CANADA
CBC News
BY DENNIS GRUENDING | MAY 21, 2015
The Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada (TRC) will hold its closing events in Ottawa between May 31 and June 3, 2015. The TRC was established in 2008 as a part of the Indian Residential School Settlement Agreement in order to inform Canadians about the history and legacy of such schools. For more than 130 years, the institutions were operated by the government and by Canadian churches on the government’s behalf. A second portion of the TRC mandate is to inspire a process leading toward reconciliation within Aboriginal families, and between Aboriginal peoples and non-Aboriginal communities, churches, governments — and Canadians in general.
Here are some facts about residential schools that shouldn’t be forgotten:
• In 1879, politician Nicholas Flood Davin visited the U.S. to observe residential schools and recommended them for Canada.
• In 1883, Canadian government minister Hector Langevin said, “In order to educate the [Indian] children properly we must separate them from their families.”
• Also in 1883, the Canadian government began to provide funding to church-run residential schools.
• 132 residential schools in total were created.
• Residential schools did not exist in Newfoundland, New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island.
• An estimated 60 per cent of church-run residential schools were operated by Roman Catholics; 25 per cent by Anglicans and 15 per cent by the United Church of Canada. Several others were operated by Presbyterians and other churches.
• 150,000 children were removed from their families and communities and placed in residential schools.
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