Indian Residential Schools (Canada)

Indian Residential Schools in Canada were government-funded institutions aimed at assimilating Indigenous children into Western culture. From the late 19th to the mid-20th century, Indigenous children were forcibly taken from their communities, often separated from their families, and placed in these schools. The curriculum emphasized European customs, often banning Indigenous languages and traditions. Many students endured harsh treatment, emotional and physical abuse, leading to long-term trauma. These schools contributed to the suppression of Indigenous identities and have had lasting impacts on Indigenous communities, including intergenerational trauma. The legacy of these schools is now recognized as a serious violation of human rights.