Truth and Reconciliation Commission

[wingmaker]

I know this is a tough subject, and I know that this is primarily a hockey forum, but after witnessing some opinions in other threads, I think it is important that this has its own thread.

This is the Truth and Reconciliation report:

http://www.trc.ca/websites/trcinstit...ndex.php?p=890

You may have read some news reports, or listened to some accounts of survivors on the tv/radio. You may know a survivor or feel like you get the gist of the history of residential schools in Canada. But whatever we all think we know, it is our responsibility as Canadians to read this document. This is the history that was not included when most of us learned about Canadian history. This is not spin or some "liberal hype machine" or whatever. This is the report by a commission that has methodically recorded hours of interviews with survivors, participants, government officials etc and read through miles of archival documents. There is a lot there. Hundreds of pages. I have not read through the entire report myself yet. But I will continue to read it and re-read it and welcome everyone to do the same.

In addition, it is worth noting that the residential school system was just abolished in 2008. Also, the federal government continues to withhold thousands of pages of archival documents relevant to residential schools from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, and has destroyed thousands of pages more. This is an ongoing issue.

[wingmaker]

A couple of quotes from the first few pages:

In justifying the government’s residential school policy, Canada’s first prime min- ister, Sir John A. Macdonald, told the House of Commons in 1883:
"When the school is on the reserve the child lives with its parents, who are savages;
he is surrounded by savages, and though he may learn to read and write his habits, and training and mode of thought are Indian. He is simply a savage who can read and write. It has been strongly pressed on myself, as the head of the Department, that Indian children should be withdrawn as much as possible from the parental influ- ence, and the only way to do that would be to put them in central training industrial schools where they will acquire the habits and modes of thought of white men."8

To determine the truth and to tell the full and complete story of residential schools in this country, the trc needed to hear from Survivors and their families, former staff, government and church officials, and all those affected by residential schools. Canada’s national history in the future must be based on the truth about what happened in the res- idential schools. One hundred years from now, our children’s children and their children must know and still remember this history, because they will inherit from us the responsi- bility of ensuring that it never happens again.

[Handsome B. Wonderful]

Originally Posted by wingmaker

it is our responsibility as Canadians to read this document.

Nope.

[Cheese]

The residential school system was based on an assumption that European civilization and Christian religions were superior to Aboriginal culture, which was seen as being savage and brutal. Government officials also were insistent that children be discouraged—and often prohibited—from speaking their own languages. The missionaries who ran the schools played prominent roles in the church-led campaigns to ban Aboriginal spiritual practices such as the Potlatch and the Sun Dance (more properly called the “Thirst Dance”), and to end traditional Aboriginal marriage practices. Although, in most of their official pronouncements, government and church officials took the position that Aboriginal people could be civilized, it is clear that many believed that Aboriginal culture was inherently inferior.

This hostility to Aboriginal cultural and spiritual practice continued well into the twentieth century. In 1942, John House, the principal of the Anglican school in Gleichen, Alberta,became involved in a campaign to have two Blackfoot chiefs deposed, in part because of their support for traditional dance ceremonies. In 1947, Roman Catholic official J. O. Plourde told a federal parliamentary committee that since Canada was a Christian nation that was committed to having “all its citizens belonging to one or other of the Christian churches,” he could see no reason why the residential schools “should foster aboriginal beliefs.” United Church official George Dorey told the same committee that he questioned whether there was such a thing as “native religion."

[wingmaker]

Originally Posted by Handsome B. Wonderful

Nope.

This is part of Canadian history. To not read this is to be a) ignorant or b) in denial of our history. To willingly be this way is to blatantly and knowingly absolve ourselves of what has happened in the making of Canada, to not understand our own past nor understand who we are as a result of that past or how we can move forward. Without reconciliation or reparation, we perpetuate what has been done for another generation. Under its simplest terms, citizenship requires only that you be a citizen through birth or through acceptance. But most concerned citizens, I would wager, would also stipulate that being a citizen also bares a responsibility to endeavour to, as much as we are possible, engage with the historical truths and political processes of this nation. So yes, beyond the most basic terms of citizenship, it is our responsibility as Canadians to educate ourselves about our own history.

[Handsome B. Wonderful]

Originally Posted by wingmaker

This is part of Canadian history. To not read this is to be a) ignorant or b) in denial of our history. To willingly be this way is to blatantly and knowingly absolve ourselves of what has happened in the making of Canada, to not understand our own past nor understand who we are as a result of that past or how we can move forward. Without reconciliation or reparation, we perpetuate what has been done for another generation. Under its simplest terms, citizenship requires only that you be a citizen through birth or through acceptance. But most concerned citizens, I would wager, would also stipulate that being a citizen also bares a responsibility to endeavour to, as much as we are possible, engage with the historical truths and political processes of this nation. So yes, beyond the most basic terms of citizenship, it is our responsibility as Canadians to educate ourselves about our own history.

Thanks for dictating that we must obey your opinions. Allow me to repeat mine. Nope. Don't try to tie us in to crimes we never committed.

Also, we need the truth and reconciliation commission to look in to your abuse of commas.

[RougeUnderoos]

I think the point has been made that some people don't care to talk about this subject.

Anyway... You don't have to read far into this report (page 7) to get to this:

"The decision to invest in residential schools was based on a belief that the cultural and
spiritual transformation that the government and churches sought to bring about
in Aboriginal people could be most effectively accomplished in institutions that
broke the bonds between parent and child."

