Current Canadian Government
Residential Schools: Reconciliation Project
Grade 10 Social Studies
Residential Schools have had a tremendous impact on all the communities in Canada in the
past and have a legacy that exists today. Within this assignment, you will be required to
demonstrate that you understand the roles and perspectives of various key stakeholders
surrounding the topic of Residential Schools both past and present.
Directions:
Each student must analyze and reference the two quotes below within the specific framework of
your given stakeholder.
"I want to get rid of the Indian problem. I do not think as a matter of fact, that this country
ought to continuously protect a class of people who are able to stand alone...our object is to
continue until there is not a single Indian in Canada that has not been absorbed Into the body
politic and there is no Indian question and no Indian Department."
Duncan Campbell Scott: Deputy Superintendent of the Department of Indian Affairs, Special
Committee of the House of Commons, March 30, 1920. Library and Archives Canada, RG10,
volume 6810, file 470-2-3, part 7
‘ When the school is on the reserve the child lives with its parent, who are savages he is
surrounded by savages. Indian children should be withdrawn as much as possible from the
parental influence’
John A. MacDonald 1883
Step 1: Choose a Stakeholder
Choose a stakeholder from the list below. You will need to research this stakeholder and
represent their perspective in regards to Residential Schools and their current legacy.
●
Canadian Government 1876
(Prime Minister Sir John A Macdonald and Department of
Indian Affairs)
●
Current Canadian Government
(Stephen Harper to Justin Trudeau)
●
Residential School Student from 1920
●
Residential School Survivor today
●
Indigenous Community Member 1920
●
Indigenous Community Member Today
●
Church 1920
(Catholic, Methodist, Anglican, United)
●
Church today
(Catholic Methodist, Anglican, United)
Step 2: Research
Research the answers to the following questions through the lens of your stakeholder. You may
choose to use
Table 1
listed below to assist you in your research. You may be able to gather
much of this information during your class lessons and activities!
Questions to help guide your research:
1.
What role did your stakeholder play in Residential Schools past and/or present?
He offered full apology on behalf of the Canadian government for the Indian Residential
System that had happened in 1876. After more than a 100 years, he was the prime minister that
officially apologized on the issue that affected over 150,000 Aboriginal children.
On June 11, 2008,
Prime Minister Stephen Harper
offered a public apology on behalf of the
Government of Canada and the leaders of the other federal parties
in the Canadian House of
Commons. Nine days prior, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission
(TRC) was established to
uncover the truth about the schools. The commission gathered statements from residential
school survivors
[nb 3]
through public and private meetings at various local, regional and national
events across Canada. Seven national events held between 2008 and 2013 commemorated the
