Mass graves for indigenous children
Ellen Hammond
Residential schools, similar to boarding schools, run by the Catholic Church, have been recently exposed for the mass deaths of native Canadian children.
From the mid 1800’s to the late 1990’s, the Canadian government kidnapped and forced over 150,000 indigenous children into these ‘schools’. The aim of these places was to teach the children English, in effort to socialise them into society. Children who refused, and spoke their native language, were beaten.
The poor treatment of the indigenous children caused many to attempt to escape, dying in accidents as a consequence. The poor facilities also caused many illnesses and subsequent death, with the bad living conditions, and the small dormitories letting disease spread easily. There was a lack of care for the well-being and health of the native children, and the church and Canadian government did little to combat this.
This complete cultural genocide of an entire race was exposed when mass graves, some of which had around 215 bodies, were discovered on the land where these residential schools were based. Over 750 bodies, mostly children, have been found so far.
These unmarked graves represent a total disregard of an entire culture, with the concept of the schools being based on ethnocentrism and the belief that the western world's way of living is superior. This was already completely inhumane, even before the discovery of the awful treatment those children had to endure.
The parents of these native children would previously have believed they went missing, are only now discovering the truth.
The Canadian government are only now beginning to admit the part they played in this attempt at killing off an entire race and culture. With the people of Canada, and people all over the world calling for action from Canada’s government and prime minister, Justin Trudeau, as there are even today, laws in place that restrict and govern the lives of the indigenous people.
The native Canadian people want complete self-governance, and from the clear hatred their country has always shown them, and continue to show them, it is clear to see why.
From the mid 1800’s to the late 1990’s, the Canadian government kidnapped and forced over 150,000 indigenous children into these ‘schools’. The aim of these places was to teach the children English, in effort to socialise them into society. Children who refused, and spoke their native language, were beaten.
The poor treatment of the indigenous children caused many to attempt to escape, dying in accidents as a consequence. The poor facilities also caused many illnesses and subsequent death, with the bad living conditions, and the small dormitories letting disease spread easily. There was a lack of care for the well-being and health of the native children, and the church and Canadian government did little to combat this.
This complete cultural genocide of an entire race was exposed when mass graves, some of which had around 215 bodies, were discovered on the land where these residential schools were based. Over 750 bodies, mostly children, have been found so far.
These unmarked graves represent a total disregard of an entire culture, with the concept of the schools being based on ethnocentrism and the belief that the western world's way of living is superior. This was already completely inhumane, even before the discovery of the awful treatment those children had to endure.
The parents of these native children would previously have believed they went missing, are only now discovering the truth.
The Canadian government are only now beginning to admit the part they played in this attempt at killing off an entire race and culture. With the people of Canada, and people all over the world calling for action from Canada’s government and prime minister, Justin Trudeau, as there are even today, laws in place that restrict and govern the lives of the indigenous people.
The native Canadian people want complete self-governance, and from the clear hatred their country has always shown them, and continue to show them, it is clear to see why.