Essay on Canadian National Identity Native Canadians

Native Canadians play an important role in our national identity, unfortunately, the culture has been slowly dying out for the past century as advancing generations lose the spoken language. Less identify themselves as a true Native for the little knowledge they have of their culture, especially those who live in an urbanized city. One of the greatest contributing factors to this outcome were residential schools, a tragic and critical part of Canadian history. The first government operated residential school opened in the late 1870s with the main objective to assimilate all Aboriginal culture. It was thought that by discarding their heritage, it would civilize them to the modern society. By 1920, there were more than fifty residential†¦show more content†¦The environment the kids spent their childhoods in was poor. Diseases spread from the unsanitary conditions and were given improper care. There was a reported case that some school nurses had even gave children different me dication for experimentation. The improper care of these schools dented a high death rate to those attending, all deaths including suicide. In 1960, the minister of Edmonton Residential Schools, James C. Ludford was convicted on charges of sexual abuse raised. He was given suspended from the school for one year to be given psychiatric treatment. Shortly after the year, he returned back to his normal position. Ludford was one of the few caught for unacceptable actions, but the consequences he was given from the Canadian government was not equal the deed that was done. It showed the unfairness hatred and lack of sympathy the government had to offer to the Native peoples at the time. Those who were able to make it out after graduation found a hard sense of belonging in the community. The ones who decided returned home found shame to and from their families because they were taught to be ashamed of their own heritage. Those who eagerly ventured to start their life in the city came to d iscover that they had little knowledge about the civilized world and had no idea how to survive on their own. They were stuck in a category in between both of the societies. This interview with survivor Chief Robert Joseph reveals the damageShow MoreRelatedThe Relationship Between Native Canadians And White Middle Class Population945 Words   |  4 Pagesrole in the growth and development of the given species. More so, it played an even bigger role when talking about the relation between the two ‘Canadian groups,’ natives and white men. Their cultural interaction shifts across the spatial context where people lived, worked and played. 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