apology openly recognized the assimilation policy that the schools
were built upon, and the regret that has now fallen from it. I strongly believe that
the policy and the schools were wrong, caused great harm, and had no place in our
country. This apology was one of the first steps the government has taken in trying
to forge a new relationship with the Indigenous peoples in Canada.

Justin Trudeau: I was the first person in my position to officially respond to the
work of the TRC. Seven years since the historic apology to the survivors of the
Indian residential schools made by Stephen Harper, I continue to firmly believe that
the words of the apology still remain true and timely, and so does the request for
forgiveness.

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How was Canadas government affected by Residential Schools?

Stephen Harper: After the apology announcement was made on behalf of the
Government of Canada, many of the views First Nations communities and
individuals had on the government had changed. They began to look at us from a
different point of view, where they saw that we are not the same government that
placed them in the residential schools, but the government that took them out of
them.

What perspective does Canadas government hold in regards to

Residential Schools and their past impacts?

Justin Trudeau: Our goal, as we move forward together, is clear: it is to lift this
burden from their shoulders, from the families and communities affected. The
Government of Canada needs to fully accept our responsibilities, and our failings as
a government and as a country. I did not learn much about indigenous peoples in
my Canadian history class, and I promise to you that that will never happen again. It
is time for Canada to have a renewed, nation-to-nation relationship with Indigenous
peoples, based on recognition, rights, respect, cooperation, and partnership. This is
both the right thing to do and a sure path to economic growth. We will immediately
re-engage in a revived nation-to-nation process with Indigenous peoples to make
progress on the issues most important to First Nations, the Mtis Nation, and Inuit
communities; issues like housing, infrastructure, mental and physical health care,
community safety and policing, child welfare, and education. As a part of this
improved relationship , we will do more to make sure that the voices of Indigenous
peoples are heard. As Prime Minister, I will meet with First Nations, the Metis Nation,
and Inuit leaders each and every year as a Liberal government obligation. Stephen
Harpers changes to the Canada Elections Act have made it harder for Indigenous
peoples to exercise their right to vote. We will cancel on those changes. Finally, we
will ensure that the Kelowna Accord is embraced, and that its objectives are
implemented in a manner that meets todays challenges.

What might Canadas government suggest in regards to dealing with

intergenerational trauma?

Stephen Harper: In 2007, we announced the Common Experience Package for

residential school survivors, which was worth nearly $2 billion. The settlement
included a common experience payment, an independent assessment process,
commemoration activities, measures to support healing and the creation of an
Indian Residential Schools Truth and Reconciliation Commission to act as an
independent body and to provide a safe and culturally appropriate place for former
students and others affected by the residential school system to share their
experiences.

Justin Trudeau: I do recognize that many of the mental health conditions

Aboriginals people are suffering from are a direct result of the relationship
Aboriginal people have had historically to the Canadian Government. I have pledged
to work with indigenous leaders, provincial governments, the churches who were
also parties to the Residential School Settlement Agreement, and others to design a
national engagement strategy for developing and implementing a national
reconciliation framework. I have called upon the federal government, as well as
provinces, territories, and municipalities, and recommended them to help improve
the lives of First Nations, Metis, and Inuit peoples in areas such as justice, health,
education, child welfare, language, and culture.

How does Canadas government react to the following quote said by

John A. MacDonald in 1883?

When the school is on the reserve the child lives with its
parents, who are savages he is surrounded by savages. Indian children
should be withdrawn as much as possible from the parental influence
Stephen Harper: The treatment of children in Indian residential schools is a sad
chapter in our history. Two primary objectives of the residential schools were to
remove and isolate children from the influence of their homes, families, traditions
and cultures, and to assimilate them into the dominant culture. We now recognize
that, in separating children from their families, we undermined the ability of many
to adequately parent their own children and sowed the seeds for generations to
follow and we apologize for having done this. We apologize for failing to protect you.
For the child taken, for the parent left behind, we are sorry.

