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BriannaKeane
ProfessorLillianMorton
EDTE430Duncan
OctoberandNovember2015
ResidentialSchoolsandReconciliation
IwanttofurtherexploreandunderstandhowtheCanadianGovernment,and
communitiesarecompensatingindividuals,familiesandthoseindirectlyaffectedby
ResidentialSchools.IsthegovernmentandcommunitieswithinCanadatryingtomake
amendstopeoplewhohadbeensounjustlytreated?Isthereanythingthatcanbedoneto
makeamendsorisitevenpossible?Iwanttolearnmoreabouttheprograms,healing
assistance,financialcompensationthesurvivorsaregetting.Whathasbeendonesofarto
helphealswoundsinflictedbyresidentialschools?Whatelseisbeingdonetomakea
meaningfulamendstothepeopleaffected?
DuringthislearningexperienceIwanttoconsiderwhatthesurvivorsofResidential
schoolsthinkandfeelaboutreconciliation;dotheyfeelliketheywilleverhealfromtheir
wounds?Whatdothepeopleaffectedbelievewouldbenefitthemontheirpathtorecovery?I
wanttoconsiderhowAboriginalcultureandtraditionshavebeenaffectedbymandatory
attendanceofResidentialschoolsinCanada.Aswellasthechallengestheyarefacing.
AtthisstageinmyPersonal/ProfessionallearningandMiniSynthesisIknowvery
littleabouthowtheGovernmentofCanada,andCanadaasawholehas,ortriedtomake
amendstothepeopleaffectedbyResidentialSchools.

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TheprimaryfunctionofResidentialSchoolsinCanadawastoisolate,remove,tohave
influenceover,andtoassimilateaboriginalchildreninCanada(Harper,2008).Theseschools
havegreatlyimpactedaboriginalsandtheircultureinanegativeway.Theseschoolscaused
lossofculture,mental,physical,andemotionalabuseaswellasmanyothernegative
outcomesforthoseattending(Harper,2008).In2008PrimeMinisterStevenHarperstoodin
ParliamenttoapologizedforResidentialschoolsinCanada.Mr.Harperstated:Today,we
recognizethispolicyofassimilationwaswrong,hascausedgreatharmandhasnoplacein
ourcountry.(Rosemary, 2008). HarpercontinuedbysayingTheGovernmentofCanada
sincerelyapologizesandasksfortheforgivenessoftheaboriginalpeoplesofthiscountryfor
failingthemsoprofoundly.Wearesorry.(Rosemary, 2008). I think this was an important
moment in the process of reconciliation via Residential schools; however, does this apology
really mean anything? This apology doesnt change, or take away all the hurt, and suffering
that the aboriginal people of Canada have gone through.
As I continued to dig deeper, I found that former students of Residential Schools could
be compensated financially for their mandatory attendance at Residential Schools
(Residential Schools Settlement, 2007). Former students were able to request a claim and
could receive $10 000 for the first year of attendance and then an additional $3000 for every
subsequent school year (2007). Students who were sexually, severely emotionally or
physically abused were eligible for $5000- $275 000 compensation, but only if that individual
could prove loss of income (2007). While I was learning and reading about this, I thought the
students attending these schools should be compensated in some form; however, money
cannot take away the horrors that these individuals had to endure. Is $5000 what being
sexually abused is worth (but only if the individual can prove loss of income due to the

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incident)? Who is a judge, or any individual for that matter, able to put a price on someones
suffering? No sum of money can take away the memories and suffering these former students
had to endure. This raises the question how else are survivors who were abused at Residential
Schools being compensated?
Continuing in my search for a better understanding of how Aboriginal peoples were
and are now being compensated I learned that families of former students are able to be
compensated via programs (Residential Schools Settlement, 2007). With the Residential
Schools Settlement $125 million was designated to the healing of families and former
students, $60 million for the research, documentation, and preservation of the experiences of
survivors, and finally $20 million was allotted for national and community commemorative
projects (2007). I was glad to learn that these families were being compensated in some form,
not just the survivors of the schools.
Residential schools affected more than just the students- they negatively impacted
Aboriginal culture, and their families. As I continued to search to understand, I learned that if
an individual did claim, and received compensation from the Residential Schools Settlement
that individual would never be able to sue the Government of Canada or the Churches who
were involved in the settlement (2007). This was interesting to me. I dont think this was very
fair. The Government, and Churches negatively impacted these individuals, and families;
whos to say that the Government and Churches wont wrong these people again? If the
Government and/or Churches do wrong these people again, the individuals will not be able to
seek justice. This raises the question, is this what making amends looks like to the
government? Because this doesnt sound like justice or making amends to me.