This is just the most unbelievable thing. I knew this of course, but Christ (no pun intended), how did they let this lunacy happen? For more than a century at that. What a disgrace. Was there anyone around trying to stop it? Anyone in a position of power, I mean.

[Tinordi]

Don't try to tie us in to crimes we never committed.

Do you think that Germans school children shouldn't have to learn about or at least be aware of the holocaust? Because they didn't commit those crimes either.

[SeeGeeWhy]

A gross injustice, truly Canada's shame. It is not shocking to see Handsome's reaction - people have been putting their heads in the sand on this forever. Many will not change.

It is important to read and accept because we cannot make the world better for indigenous people in our society today and tomorrow if we don't acknowledge and understand this. It is important for us to care about each other, what else is the point of a society if we don't do that much?

Disgusting attitude and actions by those involved with this over the past 100 years. It is a passive genocide, an effort to eradicate a way of life will have no other outcome than to eradicate the people themselves. I can't believe we accept this as ok.

We will never know what our society has lost by stamping out the contributions native culture.

Langevin bridge downtown is being renamed as Langevin was a key figure in residential schools.

[Regorium]

Considering what we did was considered merciful at the time, it frustrates me to no end that it is now villianized. Of course stuff we did 100 years ago was savage by 2015 standards. Frankly, we should have just slaughtered them all like the Spaniards and Americans did to theif indigenous people. Then apparently it would've been okay.

[PsYcNeT]

Originally Posted by Regorium

Considering what we did was considered merciful at the time, it frustrates me to no end that it is now villianized. Of course stuff we did 100 years ago was savage by 2015 standards. Frankly, we should have just slaughtered them all like the Spaniards and Americans did to theif indigenous people. Then apparently it would've been okay.

That was quite the logical leap you took.

You can call it what you want, but ignoring the sins of the father (regardless of whether it was better or worse than the sins of others) would be a grievous mistake.

[wingmaker]

Originally Posted by Regorium

Considering what we did was considered merciful at the time, it frustrates me to no end that it is now villianized. Of course stuff we did 100 years ago was savage by 2015 standards. Frankly, we should have just slaughtered them all like the Spaniards and Americans did to theif indigenous people. Then apparently it would've been okay.

Have you read the report?

[troutman]

Originally Posted by Handsome B. Wonderful

Don't try to tie us in to crimes we never committed.

The damage done is still deeply rooted in the survivors, children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren of the victims, and is a poison profoundly affecting Canadian society today.

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by RougeUnderoos

I think the point has been made that some people don't care to talk about this subject.

Anyway... You don't have to read far into this report (page 7) to get to this:

"The decision to invest in residential schools was based on a belief that the cultural and
spiritual transformation that the government and churches sought to bring about
in Aboriginal people could be most effectively accomplished in institutions that
broke the bonds between parent and child."

This is just the most unbelievable thing. I knew this of course, but Christ (no pun intended), how did they let this lunacy happen? For more than a century at that. What a disgrace. Was there anyone around trying to stop it? Anyone in a position of power, I mean.

That actually explains a lot and does sound down right evil when using our modern sensibilities. It's one of those things like slavery.... you have to wonder what people were thinking.

Breaking that family bond isn't something that comes back overnight.

[wingmaker]

Another thing to consider is that while this may seem like something done "way back when before we knew any better", the Slavery Abolition Act was passed in Britain in 1833. The American Civil War was over by 1865, a war in which slavery was at the heart of the conflict. The residential school program BEGAN in 1883, and the abuses outlined in the report continued well into the 20th century, even after Canada fought in WW2 against the Nazi holocaust. We cannot blame this on historical ignorance.

[Northendzone]

i may scan this document one day; however, my reality is that i beleive in live and let let live, so i would respect anyones decision to bring thier children up based on thier preferred culture/beleifs - jsut as i will do with my children.

what was done in the past was wrong, but it is in the past. i assume that things are done differently today.

[REDVAN]

I agree this is worth learning about, as it is Canadian history. It's also important because some people are still suffering the effects of it.

HOWEVER, I do NOT like the tone that comes with a lot of the discussion, ie/ "the white men did this" and since I am white, I am to blame. I'm sorry for what happened, but I'm not personally sorry for doing it because I didn't do it.

[RedMileDJ]

nm

[Street Pharmacist]

Originally Posted by REDVAN

I agree this is worth learning about, as it is Canadian history. It's also important because some people are still suffering the effects of it.

HOWEVER, I do NOT like the tone that comes with a lot of the discussion, ie/ "the white men did this" and since I am white, I am to blame. I'm sorry for what happened, but I'm not personally sorry for doing it because I didn't do it.

That is something you read into it, and guilt has no benefit to what needs to happen next. That's on you to resolve, not the report or anyone else.

I'm second generation Canadian. I have very little to do with what happened. I do not feel "guilty". As a Canadian though, I feel it's our duty to repair wrongs that our nation did. It's not "in the past" and we can't just try moving forward and ignore it. Residential school system is more recent than segregation in the US. Should they forget about their wrongs and quit striving to improve civil liberties? No

[flylock shox]

What is astonishing to me (in retrospect) is the total absence of education I received about these issues as a kid growing up in Calgary.

I've learned a ton about these issues since growing up and moving to BC, where the aboriginal population seems to have more influence and presence. I wonder if I would have learned as much even as an adult had I stayed in Calgary.

Hopefully things have changed or will change to make this a key component of the teaching of Canadian history in our schools, because this is a living history: one that continues in effect to this day. Understanding it is key to moving forward on aboriginal issues in this country. Failing to understand it will just perpetuate ignorance on these issues and, inevitably, the issues themselves.