In “Legend of the Sugar Girl”, written by Joseph Boyden, the effects that residen-tial schools had on First Nations People in both their adolescent and subsequent years, are brought to light. They were taught new traditions, languages, and ways of life which ultimately lead to a loss of identity and an unimaginable future. As shown in the re-search, from the late 1800s to 1996, over 100,000 First Nations children were enrolled in residential schools in Canada. At these institutes, the children experienced emotional, sexual, and physical abuse; with punishments for reasons such as simply speaking their own language. Likewise, in the story, the “Sugar Girl” lost her identity as all of her tradi-tions that were native to her before were simply …show more content…
Firstly, the most profound effect that residential schools had on the First Na-tions children was the loss of their Indigenous languages and traditions. As Boyden discussed, many children were punished and physically abused whenever they com-mitted a wrong doing such as speaking their mother tongue at the residential schools. Because of this, First Nations children lost their Indigenous languages at an early age as they attended the schools. The children were forced to attend residential schools as Million states that the they “were removed by priests, social workers and police to residential schools” (2000). Many parents of the First Nations children simply felt that they “had no choice but to do what the government told them” (Boyden 184) as they were …show more content…
We learn that after the children left the residential schools in the “Legend of the Sugar Girl” it was already too late as the elders were too old now to teach them the ways of their people. It is known that a strong spiritual connection exists between the First Nations and the Nature that surrounds them. Rajotte describes this as he states “all of life is spiritual: everything that exists, animals, plants, people, rocks, the sun and stars have elements of sacred-ness” (1998). The Elder First Nation peoples trickled down spiritual teachings to their children. But in the “Sugar Girl’s” case, “her parents were too old now to go back and live in the bush, to teach her brothers and sisters how to hunt and trap and make Indian clothing and prepare game for eating. That life was gone” (Boyden 190). Due to the fact that many of the First Nations children lost their mother tongue, the children could no longer learn about the spiritual beliefs and rituals of their people. Blair et al states that “spirituality was all encompassing, affecting not only their thoughts about the spirit world but also their knowledge of places, plants and animals and traditional skills such as fishing, trapping, and tanning” (2002). If the First Nations children did not
Five Little Indians by Michelle Good is a moving tale that exposes readers to the brutal truth of Canada's residential school system. The story follows five Indigenous people who, after years of abuse and suffering at these schools, are left to negotiate life as adults in Vancouver. Michelle Good invites readers to confront painful facts about Canadian history via their journeys of healing and reconciling with the past. The backstory for Five Little Indians is similarly interesting. Michelle Good, a member of the Red Pheasant Cree Nation in Saskatchewan, draws on her personal experiences and significant study to bring this narrative to life.
The perception was that Native American adults had a limited ability to learn new skills and concepts. Later in the report, it is expressed that children learn little at day school, causing their “tastes to be fashioned at home, and [their] inherited aversion to toil is in no way combated. ”11 Davin recommended that similar industrial boarding schools should be built in Canada, which would attempt to assimilate Native children into the European culture.12 Nicholas Flood Davin’s research and advances about the industrial schools in America, was important in the creation and developing of the Residential school system in
End the Mission Fairy Tale "When a white army battles Indians and wins, it is called a great victory, but if they lose it is called a massacre," - Chiksika, Shawnee. Native American writer and poet, Deborah A. Miranda in her online articled “Lying to Children About the California Missions and the Indians” published in March 23, 2015 addresses the topic of the “Mission Unit” that 4th graders are required to take and claims that the false story that is taught should be put to an end. She supports her claim by first providing a brief story of the missionization of California, then by explaining what the Mission Project consists of, then by including book examples on how people are taught the false stereotype of Native Americans and finally by
Introduction The little community of Attawapiskat, Ontario, Canada has been and is currently facing an immense loss due to a high amount of youth suicides. The community has been under a state of emergency since April 2016 after many of the community’s youth have tried to or succeed at committing suicide. These suicides have been the product of colonialism and intergenerational trauma from the generations that came before them. The devastation in the community can teach Child and Youth Care practitioners how to put into action programs that build youth’s strengths and resilience as well as overcome any negative factor that have been created during this epidemic.