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To understand more fully the challenges and feelings of survivors of the Residential
Schools, I found an article that gave an insight of the challenges survivors have to deal with
on a daily basis. Before reading this article, I had never had a firsthand experience or insight
as to what survivors of Residential Schools felt. This article called for the funding of language
programs, at-risk youth, and the funding for people to be who we are, as well as a snippet
of a mans story at residential school (Brown 2011). A woman in this article became
emotional when speaking about her experience; she asked questions such as Can I forgive
the guy that did that? But I dont know. (2011). Adding to her own questions this woman
stated that many of her friends didnt make it to age 19; implying that this was because what
had happened to them at residential schools in their youth (2011).
As reading Browns article, I felt upset that many of this womans friends didnt make
it to the age of 19 because the traumas experienced at residential schools. I can see, and
understand why this woman said she didnt know if she would ever be able to forgive the man
who abused her. This article has impacted my thinking. I can now more fully understand why
many of the survivors of Residential schools have a fear or negative emotions towards the
schools they were forced to attend. Before starting this paper, I knew many former students
had difficulties because of Residential schools but I did not know the full extent of their
experiences. Browns article and the stories and experiences told tell me the world is not as
perfect as had previously thought. I knew many people have struggles and problems that
have to be worked through but I always thought that Canada was more progressive than many
countries. This articles stories, and feelings has opened my eyes to what Residential schools
what done to the students and how the schools have negatively affected their lives.

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In my ongoing search for understanding and knowledge of how survivors of

Residential schools are being compensated, I came across some new and interesting
information. There were a number of things that struck me in Gibbards article including the
high number of individuals who attended these schools were not compensated as they were
supposed to be, and many of the survivors were struggling with drug and alcohol abuse
(Gibbard, 2013). Many individuals still hadnt received any compensation, or didnt know
how to ask for the compensation, and there would be people at this event that could help the
survivors get their compensation (2013). In this article, Gibbard explained therapists would be
available for survivors; survivors could work with the therapist to work through, and unload
the struggles and speak with other survivors (Gibbard, 2013). Gibbard explained that many
survivors struggle with drug and alcohol abuse to escape their pasts. I realized that the
survivors are still struggling because of Residential schools. These schools have made a
lasting negative impression on those who attended them; I learned that the Government has
not followed through on their promise to compensate former students. I have learned that
what occurred in the Residential schools previously are still negatively its survivors years
later. This learning has added to my question: is there any way amends can be made when
people who attended these schools are still feeling the effects years later?
Other than cash or financial compensation I wanted to become aware how else the
Government and communities are making amends. What kind of programs such as language,
and cultural lessons/ classes were and are provided for the survivors and their families? In this
search, I found an article that explained excess funds from the Residential Schools Settlement
could be used towards programs to try to regain what was taken away during residential
schools (Wohlberg, 2014). The agreement resulted in up to $3000 for individuals who

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attended Residential schools (2014). This money was meant for personal education credits.
This money could be used individually for healing programs, on the land activities,
ceremonies, art, traditional foods etc. or could be pooled with the community to build
programs teaching Aboriginal languages and culture so that these important aspects are not
lost (2014). In my mind, building programs to continue the culture, and traditions of
aboriginal culture is the best way of going about making amends for those who attended
Residential schools; however, the money for these programs was only given because of excess
funds that was not paid out in compensation from the Residential Schools Settlement in 2007.
If there had not been excess funds there wouldnt be healing programs available for those who
had suffered, this raised the question for me How else did the government expect individuals
to heal without healing programs?.
On my continued journey of trying to better understand how the government has, and
continues to make amends to the Aboriginal community and those it has affected with
mandatory residential schools, I came across an interesting article. This article stated that
funding for healing programs, counseling, and other services may be cut in 2009 if the
government did not extend funding to these programs (Canadian Press, 2009). As I was
reading this article, I came across a profound quote. Its like the government put a little
Band-Aid on it and all the poison isnt out yet. (Canadian Press, 2009). What struck me most
about this article, and quote was how the year previous, Prime Minister Steven Harper had
made a formal apology to individuals who were forced to attend Residential Schools. I found
it odd, that if one was truly sorry for what had occurred, and wanted to make a meaningful
amends and apology, that funding would be cut to the programs that were healing those
affected. This article tells, me and solidifies that the way the Canadian Government is and has

