Europeans wrongs. Some lasting effects that are still present today include …show more content…
But hope is finally emerging from what seemed to be an elongated dark period. Aboriginal peoples are struggling to improve their lives while rediscovering their transition and cultures.
Similarly, non aboriginal peoples are becoming more aware of the prolonged effects of the past abuse targeted towards the aboriginal peoples. In order for non- aboriginal peoples to support the healing process and further the mutual respect that is developing they must further their understanding of the pain and hardship that took place for decades following the cultural genocide. In the early 1800’s the Canadian government began removing children from their homes and placing them in residential schools. Partnered with the
Anglican, Catholic, United and Presbyterian churches the Canadian government operated these schools, segregating the aboriginal children from their culture in order to forcefully eliminate all aspects of aboriginal culture in the new generation. It was commonly said that the main objective of these schools was
“to kill the Indian in the child.” But for the Canadian government the goal …show more content…
June 11th, 2008, Stephan Harper wrote an apology on behalf of all
Canadians for the involvement in the residential schools. He wrote that the
“two primary objectives of the Residential Schools system were to remove and isolate children from the influence of their homes, families, traditions and cultures, and to assimilate them into the dominant culture. These objectives were based on the assumption Aboriginal cultures and spiritual beliefs were inferior and unequal. Indeed, some sought, as it was infamously said, "to kill the Indian in the child". Today, we recognize that this policy of assimilation was wrong, has caused great harm, and has no place in our country.” Then he continued and stated that “The burden of this experience has been on your shoulders for far too long. The burden is properly ours as a
Government, and as a country. There is no place in Canada for the attitudes that inspired the Indian Residential Schools system to ever prevail again. You have been working on recovering from this experience for a long time and in a very real sense, we are now joining you on this journey. The Government of
Canada sincerely apologizes and asks the forgiveness of the