Download Legacies of Imperialism

Legacies of Imperialism
Chapter 10







How old do the children appear to be in the photo?
Looking at their faces, what emotions might they be feeling?
What can the clothing the children are wearing tell us?
Where might their parents be when this photo was taken?
Who might have taken the photo?
For what purpose might the photo have been taken? Why do you think it was taken?
What does it say to you?




In what year do you think this photo could have been taken?
Describe the differences between the two photographs.
What emotion is portrayed in Thomas’ facial expression?
From what you can see are the changes from the first to the second
photograph positive or negative? Defend why you feel this way.
Key Terms

Residential School: a boarding school set up for the purpose of
education and assimilating Aboriginal children.

Reserve: an area of land that is legally owned by the federal
government but is set aside for the use of a specific Aboriginal
group

Land Claims: a renegotiation of treaties which has created a more
equitable land ownership agreement between the government and
aboriginal groups.

Self-government: aboriginal people gaining control over key
elements in their own communities, such as the courts and
education.
Legacies of Residential Schools
The Indian Act: an act passed by the
government in 1876, and amended many times,
which makes aboriginal people the responsibility
of the government. Traditional government was
replaced by the new Canadian Federal
Government.
 In 1884 the Federal government amended the
Indian Act to create residential schools – to
assimilate aboriginal people into “Canadian”
culture.



















Alcohol and drug abuse;
Fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) and fetal alcohol effect (FAE);
Sexual abuse (past and ongoing);
Physical abuse (past and ongoing; especially, but not exclusively,
of women and children);
Psychological/emotional abuse;
Low self-esteem;
Dysfunctional families and interpersonal relationships;
Parenting issues such as emotional coldness, rigidity, neglect,
poor communications and abandonment;
Suicide (and the threat of suicide);
Teen pregnancy;
Chronic, widespread depression;
Chronic, widespread rage and anger;
Eating disorders;
Sleeping disorders;
Chronic physical illness related to spiritual and emotional states;
Layer upon layer of unresolved grief and loss;
Fear of personal growth, transformation and healing;
Unconscious internalization of residential school behaviours such
as false politeness, not speaking out, passive compliance,
excessive neatness, obedience without thought, etc.;
Effects of Residential Schools

The did not successfully assimilate
aboriginal people, but they did:
– Create hardship for many people who went,
and their children.
– Generational problems.
– Destruction of language and culture.
– Loss of traditional skills.
Responses to Canadian Imperialism

Military Responses
– Oka (Quebec) armed conflict over land

Royal Commission
– The federal government studied issues faced
by aboriginal people.
– Led to the Statement of Reconciliation and
the recent apology by Prime Minister Steven
Harper.

Self Government (Tlicho and Deline)