Seven Fallen Feathers Book Review Racism is a problem that has plagued Indigenous people since colonization. Seven Fallen Feathers: Racism, Death, and Hard Truths in a Northern City by Tanya Talaga is a non-fiction book covering the tragic deaths of seven Indigenous high school students in Thunder Bay, Canada. Talaga covers the crisis that took place in Northern Ontario between 2000-2011 and how it relates to the big picture problem that is historical mistreatment and ongoing neglect towards Indigenous communities. The author is an award winning Canadian journalist and author, having mixed Indigenous and Polish heritage, she concentrates much of her work on Indigenous people and problems in Canada. This book is an important read for any Canadian
Native Americans in Canadian society are constantly fighting an uphill battle. After having their identity taken away in Residential Schools. The backlash of the Residential Schools haunts them today with Native American people struggling in today 's society. Native Americans make up five percent of the Canadian population, yet nearly a quarter of the murder victims. The haunting memories of Residential Schools haunt many Native Americans to this day.
We Were Children, the documentary on residential schools, is a re-enactment of two aboriginal children and their first hand experiences in the residential school system. The kinds of problems this documentary presented include mistreatment faced by the children who attended these schools, corruption and scandal inside the administration of the schools, and the false perception about these schools that resonated amongst Canadian society. These two children talk about the bullying they had to endure from the nuns which show that the children were not seen as equal to a child of non-Aboriginal decent. Furthermore, the types of abuse administration would put these kids through was immensely disturbing considering this was a state run institution.
Imagine being ripped apart from family members, culture, tradition, and labelled a savage that needs to be educated. Imagine constantly facing punishment at school for being one’s self. Unfortunately, these events were faced head on for many First Nations people living in Canada in the late 20th century. These First Nations people were the victims of an extensive school system set up by the government to eradicate Aboriginal culture across Canada and to assimilate them into what was considered a mainstream society.
Indigenous people are incarcerated at much higher rates than non-Indigenous in Canada and are incarcerated for longer periods of time (Cook & Roesh, 2012, p.222). Canadians have put Indigenous communities through much heartache and pain. With the colonization of Indigenous people to residential schools, Canadians continue to stigmatize and treat Indigenous people poorly. Indigenous people are more likely to suffer from drug abuse using needles because of the intergenerational trauma suffered through their parents attending residential schools in Canada (Bombay, Matheson, & Anisman, 2014, p. 327). This puts them at a higher criminal risk than others because of what they have been subjected to.
These schools have been described as an instrument to wage intellectual, psychological, and cultural warfare to turn Native Americans into “Americans”. There are many reports of young Native Americans losing all cultural belonging. According to an interview with NPR, Bill Wright was sent to one of these schools. He lost his hair, his language, and then his Navajo name. When he was able to return home, he was unable to understand or speak to his grandmother.
The chapter vividly portrays the silencing of Indigenous voices, leaving these students feeling alone and without agency. The separation from their culture and identity further intensified the sense of dislocation and isolation experienced by Indigenous children in residential schools. Therefore, through this chapter, Downie highlights the need for awareness and understanding of the trauma experienced by Indigenous children, which has long-lasting effects, ultimately leading to the importance of reconciliation with
The TRC’s “The History” author appeals to logos through the use quantitative findings. The use of logical evidence from the collection of testimonials made by former residential school students is an effective way to aid the persuasion of a reader. Throughout “The History”, the author describes the memories of known First Nations peoples Frederic Ernest Koe, Marlene Kayseas, Lily Bruce and many others. In addition, the author quotes Vitaline Elsie Jenner’s use of ‘kaya nakasin’ (TRC, 2015, p.38) in describing her experience with residential school. The author’s example that contains the use native language reaffirms his credibility and detailed knowledge of the
The Impact of Domestic Violence on the Aboriginal Community Domestic violence in Aboriginal community is a cause for concern regarding Aboriginal women 's health and safety. According to Kubik, Bourassa, and Hampton (2009) “In Canada, Aboriginal women have faced destruction in their communities and families as a result of multiple forms of oppression. Aboriginal women experience the highest rates of violence and abuse of any population in Canada”(p.29). Domestic violence is defined by Merriam-Webster’s Online Dictionary (2015) as “ the inflicting of physical injury by one family or household member on another; also: a repeated or habitual pattern of such behavior”. The objective is to look at the cause of domestic violence aimed at Aboriginal
By doing this, colonial Canadians assumed that aboriginal cultural and spiritual beliefs were invalid in relation to European beliefs (244). The problem with ridding the First Nations Peoples of their languages, as Williston points out is to “deprive them of the sense of place that has defined them for thousands of years” (245). The private schooling system was an attack on First Nations identities, and their identity is rooted in “a respect for nature and its processes” (245).
Residential Schools was an enormous lengthening event in our history. Residential schools were to assimilate and integrate white people’s viewpoints and values to First Nations children. The schools were ran by white nuns and white priests to get rid of the “inner Indian” in the children. In residential schools, the children suffered immensely from physical, emotional, sexual and spiritual abuse. Although the many tragedies, language was a huge loss by the First Nations children.