Sensitive Today is National Truth and Reconciliation Day in Canada (1 Viewer)

[athenaaa]

September 30th marks the National Day of Truth and Reconciliation in Canada. day of memorial to recognize the atrocities and multi-generational effects of the residential school system. The residential schools attempted to strip the identity of Indigenous children and forcibly removed them from their families. They were not allowed to speak their languages, they were not allowed to participate in their celebrations, they were abused (emotionally, physically, sexually, spiritually), and they were “taught” the “European way”. It was horrific what the Canadian government and churches at the time do to indigenous peoples (and they still continue to face injustices). For examples, there are many Indigenous communities who still don’t have clean drinking water.

The National Day of Truth and reconciliation was first recognized in 2013 and it is an important day to reflect on history. It is also known as Orange Shirt Day. The use of an orange shirt as a symbol was inspired by the accounts of Phyllis Jack Webstad, whose personal clothing—including a new orange shirt gifted by her grandmother—was taken from her during her first day of residential schooling, and never returned. Today is a day of reflections and to acknowledge the hardships that indigenous peoples have faced.

Residential schools operated in Canada between the 1870s and the 1990s. The last residential school closed in 1996. The goal of the residential schools was to assimilate. Both the Canadian government and churches were responsible for funding the residential schools. It is estimated that over 150,000 children attended residential schools (not by choice). The following is a list of traumatic experiences that have been reported linked to residential schools (but not limited to):
- Forbidden to speak Indigenous languages
- Required to speak French or English
- Required to adopt religious denomination of the school
- Forced style of prayer consistent with school denomination
- Forced haircuts or shaved head (hair is considered sacred)
- Use of toxic chemicals to clean hair and skin
- Forced to wear uniform designed by school (as opposed to traditional clothing)
- No access to bath tub (shower only)
- Lack of nutritious diet
- Served spoiled food
- Insufficient quantities of food
- Segregation based on gender: brothers and sisters could have no contact
- Sexual assault
- Forced abortions
- Electrical shock
- Force feeding own vomit when sick
- Exposure to freezing temperatures without proper clothing
- Withholding medical attention
- Forced labour in unsafe environments
- Use of racist language to address students
- Exposure to contagious illnesses
- Withholding letters and presents from families

Today is a day of a lot of difficult but necessary conversations. A public apology about residential schools was not issued until 2008 by then Prime Minister Stephen Harper. This is only just the beginning. Indigenous people’s requested 94 calls to action, one of which included a day of Truth and Reconciliation. Out of these 94 calls, only 12 have been actioned completely or in part. As a country, Canada’s got a LONG way to go until there is true reconciliation.​

 

[StirFriedPanda]

Wow, Canadian's are more American than I thought. Well, except the whole bounty and extermination part... You guys didn't quite go that far.

 

[athenaaa]

Wow, Canadian's are more American than I thought. Well, except the whole bounty and extermination part... You guys didn't quite go that far.

The history is awful. And even worse, it is often covered up. I barely remember being taught about the residential schools, and when I did learn about it, it was through an online elective I took in high school. It only really started being talked about in college as I am in the education feild but some feilds do not have access to this important information.

 

[StirFriedPanda]

The history is awful. And even worse, it is often covered up. I barely remember being taught about the residential schools, and when I did learn about it, it was through an online elective I took in high school. It only really started being talked about in college as I am in the education feild but some feilds do not have access to this important information.

Same, the US calls Japanese internment camps "Relocations Camps" and some history books say it was to protect the American-Japanese from the hostilities of created by war with Japan. The truth is we didn't build a gas chamber and fed them a little better than the Nazi's fed the Jews.

Taking Native American children from their families and sending them to schools wasn't as wide spread here but a lot of children were taken and adopted out to white families. Often they ended up as slaves their their families and abused. Bureau of Indian Affairs schools were much like you described. Their natural languages and ways were forbidden. They were forced to adopted Christianity. Corporal punishment was widely used and some children were beaten to death and no one suffered any consequences.

 

[athenaaa]

Same, the US calls Japanese internment camps "Relocations Camps" and some history books say it was to protect the American-Japanese from the hostilities of created by war with Japan. The truth is we didn't build a gas chamber and fed them a little better than the Nazi's fed the Jews.

Taking Native American children from their families and sending them to schools wasn't as wide spread here but a lot of children were taken and adopted out to white families. Often they ended up as slaves their their families and abused. Bureau of Indian Affairs schools were much like you described. Their natural languages and ways were forbidden. They were forced to adopted Christianity. Corporal punishment was widely used and some children were beaten to death and no one suffered any consequences.

We had internment camps as well. I didn’t even know about it until in grade 12 we read a book called Obasan (highly recommend, I cried). They were awful. I don’t know why people in power thought any of this was a good idea, it goes totally against human rights.

Indigenous children were also adopted out to white families as well here. One section of the calls to action relates to the adoption process.

 

[Ahsoka]

@StirFriedPanda yeah from what I’ve heard (which is admittedly not from many sources, only a couple) the Soviet Union tended to “forget” to mention the fact that in WW2 anyone who was deemed “too German” would be sent to a forced labor camp, and they also used the excuse of it being for “national security”. My dad knew about them because his ancestors were sent to camps (they had lived in Russia/the USSR for 7 or 8 decades, but they were still living in predominantly German communities with German culture and language). This was quite some time ago, when my dad was still in school, but I doubt much has changed in that regard. It’s an overall quite widespread issue unfortunately, where people try to continue to hide or justify those things.

 

[Selfmate]

TLDR



apparently @Ahsoka's fav song