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gone about making a meaningful apology and amends is not the way a meaningful apology is
carried through.
From my research I have gathered new knowledge and have learned much about the
reconciliation for Residential Schools in Canada. At this point, I know in 2008, Prime
Minister Steven Harper apologized to those who were forced to attend Residential Schools, as
well as the Aboriginal Community in Canada. Survivors of residential schools could be
compensated for their mandatory attendance, and could be further compensated if severely
emotionally, physically, or sexually abused. However, the individuals who were emotionally,
physically or sexually abused at Residential schools mustve been able to proved that the
abuse caused a loss of income.
At this point in my journey of my personal learning action plan and mini-synthesis, I
have learned and collected new knowledge. I have learned and acquired insight into how the
Canadian Government has gone about making amends, and reconciliation for the mandatory
attendance of Residential Schools for Aboriginal children. From what I have learned thus far,
I dont know if the way the Canadian Government has gone about making amends, and
reconciliation, is the right way. A formal apology from the Government is a start to making
amends and reconciliation, however this apology means little when there is little follow
through. Requiring individuals to prove a loss of income, in order to receive compensation for
severe emotional, physical or sexual abuse is wrong. I believe, that as long as an individual
can prove they were severely abused at the hands of Residential schools that individual should
be compensated. Forcing individuals to prove a loss of income due to abuse is an easy way for
the Government not compensate individuals for these abuses. I continued my personal
learning by discovering that individuals who did claim, and receive compensation, would

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never be able to sue the government. I found this disturbing as I thought how the government
in the past harmed these individuals. Is there no chance that the government would harm them
again? And if the government did harm these individuals again they would not legally be able
to find justice. On my journey, I learned that Residential Schools have severely affected those
who attended. Former students turned to drugs, and alcohol to cope with their past
experiences and many did not make it to 19 because of these schools. The Government tried
to make amends for their past transgressions by funding programs for healing; however, on
further investigation I learned that the Government was planning on cutting funding to these
programs after only a year.
What I have learned thus far has made me better understand the world, and myself
personally and professionally. From this new information, I have learned that what a
government says they are doing to make things better doesnt make anything better until
something is actually done to make the situation better. The saying actions speak louder than
words resonates with what I have learned. When there is little to no follow through, there can
be very little weight put in an apology. I personally and professionally I want my actions to
mirror my words. I want to always follow through with what I have promised to do, and make
a true and meaningful amends if I have done wrong both professionally and personally.
Professionally this learning has impacted me. I know from my newly acquired
knowledge how much schools in Canada have harmed the Aboriginal community and their
culture. As a teacher I must be aware of the struggles, and hurdles that Aboriginal students
families have gone through in the past; I must make my classroom as welcoming and create a
safe environment for my Aboriginal students and their families. I will be able to do this by
incorporating some of the local Aboriginal culture into my daily classroom routines and

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activities. I think it would also be beneficial to all my students study Aboriginal culture,
traditions, and values throughout the year. Professionally expanding my knowledge of how
the government has made amends and reconciliation would positively impact my teaching
practice, as I would be able to understand more fully my aboriginal students views ideas.
As I was researching how the Canadian Government has reconciled with the
Aboriginal community and those who attended Residential Schools, I was astonished how
much more learning there was for me. The allowable pages for this assignment doesnt give a
full insight to full situation of how the Aboriginal community has reconciled with the
government. At this point in my learning, I have merely scratched the surface- there is so
much more to understand! With this in mind, I must continue to search for answers. In order
to have a better understanding and knowledge I must continue to explore and investigate
further.
With this new knowledge and understanding there is more to be done in-terms of
reconciliation and amends. I dont have a right way of going about making amends for what
has occurred due to Residential schools; but, from my learning I have come to understand that
healing still has to occur before a true reconciliation can happen. Some possible ways of
going about this is continuing healing, counseling programs, as well as Aboriginal language
and culture classes. I believe Aboriginal cultural classes for Aboriginal communities as well
as non-aboriginals would benefit in the healing process. If non-aboriginal communities are
educated on the Aboriginal culture, traditions, and what Residential schools have done, I
believe there would be a greater call for change and possibly a meaningful reconciliation will
then occur. From what I have learned, I believe reconciliation between the Government and
Aboriginals will be a continuous journey that must involve all Canadians.

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My next learning is to continue to learn more about how the Government is making
amends and reconciliation with the Aboriginal community. Once I have a better understanding
and knowledge of this, I want to learn more about Aboriginal culture and traditions. Learning
more about Aboriginal culture and traditions is important so that I have a well-rounded
knowledge about the Aboriginal community, and will then be able to relate and engage all of
my students. My next learning in short is to learn more about Aboriginal culture so that I can
be the best teacher I can.

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WorksCited:
Barton, Rosemary. "A long-awaited apology for residential schools." CBC 11 June 2008.
Brown, Louise. "Residential school survivors call for action." Toronto Star 29 Sept.
2011.
Gibbard, Allison. "'We were all victims'; Workshops for residential school survivors."
Dawson Creek Daily News 23 Jan. 2013.
Harper, Steven. "Prime Minister Harper offers full apology on behalf of Canadians for

the

Indian Residential Schools system." Government of Canada 11 June 2008.

"Official Court Notice." Residential Schools Settlement (2007).
Wohlberg, Meagan. "More funds available to residential school survivors; Credits can be
pooled by communities for land-based, cultural programs." Northern Journal 24
June 2014.
Healing programs for residential school survivors set to run out in March." The Canadian
Press 16 Dec. 2009.