Since there's no ~history at the moment that I can see, I thought this section of the Atlas might be a good introduction to part of Canada's past that has had far reaching effects today. There's...
Since there's no ~history at the moment that I can see, I thought this section of the Atlas might be a good introduction to part of Canada's past that has had far reaching effects today.
There's very few people that I've met within my province that I work with or interact with on a regular basis that are fully aware of the actions that the Canadian federal government took against the indigenous people across the country since its inception. It's worth a read and to follow through to at the "Road to Reconciliation" chapter to help summarize where Canada's indigenous relations seem to be at in a more current day context.
The IRSSA in 2006 (Indian Residential Schools Settlement Agreement) has had wide-ranging effects both on survivors and on the federal government of Canada. The Truth and Reconciliation Commission, which concluded in 2015, provided a large list of 'calls to action' to pursue a path towards true reconciliation between indigenous people of Canada, the federal government, and other Canadians.
Here's some questions that occurred to me as I read through this;
1 - Was the IRSSA settlement comprehensive enough for the massive task it faced?
2 - Did anyone follow the televised Truth and Reconciliation Commission's survivor's interviews (2008-2015)?
3 - What other examples might there be of historical (or current) federal policy that would be construed as deeply oppressive towards a segment of the population?
Thank you for this very informative and comprehensive post. I knew only a little about this terrible issue. I agree, a ~history would be great for this kind of long-form post.
Thank you for this very informative and comprehensive post. I knew only a little about this terrible issue.
I agree, a ~history would be great for this kind of long-form post.
Thanks! I had learned about some of it in high school thanks to an exceptional social studies teacher, but I guess it's not really covered in much detail in lots of places across the country. One...
Thanks! I had learned about some of it in high school thanks to an exceptional social studies teacher, but I guess it's not really covered in much detail in lots of places across the country.
One thing that surprised me was that basically the entire TRC and the permanent National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation basically wouldn't exist without the 2006 ruling that resulted in the IRSSA. Part of me was kind of hoping that the creation of the TRC had been part of a government initiative, rather than something that only got legs because it had been brought before the court.
I didn't even learn about residential schools until I was in university, which is downright shameful. A lot of the racism against indigenous people in Canada exists because people don't have a...
I didn't even learn about residential schools until I was in university, which is downright shameful. A lot of the racism against indigenous people in Canada exists because people don't have a clue what happened in recent history (residential schools and 60s scoop) and the continued oppression that still occurs. I hear so many comments that they should just "get over it already" and they usually come from folks that don't have any idea that residential schools abused children physically, emotionally, sexually, taught them to be ashamed of their own culture and spirituality, and in some cases even sterilized them. It is a difficult thing to just get over, especially when keeping in mind that the last school didn't close until 1996.
I'm glad that this stuff is finally being taught in schools and hopefully this will be the first step towards treating indigenous people with more compassion and empathy.
I have literally followed up a "they should just get over it, it's ancient history" comment with the last school closed in 1996, well within our lifetime, and people (co-workers, well educated...
I have literally followed up a "they should just get over it, it's ancient history" comment with the last school closed in 1996, well within our lifetime, and people (co-workers, well educated tech industry) didn't believe me. Looked it up on Canadian government's own website, showed them and basically got shrugs.
That's disappointing, but I'm hopeful that younger generations will be better if they are taught at a young age. If anyone is interested in learning more, check out the TRC website: Truth and...
That's disappointing, but I'm hopeful that younger generations will be better if they are taught at a young age.
I tried to find the death count of children in residential schools on the TRC site, but didn't have any luck. I did come across this CBC article that says:
In media interviews, TRC chair Justice Murray Sinclair has also revealed that the TRC has documented the deaths of over 6,000 residential school students as a result of their school experience, adding that there are probably more. It appears more about the number will await a later commission report.
Those 6,000 deaths put the odds of dying in Canadian residential schools over the years they operated at about the same as for those serving in Canada's armed forces during the Second World War.
Yes, as I understand it, the outcry from activists and the public brought it about. I am not Canadian, but I love your podcasts and the CBC in general, so I have a bit of accrued knowledge, but...
Yes, as I understand it, the outcry from activists and the public brought it about. I am not Canadian, but I love your podcasts and the CBC in general, so I have a bit of accrued knowledge, but very incomplete.
Since there's no ~history at the moment that I can see, I thought this section of the Atlas might be a good introduction to part of Canada's past that has had far reaching effects today.
There's very few people that I've met within my province that I work with or interact with on a regular basis that are fully aware of the actions that the Canadian federal government took against the indigenous people across the country since its inception. It's worth a read and to follow through to at the "Road to Reconciliation" chapter to help summarize where Canada's indigenous relations seem to be at in a more current day context.
The IRSSA in 2006 (Indian Residential Schools Settlement Agreement) has had wide-ranging effects both on survivors and on the federal government of Canada. The Truth and Reconciliation Commission, which concluded in 2015, provided a large list of 'calls to action' to pursue a path towards true reconciliation between indigenous people of Canada, the federal government, and other Canadians.
Here's some questions that occurred to me as I read through this;
1 - Was the IRSSA settlement comprehensive enough for the massive task it faced?
2 - Did anyone follow the televised Truth and Reconciliation Commission's survivor's interviews (2008-2015)?
3 - What other examples might there be of historical (or current) federal policy that would be construed as deeply oppressive towards a segment of the population?
Thank you for this very informative and comprehensive post. I knew only a little about this terrible issue.
I agree, a ~history would be great for this kind of long-form post.
Thanks! I had learned about some of it in high school thanks to an exceptional social studies teacher, but I guess it's not really covered in much detail in lots of places across the country.
One thing that surprised me was that basically the entire TRC and the permanent National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation basically wouldn't exist without the 2006 ruling that resulted in the IRSSA. Part of me was kind of hoping that the creation of the TRC had been part of a government initiative, rather than something that only got legs because it had been brought before the court.
I didn't even learn about residential schools until I was in university, which is downright shameful. A lot of the racism against indigenous people in Canada exists because people don't have a clue what happened in recent history (residential schools and 60s scoop) and the continued oppression that still occurs. I hear so many comments that they should just "get over it already" and they usually come from folks that don't have any idea that residential schools abused children physically, emotionally, sexually, taught them to be ashamed of their own culture and spirituality, and in some cases even sterilized them. It is a difficult thing to just get over, especially when keeping in mind that the last school didn't close until 1996.
I'm glad that this stuff is finally being taught in schools and hopefully this will be the first step towards treating indigenous people with more compassion and empathy.
Edit: Corrected weird formatting.
I have literally followed up a "they should just get over it, it's ancient history" comment with the last school closed in 1996, well within our lifetime, and people (co-workers, well educated tech industry) didn't believe me. Looked it up on Canadian government's own website, showed them and basically got shrugs.
Shameful really is the word.
That's disappointing, but I'm hopeful that younger generations will be better if they are taught at a young age.
If anyone is interested in learning more, check out the TRC website:
Truth and Reconcilation Commission of Canada
I tried to find the death count of children in residential schools on the TRC site, but didn't have any luck. I did come across this CBC article that says:
Yes, as I understand it, the outcry from activists and the public brought it about. I am not Canadian, but I love your podcasts and the CBC in general, so I have a bit of accrued knowledge, but very incomplete.