Colonialism and Residential School: “Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing”

By Terence Ho | Foundation of HKPLTW

Terence is a Research Coordinator for the Foundation of HKPLTW with interests in history & traditions, social organization & inter-group relations, culture & religion, and economics & politics of Canadian Indigenous People and Visible Minorities. Follow him on Twitter: @hkpltw

Terence is a Research Coordinator for the Foundation of HKPLTW with interests in history & traditions, social organization & inter-group relations, culture & religion, and economics & politics of Canadian Indigenous People and Visible Minorities. Follow him on Twitter: @hkpltw

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Background

The Residential School system was not simply a bad policy in the history of this country.  It was a disastrous consequence of the effects of colonialism, affecting not only First Nation children’s health and well-being but also the loss of culture and heritage. It is well established that the Residential School system purposely assimilated First Nation peoples into White Canadian and Christian ways of life. In large part, the horror of this system was not a result of cultural and value conflicts. However, the hidden horror was the act of genocide resulting from government policies to eradicate the First Nation culture hinged on targeting the most vulnerable group: Children.

Found Educational Institution to Carry Out Genocide

Like other things the colonists did to the First Nation Peoples, the Residential School system pretended to have good intentions but tried to assimilate Aboriginal culture. 

Targeting the children made it easier for the government and church to implement what best fit their agenda. Schools forcibly took the children at a young age and away from parental influences, which systematically assimilated early with the Canadian religious beliefs, social habits, and educational training instead of their native traditions and culture. Although this action done by the government and church seeming well thought through, it was execrable to do such a thing to First Nation peoples. To teach and force the students to forget and feel alienate of their cultures and upbringing remind me the idiom “Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing”. 

“The colonists and government policymakers who designed the residential school system were “Wolfs come to you in sheep’s clothing, but they are ferocious wolves”. 

The colonists in this country made these schools that outwardly looked kind with good intentions and positive connotations to the children, such as teaching the children English or French language. However, these schools inwardly were full of deceit and evil, putting sustained effort to assimilate the students and eradicate their cultures through painful treatments and cruel abuses.

To fit their own agenda, the government manipulated and deceived the children with lies and humiliations. The children were taught that their cultures were inferior, including their family and past. In addition, the government never intended to educate the First Nation children beyond christianizing and westernizing them. Improving the well-being of the First Nation students was not the government intention as much as it to separate them from their families and instil a new set of belief. 

Conclusion

Overall, the Residential School system was colonialism wearing a “Good Man” disguise to attempt genocide on First Nation peoples. These colonists’ outward demeanours might look kind with good intentions, such as teaching the children English or French language. However, under the disguise, these colonists working along with the Canadian policymakers delicately attempted to eradicate the language, culture, and belief of the First Nation peoples to assimilate First Nation peoples into the Canadian society and under its rule.

Among colonial policies, the residential school system has stood out as significantly damaging to Aboriginal peoples. To conclude, was the residential school system an attempted genocide by the colonists? Yes, it was because it twisted basic morality and crossed the line, as it did extensive damage to the livelihood, beliefs, and culture across generations of Aboriginal peoples. 

This is an opinion article; the views expressed by me.

Bibliography

The Truth Commission into Genocide in Canada, “Hidden from History: The Canadian Holocaust.” The Untold Story of the Genocide of Aboriginal Peoples by Church and States in Canada. http://canadiangenocide.nativeweb.org/genocide.pdf

Neeganagwedgin, Erica. “”They can’t Take our Ancestors Out of Us”: A Brief Historical Account of Canada’s Residential School System, Incarceration, Institutionalized Policies and Legislations Against Indigenous Peoples.” Canadian Issues (Association for Canadian Studies : 1999), 2014, pp. 31-36.

“Residential School: A History of Residential Schools in Canada”. CBC News Canada. 2021. Accessed 3 August 2021. https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/canada-residential-schools-kamloops-faq-1.6051632

Zalcman, Daniella. “‘Kill the Indian, Save the Man’: On the painful legacy of Canada’s residential schools.” World Policy Journal, vol.  33, no. 3, Fall 2016, pp. 74.

Dyck, Noel, and Prince Albert Grand Council. Differing Visions: Administering Indian Residential Schooling in Prince Albert 1867-1995. Fernwood, Halifax, N.S, 1997.

Hanson, Eric, et al.“The Residential School System.” Indigenous Foundations. First Nations and Indigenous Studies UBC, 2020. Accessed 6 August 2021.https://indigenousfoundations.arts.ubc.ca/the_residential_school_system/#survivors-demand-justice

de Leeuw, Sarah. “‘if Anything is to be done with the Indian, we must Catch Him very Young’: Colonial Constructions of Aboriginal Children and the Geographies of Indian Residential Schooling in British Columbia, Canada.” Children’s Geographies, vol. 7, no. 2, 2009, pp. 123-140.