Looks at whether the residential school system was genocidal and suggests ways to move forward with reconciliation if it is recognized as such.
Chapter 14 from Colonial Genocide in Indigenous North America edited by Andrew Woolford, Jeff Benvenuto, Alexander Laban Hinton.
Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples - Transcriptions of Public Hearings and Round Table Discussions
Documents & Presentations
Description
RCAP 15 contains files from the sitting of the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples at Esquimalt Reserve Longhouse, British Columbia. This sitting of the Commission contains a variety of presentations related to various issues such as residential schools, the Indian Act, self-government, youth athletics, education and economic development. Each presentation can be viewed individually on this site.
RCAP 67 contains files for a sitting of the Royal Commission for Aboriginal Peoples in the Luke Novoligak Hall, Cambridge Bay, Northwest Territories (Nunavut). Subjects include residential schools, alcohol and drug abuse, the Katimavik Society, education, self-government and lack of employment and housing. Each submission can be viewed individually on this site.
File contains a presentation by Emile Bell relating to the negative effects of residential schools and the impact of AIDS on Aboriginal people in Canada. Bell, a co-founder of Joe Duquette High School in Saskatoon, works with street people in Saskatoon where the majority are Aboriginal. He calls on the Commission to help provide financial compensation for survivors of residential school abuse, and funding for a shelter for those living on the streets. Following the presentation is a question-and-answer session with the Commissioners.
File contains an individual presentation by Mavis Gillie focusing on "the idea of a moral and spiritual dimension to the right of Aboriginal peoples to be distinct peoples, to have an adequate land base and to be self-governing." Gillie works within the Anglican Church of Canada and describes her frustration with politicians who are unfamiliar with Aboriginal issues.
File contains an individual presentation by Richard Greene that touches on a number of topics, including Aboriginal urban housing, dismantling the Indian Act, and Aboriginal over-representation in the correctional system. Following the presentation is a question-and-answer session with the Commissioners.
File contains an individual presentation by Barbara Becker describing the effects of residential schools, Bill C-31 and discrimination against Aboriginal women have had on her family. She urges Canadian non-Aboriginals to understand their history because without that background, she feels that understanding Aboriginal history is impossible. Becker suggests having Commissioner Viola Robinson lead a closed hearing for Aboriginal women to present their concerns and ideas. Following the presentation is a discussion with the Commissioners.
File contains a presntation by Carol Gauthier relating to post-secondary education. She calls for more funding for Aboriginal post-education and in particular, for more comprehensive graduate studies. Gauthier briefly discusses the "Indian residential school syndrome" and also calls for funding and resources to 'complete the healing process in overcoming the devastating effects this syndrome has had within our community." Following the presentation is a question-and-answer session with the Commissioners.
File contains a presentation by Chief Councillor, Kelly Dennis, Ohiaht Child Protection. Kelly discusses the traditional cultural approach of the Nuu-Chah-Nulth people to childcare, the breakdown of the traditional process during colonization, the impact of the residential school system, the need for self-governance, social programs in place and who administers them, and what can be improved in Mr. Dennis' view.
Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples - Transcriptions of Public Hearings and Round Table Discussions
Documents & Presentations
Author/Creator
Darrell Boissonea
Description
File contains a presentation by Chief Darrell Boissoneau that focuses on treaty violations and particularly on the Indian Act. He calls on the Commission to help begin the healing and to ensure funding for the essential programs that are necessary to help Aboriginal people reclaim their culture. Following the presentation is a question-and-answer session with the Commissioners.
Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples - Transcriptions of Public Hearings and Round Table Discussions
Documents & Presentations
Description
File contains a presentation by Chief Edmond Metatawabin describing the arrival of missionaries in the James Bay and the missions and residential schools that were constructed. He describes the St. Anne's Residential School Reunion and Conference in August 1992 as the beginning of healing for those former students in attendance. He urges the Commission to look at the findings of the Conference and to help address the healing of the survivors in his community and throughout Canada. A question-and-answer session with the Commissioners follows the presentation.
Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples - Transcriptions of Public Hearings and Round Table Discussions
Documents & Presentations
Author/Creator
Peter Quaw
Description
File contains a presentation by Chief Peter Quaw focusing on economic development, employment, and self-government that has been taking place on that First Nations since the 1980s. He calls on the Commission to ensure that funding continues so that conditions on his First Nations will improve.
File contains a presentation by Gary Patsey focusing on self-government of Gitanmaax based on the Gitksan governmental system. He provides a brief history of the ancient village of Gitanmaax and calls on the Commission to assist on the repealing of Section 74 of the Indian Act. Patsey also briefly discusses housing, unemployment and the negative effects of residential schools upon the Gitanmaax population. Following the presentation is a question-and-answer session with the Commissioners.
File contains a presentation by Lily Sutherland focusing on child and family welfare issues. Sutherland discusses the need for more training of public health officers on First Nations and for workshops on parenting and substance abuse prevention. Following the presentation is a question-and-answer session with the Commissioners.
File contains a presentation by Lindberg Louttit that covers a number of topics, including residential schools, hydro projects, river pollution and economic development. A lengthy question-and-answer session with the Commissioners follows the presentation.
File contains a presentation by Marvin Sampson focusing on the social problems caused by residential schools, forms of abuse, and alcohol and drug abuse. Sampson states the programs in place in his community are under-funded and under-staffed, resulting in broken families and individuals. He states that self-government is ineffective if Aboriginal people are unable to recover from negative events in their past. Following the presentation is a brief question-and-answer session with Georges Erasmus, Co-Chair.
File contains a presentation by Matt Vickers focusing on the impact of the imposed political, educational, social and religious systems on North American Aboriginal peoples. He lists statistics for offences committed in the Kispiox area and calls on the Commission to ensure that "immediate steps are taken to ensure that documented cases of dysfunctional relations that are mostly a result of the residential school systems receive immediate assistance regarding their recovery process. Following the presentation is a question-and-answer session with the Commissioners.
File contains a presentation made by Brian Favel for the Metis Society, Local 21 on the topics of the justice system, the education opportunities for northern communities, economic development and self-government in Aboriginal communities. Also contained are comments and questions from the assembled Commissioners and those of the Commissioner-of-the-Day.
File contains a presentation by Paul Gull expressing frustration with the lack of funding for Waswanipi School and its programs. Gull calls upon the Commmission to ensure that programs such as the elder-student mentor program, Cree immersion and residential school survivor support groups continue. Following the presentation is a question-and-answer session with the Commissioners and a previous speaker, Peter Gull.
File contains a presentation by Charlie Thompson, President of hte Port Alberni Friendship Centre. Thompson tells the history of his people, the problems caused by colonialism and the government's approach, his personal experience with residential schools, some issues of self-governance, and the story of his particular Friendship Centre. Following the presentation is a discussion between Thompson and Commissioners Erasmus and Robinson on the challenges facing urban Aboriginals.
Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples - Transcriptions of Public Hearings and Round Table Discussions
Documents & Presentations
Author/Creator
Tom George
Description
File contains a presentation by Tom George focusing on the lack of funding for drug and alcohol recovery programs for Aboriginals in Canada. Lack of employment, recreation facilities, and shelter for women and children are problems George's group faces. He calls on the Commission to help secure funding for his organization. Following the presentation is a question-and-answer session with the Commissioners.
[ISID Conference 2014: Whose Truth? What Kind of Reconciliation?]
[Setting the Stage: Canada's Experience]
Media » Film and Video
Author/Creator
Wilton Littlechild
Description
Webcast focuses on discussing three points: where the Canadian Truth and Reconciliation Commission is situated on the international stage, the special visit to Canada by the UN Special Rapporteur, James Anaya, and the interim report recommendations on the United Nations declaration on the rights of indigenous peoples.
Duration: 18:25.
University of Toronto Law Journal, vol. 64, no. 4, Special Issue: The Residential Schools Litigation and Settlement, 2014, pp. 505-528
Description
Chief negotiator of the Indian Residential Schools Settlement Agreement for the Assembly of First Nations discusses personal experiences and important role the Assembly played.