The Education of Aboriginal Children
The federal government assumed responsibility for the administration of Indian Affairs when the British North America Act was passed in 1867
The Department of Indain Affairs (DIA) was organized which focused on the education of Indian students.
The government was not concerned with the administration and operation of schools so it transferred their responsibility to various religious organizations.
The goverment believed education and Christianity could be used to force the assimilation of Indian people.
Missionaries concentrated on removing Indian languages, traditions, and beliefs.
In 1842 a report is released advising the government that Aboroginal people should be receiving education-European based education system.
In 1847 a study of Indian education is undertaken by Egerton Ryerson. Ryerson recommends that the schools provide domestic education and religious instruction for the Indian for 'nothing can be done to improve and elevate his character and condition without the aid of religious feeling...'The recommended focus was agricultural training.
Davin Report-Establishment of Residential Schools mirroring the States "Must catch the Indian children young in order to influence them."
Duncan Campbell Scott states, "I was to get rid of the indian problem-our objective is to make sure there is not a simple Indian left that has not been absorbed."
Some students were brought by their parents, others remember being snatched away.
It was questioned in 1908 by the Superintendent General of Indian Affairs as to what the best method to education Indian children. Would it be through day schools as there were by 1900, 225 located on reserves, OR residential schools??
He wrote to St. Margaret's Indian Residential School regarding the best method of education Indian children whose parents made a living by hunting.
The response from an Oblate priest at the school states that "for the growing generation of children it is more important for them to learn how to make a living as the white people and we can prepare they for this and train them from youth."
