Residential Schools and Intergenerational Trauma in Canada

"Residential schools caused Intergenerational trauma"

"Residential schools caused Intergenerational trauma"

Introduction

Indigenous people are the natives of Canada. Canada is a region that belongs to Indigenous people and before the arrival of European colonizers, Indigenous people had their own governance, traditional values norms, and beliefs. Indigenous people had a strong connection with land and environment and they were living peacefully pursuing their Indigenous identity. However, after the arrival of the Europeans, Indigenous people and their communities became marginalized in their own land. Europeans took control over Indigenous land and resources and developed the Indian Act which was racist legalization and affected the well-being and potential of Indigenous people. The text, "Ojibwe Enough" by Wente (2021) put the limelight on the lives of indigenous people and the way colonialism and residential schools affected their mental health and indigenous identity. This research essay argues that residential schools are Canada's darker history which shaped intergenerational trauma among indigenous people and shaped different mental issues and other associated. problems among indigenous communities.

Discussion

Indigenous children in the residential schools suffered significant mental, psychological, physical, and sexual violence which shaped trauma. The government of Canada established residential schools and the children of indigenous families were forced to leave their families and get admitted into residential schools. The settler colonies considered indigenous people inferior to them and indigenous children were considered to be uncivilized and savage so they made it compulsory for indigenous children to go to residential schools and become civilized. The officials of residential schools practiced cultural genocide in residential schools and indigenous children experienced mistreatment, work overload, and denied fundamental needs of water, food, and appropriate medical care. The teachers in the residential schools rejected indigenous spiritual traditions, culture, family, and ancestors which affected the sense of indigenous identity (Cowan, 2020). All these aspects collaboratively affected the mental health of indigenous people.

Excerpt continues in the full download.