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Stolen Lives: The Indigenous Peoples of Canada and the Indian Residential Schools
Explore our online resource on the Indian Residential Schools and their long-lasting effects on Canada’s Indigenous Peoples.
Aggressive Assimilation
Facing the resilience of indigenous traditional education in Canada, Prime Minister Sir John A. Macdonald, who was also Minister of Indian Affairs, commissioned Nicholas Flood Davin, a journalist, lawyer, and politician, to go to Washington, DC, in 1879 to study how the United States tackled the same issue.
Historical Background: The Indian Act and the Indian Residential Schools
Go deeper into the history of the Indian Act and the founding of the Residential Schools system.
Introduction: Stolen Lives
Read a foreword by Theodore Fontaine and other introductory material that will help you begin exploring this book.
Prime Minister Harper's Apology
As part of the Indian Residential Schools Settlement Agreement, a Truth and Reconciliation Commission was established. Before its work got under way, Prime Minister Stephen Harper issued a public apology on June 11, 2008, on behalf of the Canadian government. The apology is part of the process arranged by the government and the First Nations as parties to the agreement, part of an overall attempt to address the government’s role in the history of the Indian Residential Schools.
"The Welcome"
Gilbert Oskaboose's tells the story of a child caught between the traditional ways of his people and the non-Indigenous culture at a residential school.
Are Apologies Enough?
Consider two Indigenous leaders' reflections on the shortcomings of Prime Minister Stephen Harper's public apology in achieving movement toward justice and reconciliation.
The Churches Apologize
Read apologies given by churches of Canada for their role in the Indian Residential Schools system.
The Government Apologizes
Reflect on the apologies from the Canadian government to the Indigenous Peoples of Canada, including Prime Minister Stephen Harper's 2008 public apology.
Can There Be Justice Without Truth?
Residential school survivor Peter Irniq discusses why it's important to uncover the truth behind the experience of students of the Indian Residential Schools.
Reconciliation
Richard Wagamese describes his road to reconciliation with the legacy of trauma, violence, and abuse of the Indian Residential Schools.