狈辞迟别:听This page may contain distressing content. For support, the Indian Residential Schools Crisis Line is available 24/7 at听1-866-925-4419.听The听Hope for Wellness听helpline can be reached 24/7 at听1-855-242-3310听or听.听
Indigenous Initiatives recognizes the importance of educating the 看片视频 community and the wider public about the residential school system, and the severe and widespread听harms that it inflicted on Indigenous children, families, and communities. Indigenous Initiatives听also wishes to support survivors of residential schools and their families in addressing the ongoing and intergenerational effects of this injustice.
The Canadian government and the Anglican, Presbyterian, United, and Roman Catholic churches created and ran residential schools with the goal of the of Indigenous peoples. The Indigenous children who were forcibly removed from their families and sent to residential schools faced extreme abuse and cultural erasure. The Canadian government and the churches operated residential schools for over a century, from the 1880s until 1996. Furthermore, the residential school system's legacy of violence听and assimilation has caused long-lasting, intergenerational harms that continue in the present day. The documents听the experiences of many survivors and their families.听
The imperatives to improve public education and knowledge, and to support those who have been affected, are particularly urgent in the context of the recent discovery of mass burial sites and unmarked graves听atformer residential schools in听and . Indigenous Initiatives has compiled a non-exhaustive list of resources below, with the goals of encouraging听the public听to learn more about residential schools and the TRC, and providing resources for those who may be struggling right now.听
Resources
- The Final Report of the TRC
- Learn More about Residential Schools
- Support for Residential School Survivors
The Final Report of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission
The Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) was created in 2008 as part of the听Indian Residential Schools Settlement Agreement, which recognized and addressed the severe harm caused by residential schools.听 The TRC has "a to learn the truth about what happened in the residential schools and to inform all Canadians about what happened in the schools." As part of this mandate, the TRC released a final report documenting the experiences of residential school survivors, and the effects on Indigenous communities.听
The Survivors Speak
"The Survivors Speak:听A Report of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada" explains the history of residential schools in Canada. It provides a record of the injustices and traumatic experiences inflicted upon Indigenous children, families, and communities through the residential school system, including survivor testimonies.听
Read "The Survivors Speak"听.听
Canada's Residential Schools: The Inuit and Northern Experience
"Canada鈥檚 Residential Schools: The Inuit and Northern Experience" is the second volume of the听Final Report of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada. This volume details how the residential school system affected Inuit communities, and explains the history of residential schools in Northern regions.
Read "Canada's Residential Schools: The Inuit and Northern Experience"听.
Canada's Residential Schools: The M茅tis Experience
"Canada鈥檚 Residential Schools: The M茅tis Experience" is the third volume of听the Final Report of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada. Volume 3 discusses the effects that the residential school system had on M茅tis communities, and draws attention to the experiences of M茅tis survivors.
Read "Canada's Residential Schools: The M茅tis Experience"听.听
Read the
Learn More about Residential Schools
Learning about the residential school system is an important step in understanding and acknowledging the harm that residential schools have caused to Indigenous peoples. The websites and articles below provide an introduction to the history of residential schools, as well as ongoing effects and advocacy efforts.听听
CBC - Murray Sinclair Statement on Residential Schools
"We need to ensure that we put in place healing programs and foundations that will help survivors to gather and share their memories and stories."
-Murray Sinclair
Murray Sinclair, former Senator and former Chair of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission,听has released a statement following the discovery of a mass burial site at a residential school in Kamloops, BC. In a video for CBC News, he addresses Indigenous communities, survivors of residential schools, and the Canadian public.
Read the statement听.
Radio Canada - [Lettre ouverte] Un Mois national de l'histoire autochtone consacr茅 aux enfants
The month of June is . The Chief of the听听(AFNQL), Ghislain Picard, has written an open letter calling for the month of June to be dedicated to Indigenous children. His letter highlights the importance of remembering and reflecting on the harm that the residential school system has inflicted on children, families, and communities.听
Read the open letter听.
