Wretched Legacy | Angelican Church and Residential Schools

The wretched legacy of Canada’s residential schools... https://t.co/ZomYrAHd4M

— CounterPunch (@NatCounterPunch) June 28, 2021

 

Sorrow, Shame and Rage: the Wretched Legacy of Canada’s Residential Schools

by Michael Welton

Residential school group photograph, Regina, Saskatchewan, 1908. Photograph Source: John Woodruff – Public Domain.

+++

 "Many groups have issued apologies for the wrongs they have committed towards indigenous peoples. Without changing our ways, however, these apologies fall flat"

Over the years, Anglicans have learned more of the truth about the residential schools we ran. According to Anglican Church records, the church operated around three dozen schools between 1820 and 1967. Before Confederation in 1867, Anglican missionaries ran these schools with the purpose of converting indigenous peoples to Christianity. After Confederation, the Anglican Church operated these schools on behalf of the Canadian government. These schools were used by the church not only to convert students to Christianity, but to assimilate them into a British culture. Due to underfunding, many residential schools were ill-equipped to provide a quality education for children. 

Canada’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) identified 3,200 children (566 in Saskatchewan) who died while attending the schools as a result of poor care. Since the TRC published its report more missing children have been identified and more pain and hurt is being felt. 

Injustices towards Indigenous peoples continue today. 

BACKGROUND: Ministerial message: Truth and reconciliation at heart of religious tradition | Humboldt Journal