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Mi'kmaq Community

We are sorry. We apologize. (Part 6)

We are mindful of the work we must do to help all learn more about the dark history of our country and our Church when it comes to the relationship with Indigenous communities. In that light we continue our ten part weekly series on residential schools.

Residential Schools: We are sorry. We apologize. (Part 6)

Approximately 150,000 children attended residential school in Canada.  The number of deceased children has most recently been updated to at least 4,100.  Due to the poor record keeping by the churches and federal government, we may never know the total loss of life.

In cases where the cause of death was reported, tuberculosis was the dominant cause of death, representing 48.7% or 1997 of residential school deaths.  The next highest were influenza and pneumonia.  Several of the schools were overwhelmed by the influenza pandemic of 1918-19.  In one school alone (Ft. St. James, B.C.) 78 people, including students, died in this pandemic.

Underfed and malnourished students were particularly vulnerable to diseases such as tuberculosis and influenza.  In large part due to the federal government underfunding the system, food was low in quantity and poor in quality.

Students also died of suicide (6), accidents (57 drownings, 40 in school fires, 20 deaths due to exposure, 38 in vehicle accidents and falls).  At least 33 students died while running away (most died of drowning or exposure).

Parents frequently were not notified of a student’s death and, in order to limit expenses, the Department of Indian Affairs was opposed to shipping the bodies of deceased children to their home communities.  They received a simple burial on the grounds of the school.

Removed from their parents’ home at a young age, stripped of their traditional clothing, their hair cut short, issued uniforms, and introduced into institutional life, the experience for most children was distressing at best.  No wonder many survivors speak of the experience as “bereft of love”.  Even contact with siblings was largely discouraged.

The mode and degree of physical discipline common in schools during that period would already have seemed cruel and vindictive.  Added to that, the forms of physical discipline were known to exceed the regimen of discipline exercised in non-indigenous schools.  Taunts and slurs against their Indigenous Heritage were common in too many schools.  Sexual abuse from school staff, and even from some of the older children, scarred the lives and memories of a number of Residential School Survivors.

Children were stripped of their indigenous names and given Christian names.  Last names were also changed according to the custom established in particular schools.  In a few schools the children were called by number.  Many children were taught to hate their indigenous roots and to reject their parents’ teachings.  The use of their own language was discouraged by a variety of – sometimes severe and cruel, punishments.

For a more detailed understanding of what happened, please read the Truth and Reconciliation Report: nctr.ca/records/reports, and scroll down to “Honouring the Truth, Reconciling for the Future”.

For more information the relationship between the Archdiocese of Halifax-Yarmouth and the local Mi’kmaq community go to: www.halifaxyarmouth.org/mi-kmaq-community

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Mi’kmaq Parishes in the Archdiocese of Halifax-Yarmouth

FAQ's

Residential Schools
Frequently Asked Questions
(June 2021)

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Contact

chancery@halifaxyarmouth.org

(902) 429-9800

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