The effects on communities were quite devastating. Families were torn apart and they suffered effects that have impacted many generations to follow.
Children were abused in these schools & many studies have been taking up to investigate the atrocities that occurred in these schools. The Truth and Reconciliation Commission has also discussed the impact that these schooling systems had on families where their children never return back home upon completion of their schooling. It has been stated that approximately 50, 000 deaths of Aboriginal child occured while attending these schools, although this is only an approximation as some deaths went unrecorded. Many other deaths were the babies of the female students who were impregnated by the priests, and who babies were either killed or aborted.
Missing Children & Unmarked Burials:
Children were abused in these schools & many studies have been taking up to investigate the atrocities that occurred in these schools. The Truth and Reconciliation Commission has also discussed the impact that these schooling systems had on families where their children never return back home upon completion of their schooling. It has been stated that approximately 50, 000 deaths of Aboriginal child occured while attending these schools, although this is only an approximation as some deaths went unrecorded. Many other deaths were the babies of the female students who were impregnated by the priests, and who babies were either killed or aborted.
Missing Children & Unmarked Burials:
- The Commission has accepted the Missing Children and Unmarked Grave Working Group’s Recommendations and has agreed to support the "Missing Children Research Project."
- Recommendations include:
- Examination of the number and cause of deaths, illnesses, disappearances of children;
- Location of burial sites;
- Review of all relevant church and government records, as well as information provided by survivors, staff, or anyone else
The residential schools were designed to "kill the indian in the child" and they did their job well. The students were not only taken from their families and homes but suffered abuse both physical and sexual abuse at the hands of the priests and nun. Abuse from those whose job it was to take care of these children. The CBC documentary The 8th Fire has provided viewers with a substantial amount of information that pertains to this system of education. The CBC website offers people and opportunity to view each episode, and it is on Episode 2 where the show discusses the effects of Residential school. They show Canada'a first Aboriginal archeologist, Eldon Yellow Horn, viewing the graveyard of a residential school, this graveyard is home to those students who never made it back to their families and communities. By following the link, you can view this episode, in particular go to 30:00 minutes into episode 2, where the discussion goes back to Residential school. This is done in memory of those children who did not make it back home.
http://www.cbc.ca/8thfire/2011/11/its-time.html
Many of these schools have been reclaimed by the various First Nations communities. The schools have been transformed into buildings that provide a service to the community. It is a method that allows the First Nations communities to overcome their past with these buildings. They range from community colleges, residential apartments to resorts with a gulf course and hotel.