Column: Native woman was survivor of residential school ordeal

Thursday, March 3, 2011  

"On Tuesday night, Doreen, a close friend of mine, passed away.

She was a survivor of residential schools. Doreen's story is remarkable not only for the trauma to which she was exposed as a child, but for the way she chose to respond to such adversity.

Instead of quitting, she rose to obtain a university degree in social work and spent her time counselling other victims of residential schools.

Residential schools were first conceptualized in 1820 by the Sir Peregrine Maitland, lieutenant-governor of Upper Canada, to gain "influence over children." The Department of Indian Affairs rationalized that the government needs to "kill the Indian in order to save the man," and that to do so, "It is to the young we must look for the complete change of condition."

The Gavin Report of 1879 recommended forcibly removing children from their parents, placing them in custody of the government and church, and maintaining separation from parents for as long as possible -"the better for success."

The other justification was to maintain order. After the Northwest Rebellion of 1885, Superintendent James McRae from Indian Affairs concluded: "It is unlikely that any tribe would give trouble of a serious nature to a government whose members had children completely under government control.""

Get the Story:
Mark Lemstra: Residential school survivor overcame ordeal (The Saskatoon StarPhoenix 3/3)