residential school system

The residential school system was a network of government-funded, often church-run institutions in Canada where Indigenous children were forcibly taken from their communities to be assimilated into Western culture. These schools aimed to erase Indigenous languages, traditions, and identities, often through harsh discipline and neglect. Many children experienced emotional, physical, and sexual abuse, leading to lasting intergenerational trauma. The system operated from the 19th century into the late 20th century and is now recognized as a profound injustice that severely impacted Indigenous communities and cultures.