Sharing Truth- National Research Centre Forum

3. Indian Residential Schools (IRS) – The Vision Some people have suggested that IRS, which also captured some Inuit and Métis children, were created from good intentions to share European education and technology believed to be essential for survival in the 19 th and 20 th century economies. Governments saw IRS as an effective means of killing off traditional Indigenous values for European ones. Removing children from their homes & communities to isolate them in distant schools was intended to produce assimilated members of the dominant society, unconnected to their territories, families and traditions. Catholic, Anglican, Presbyterian and United Churches saw IRS as an ideal method to Christianize.

4. Location of Residential Schools 1857 - Gradual Civilization Act passed to assimilate Indians. 1867 - Canada became semi-independent 1868 – Federal law used to define & affect lives of Indians 1870-1910 - Assimilation of Aboriginal children = clear objective 1920 - Compulsory attendance for all children ages 7-15 years. Aboriginal children seized by priests, Indian agents and police officers. 1931 - 80 residential schools operating in Canada. 1948 –72 IRS with 9, 368 students. 1979 –12 IRS with1,899 students. 1996 - Last federally funded IRS closes