'christian' boarding school abuse of Native Children

[SUNDAE]

A more complete history of the abuses endured by Native American children exists in the accounts of survivors of Canadian “residential schools.” Canada imported the U.S. boarding school model in the 1880s and maintained it well into the 1970s—four decades after the United States ended its stated policy of forced enrollment. Abuses in Canadian schools are much better documented because survivors of Canadian schools are more numerous, younger, and generally more willing to talk about their experiences.

A 2001 report by the Truth Commission into Genocide in Canada documents the responsibility of the Roman Catholic Church, the United Church of Canada, the Anglican Church of Canada, and the federal government in the deaths of more than 50,000 Native children in the Canadian residential school system.

The report says church officials killed children by beating, poisoning, electric shock, starvation, prolonged exposure to sub-zero cold while naked, and medical experimentation, including the removal of organs and radiation exposure. In 1928 Alberta passed legislation allowing school officials to forcibly sterilize Native girls; British Columbia followed suit in 1933. There is no accurate toll of forced sterilizations because hospital staff destroyed records in 1995 after police launched an investigation. But according to the testimony of a nurse in Alberta, doctors sterilized entire groups of Native children when they reached puberty. The report also says that Canadian clergy, police, and business and government officials “rented out” children from residential schools to pedophile rings.

This is horrible! As a Canadian I'm deeply ashamed of my government's apathy when it comes to addressing past abuses. Sometimes it takes years of litigation by native groups before they can get any semblence of recognition. And I have yet to hear an apology

 

[SUNDAE]

In all fairness, I had to come back and say the gov of Canada did indeed apologise for their part in the atrocities committed by the residential schools.

This was in 1998 (a bit on the late side, don't you think?)

Here's the link:http://www.oneworld.org/ips2/jan98/canada2.html

As well, one of the churches responsible:

1998-OCT-27: United Church moderator issues apology: The Right Reverend Bill Phipps, Moderator of The United Church of Canada read an apology directed to former students of United Church Indian Residential Schools, their families and communities. It said, in part: "As Moderator of The United Church of Canada, I wish to speak the words that many people have wanted to hear for a very long time. On behalf of The United Church of Canada, I apologize for the pain and suffering that our church's involvement in the Indian Residential School system has caused. We are aware of some of the damage that this cruel and ill-conceived system of assimilation has perpetrated on Canada's First Nations peoples. For this we are truly and most humbly sorry."

There is still a problem with the 'white-washing' of the history taught in schools today. Some things- such as the attempted assimilation of our first nations in residential schools- are conveniently left out.

 

[praying]

Shesh, over did it a little, doncha think?

I did not say anyone was getting weathy, I'm referring to the rampant cultural apathy found in a lot of people of 'native' ancestry. Sadly, it seems a lot of people only care about what 'tribe' they were in because it means handouts, benefits, scholarships and a means of ripping off the state.

The point of it is, we can't rely on what little is left to carry on the history and culture... it must be taught in schools and carried on by all children.

First I think Cherokee might have over reacted, but why do feel that it is handouts? How do you know of the rampant cultural apathy of Native Americans?

What people fail to understand regarding Native American and African Americans is the United States government created and supported vast and extreme inequites in our cultures. At one point it was illegal for Native Americans to speak their own native tongue in some states as it was for Africans brought on the slave ships. Why, so as to completely cut them off from their cultrue and heritage. It is extremely difficult to look at past injustices with a completely objective eye.

.

 

[wildthing]

The American policy of the late 19 early 20th centuary was to have Frist Nation people to assimilate into the general American population. This was done by whatevery means seem appropriate at that time. it must be noted that all our treaties with Frist Nation granted them soverignty (self determanation). The policies did not follow this. So what we did was no different than what another country did. Won't say who if stated we call it Flaming. Truthfully we talk history and honesty look at it you cannot say we are flaming. The "Christian School" forgot that they were dealling with children who loved their parents. after all they were a Godless people
(not my oppinon)

 

[I_are_sceptical]

I visited a certain historical site and discovered, to my horror and digust, an exhibit which stated the policies of the Carlisle Indian School were beneficial to the students. I don't even know why that exhibit was there, since the site and the school had no connection (that I know of).



I prayed for people to love one another which IMO is the best solution to racism.

 

[pieman3141]

THAT'S A LIE!!!11!!!!!

Calling each others liars isn't the best way to go...

 

[billwald]

I have talked with hundreds of Indian People.

No argument that their land was stolen by the white people but the Indian People could have adopted tne good parts of the white culture and prospered along side the white people. In Washington State, the Reservation land is generally as productive as the land the white people stole. In the 60's, the Indian People were given equal access to the fishing.

(The Plains Indians had a much rougher row to hoe)

Just down the road, the Indian People have built a humongus casino and shopping center. Far as I can tell, most of the employees look like white people.