History of Residential Schools in Quebec
The created this video to provide public education about the history of residential schools in Quebec.听
UBC Indigenous Foundations: The Residential School System
is a public resource hub developed听by the at the University of British Columbia. The initiative seeks to provide information on Indigenous history, identity, and culture for students, educators, and the general public.听
The UBC Foundations听article on residential schools,听written听by听Erin Hanson,听Daniel P. Gamez, and听Alexa Manuel,听provides an overview of the residential school system in Canada. The article听discuss the historical context and rise of residential schools, the living conditions that Indigenous children were subject to, and the ongoing impacts and survivors' calls for justice.听听听
Read "The Residential School System"听.听
Inuuqatigiit - Inuit and the Residential School System
The provides a wide range of services to the Inuit community in Ottawa. The Centre has a webpage providing information about the effect of residential schools on Inuit communities. The Inuuqatigiit website also includes access to the Legacy of Hope book about the residential school system.听
Visit the Inuuqatigiit website .听
Read the Legacy of Hope book .听
Pauktuutit - Violence and Abuse Prevention
is the national body which represents the voices of Inuit women. Their mission includes violence and abuse prevention, health awareness and advocacy, and social and economic development. Pauktuutit's听violence and abuse prevention projects include increasing awareness and education about residential schools.听
"The rich tradition of oral storytelling, music, dance and craft and a respect for the environment that were an integral part of Inuit knowledge and way of life was eroded as a result of the Residential School experience. Today, through healing and reconciliation, Inuit families and communities are working towards reclaiming traditional values and traditions."
(Pauktuutit website)
Read Pauktuutit's webpage on residential schools .听
The Caring Society - Honouring Memories, Planting Dreams
"The Caring Society works to ensure the safety and well-being of First Nations youth and their families through education initiatives, public policy campaigns and providing quality resources to support communities. Using a reconciliation framework that addresses contemporary hardships for Indigenous families in ways that uplift all Canadians, the Caring Society champions culturally based equity for First Nations children and their families so that they can grow up safely at home, be healthy, achieve their dreams, celebrate their languages and culture and be proud of who they are."
The 's "Honouring Memories, Planting Dreams" campaign recognizes and honours the children, families, and communities harmed by residential schools. The campaign is celebrated in May and June, and involves planting heart-shaped gardens in commemoration of the victims and survivors of the residential school system. The heart-shaped gardens also represent a commitment to reconciliation.
Learn more about "Honouring Memories, Planting Dreams" .听
Support for Residential School Survivors
There are programs and services are available to support听anyone who has been affected by the residential school system. This section provides a non-exhaustive list of crisis lines, organizations, and programs that survivors can reach out to for support and help.听
The Indian Residential Schools Crisis Line
There is a 24-hour听crisis line available for survivors of residential schools:
"The Indian Residential Schools Crisis Line is available 24-hours a day for anyone experiencing pain or distress as a result of his or her Residential school experience."
The crisis line can be reached at听1-866-925-4419.听To learn more, visit theand .听
Reconciliation Canada
is a national organization which advocates for reconciliation, through initiatives including community partnerships, workshops, and outreach programs. The organization has compiled a list of crisis lines. View the list, with descriptions and contact information, .听听
"If you are in an emergency, or feel that you or someone else is at risk of harm, please contact someone immediately:
Call 911 for help right away."(Reconciliation Canada website)
Summary of resources from Reconciliation Canada:
- (24 hours)
- 604-872-3311
- 1-866-872-0113 (deaf or hearing-impaired)
- (24 hours)
- Adult Crisis Line:听250-723-4050
- Youth Crisis Line: 250-723-2040
- (24 hours)
- 1-866-925-4419
- (24 hours)
- 1-800-668-6868
Indian Residential Schools Health Support Program
The听Indian Residential Schools Resolution Health Support Program supports survivors of the residential school system and their families throughout each phase of the Indian Residential School Settlement Agreement. Available services include cultural support, emotional support, counselling, and transportation.听
To learn more about the听Indian Residential Schools Resolution Health Support Program, visit the program's听.听
Indian Horse
The website has a page dedicated to resources for survivors of residential schools. The website includes crisis lines, and the phone numbers to contact听the听Indian Residential Schools Resolution Health Support Program in each province.听
View the Resources for Survivors page听.听