How does Canadas government react to the following quote said by

Duncan Campbell Scott, the Deputy Superintendent of the
Department of Indian Affairs in the Special Committee of the House
of Commons in 1920?

I want to get rid of the Indian problem. I do not think as a

matter of fact, that this country ought to continuously protect a
class of people who are able to stand alone...our object is to
continue until there is not a single Indian in Canada that has not
been absorbed into the political body and there is no Indian question
and no Indian Department.

Justin Trudeau: There is no such thing as a model or ideal Canadian. What could
be more absurd than the concept of an all Canadian boy or girl? A society which
emphasizes uniformity is one which creates intolerance and hate. There is no core
identity, no mainstream in Canada. Those qualities are what make us the first
postnational state. Diversity is the engine of invention. It generates creativity and
enriches the world. We define a Canadian not as a skin colour or a language or a
background, but by a shared set of values, aspirations, hopes, and dreams.

Reflection:

To what extent should contemporary Canadian society respond to

the legacies of the residential schools that were part of Canadas
historical globalization?

Quote opinion will address:

I want to get rid of the Indian problem. I do not think as a matter of fact,
that this country ought to continuously protect a class of people who are able
to stand alone...our object is to continue until there is not a single Indian in
Canada who has not been absorbed into the political body and there is no
Indian question and no Indian Department.
-Duncan Campbell Scott: Deputy Superintendent of the Department of
Indian Affairs, Special Committee of the House of Commons, March 30, 1920.

Contemporary society should respond to the legacies of historical

globalization to an extent that covers all areas of Indigenous peoples mental
health, physical health, and the overall safety and protection of them and
their children in today's society. Regarding the TRC Calls to Action, under the
category of Health, #18 and #20 were significant in that they were direct in
asking the government to understand that because of previous government
policies, Aboriginals have forcibly succumb to a loss of identity. The present
government must now recognize, respect, and address the needs of the
Aboriginal peoples, as well as acknowledge the current state of their health
following the residential schools, and must implement the health care rights
that they need to cope with their dreary past. These are both important
because many residential school survivors, as well as ones that have become
parents, are having a hard time understanding how to emotionally connect
with their children and other people, reacting with violence and criticism, as
that was how they visually learnt to take control while in the residential
schools. As terrible as it is, there is no way for society to reverse what has
happened. However, there is always a way to help. These fortunate survivors
need to feel respected, like they belong here in the life outside of a
residential school, rather than feeling like it would have been better to die
there. These struggling cultures must be provided with the support they
need, as well as the strenuous amounts of recognition they deserve. Society
should respond to their needs in such a way, that their history and further
existence will never be forgotten.
Issuing the statement made by Deputy Superintendent Duncan Campbell
Scott, of the department of Indian affairs, it is important to note the
undoubtable sense of determination in the tone of Scotts message. He was
concerned with how the presence of the Indigenous may contradict with the
way the Europeans wanted to own the land, and he had a very strong opinion
on what the perfect course of action should be. Assimilating the Aboriginals
was the only way to put the Indigenous under their control, as this would
gain them full access to the land they believed was theirs to take.
Contemporary Canadian society should more strongly acknowledge and
show continuous efforts towards helping the Aboriginals with reconnecting to
their many cultures that were lost, as well as encouraging them to spread
and share their recovering ways of life with the world around them. The
Indigenous peoples that were once previously under horrendous Canadian
control should no longer feel afraid of who they have become through the
residential schools, nor angry at and distrustful of the government for
making them this way. They should no longer look at the current and
forgiving Government of Canada as someone who assimilated their culture
and homogenized their people, but as someone who is desperately trying to
bring them back to life.

http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/residential-schools/
https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2015/12/15/time-to-lift-the-burden-of-residential-
schools-trudeau-says.html
https://zone.biblio.laurentian.ca/bitstream/10219/384/1/NSWJ-V7-art3-p63-85.PDF
https://www.aadnc-aandc.gc.ca/eng/1307460755710/1307460872523
https://www.liberal.ca/realchange/a-new-nation-to-nation-process/