Aboriginals and Residential Schools

Aboriginal people includes the Inuit, First nations and Metis regardless of their place of
residency in Canada and whether they have registration under the Indian Act of Canada or not.
The residential school system of Canada is attended by the aboriginal students, including
boarding school, industrial schools, hostels, home for students, residential schools, billets or
combination of the above.
The Canadian government formed the Aboriginal Healing Foundation in March 1998. These
are administered by the Christian churches. In a study by Miller (2008), the purpose of the
residential schools was to incorporate Aboriginal kids into conventional Canadian society by
distracting them from their families and communities and removing all ties with languages,
customs and beliefs. Children in these residential schools were educated disgrace and denial for
their heritage, together with their ancestors, their families and their sacred traditions.
The impact of this education system was compounded by the sexual and physical abuse that
children faced in these schools. In a book named Residential Schools A Chronology (2009), the
situation was described as killing the Indian in a child. The teachers in the schools wanted to the
innate dominance of white people and values.
In a study by Miller (1996), many cases were documented about students being beaten,
curbed in dark closets, sexually assaulted or strained to remain on knees or with arms extended
for a stretched period of time. The conduct endured while attending the schools left scars that
would disturb the students for the rest of their lives.

This is important for society to understand the impact of this behavior on the lives of
children, their families as well as the entire society. The children suffered from physical as well
as mental disconnection due to this. To heal their scars it is really important to understand the
trauma they suffered. The severe impact of this includes:

Self loss of culture tradition and spiritual beliefs resulting in loss of confidence and self

identity.
Loss of nurturing and guidance from family
Families felt the discomfort in expressing their love and affection to children.
Communication barrier within the family
Emotional abuse
High rates of family violence and suicide.
Lacking in traditional skills
Feeling of isolation within own community
Racism
These impacts are very drastic for overall societys growth and development. Not only the

children who faced the physical abuse are the sufferers but also the other who is directly or
indirectly linked to them suffered a lot. It is now important to take a step ahead for healing the
wounds of the survivors. In a study by Claes and Clifton (1998), restoring health and stability
within Aboriginal families and communities requires a perceptive of the impacts of loss and grief
experiences by them. These losses include the loss of relationship with parents, siblings, elders
and other family members, language and communication methods, spiritual customs and
traditions, parenting skills, ancestral values and beliefs and cultural pride and indentify.
It is important to work effectively for healing the impacts of the residential school
survivor. The approach should be sustained and holistic. At the personal or individual level the
non judgmental support should be given to the survivors to help them overcoming their own
traumas and transforming their motive to self care. The community as a whole should try to

reconnect with the survivors so that they can regain their confidence and get a new hope towards
the life.
The political counselors and frontline workers should grant additional support to aboriginal
clients to regain their right to justice and self determination. Survivors should also be encouraged
to reconnect with the culture, history and their native language with the support of their elders,
workshops, traditional people and the cultural ceremonies.
In a study be Yellowhorse Braveheart and Killstraight (2003), based on the principle that
ordeal must be recognized before remedial action can be taken to help the therapeutic release of
emotions, along with concise psycho-educational group sessions to improve the ability of
individuals to handle optimistically with the cumulative trauma. The corrective action is required
to avoid the condition of re-victimization of the survivors due to their own metal disturbance and
trauma. The healing should also follow the sacred ways so that they can reconnect with their
spiritual beliefs again. The healing is important for regaining the physical, emotional, mental
and spiritual empowerment.
Conclusion: The aboriginal people suffered physical and sexual abuse in the residential schools
in Canada. They were forced to disconnect for their families, culture and traditional beliefs.
Many of them lost the battle due to sever punishments along with sexual abuse. The survivors are
still suffering from the trauma and to heal them it is important that society as a whole should take
a step ahead and help them in regaining their lives.

References:
Claes, R. and D. Clifton, 1998. Needs and expectations for redress of victims of abuse at
residential schools. Ottawa: Law Commission of Canada.
J.R. Miller, 2008-06-11. "Residential Schools". The Canadian Encyclopedia. Retrieved 2012-0710.
Residential Schools A Chronology, Assembly of First Nations, accessed January 19, 2009.
Yellowhorse Braveheart, M. and B. Killstraight, 2003. Historical trauma, Indigenous knowledge
and healing. Ottawa: National Aboriginal Health Organization Conference.