Since starting this class, it has been emotionally taxing to learn about the cruel and unjust treatment of Indigenous Canadians. I continue to be shocked and disappointed over my lack of knowledge on this subject — I went through high school with no mention whatsoever of Canada’s cultural genocide. I continued through university for 6 years, worked in education for 2 more years, and am now in my 3rd year of a nursing degree. Somehow, I never learned about Canada’s cultural genocide. How is this possible?
Now, I am learning….
Indigenous people of Canada have been victims of poor public policy for far too long. Government attempts to assimilate this population have left many broken.
For over a century, the central goals of Canada’s Aboriginal policy were to eliminate Aboriginal governments; ignore Aboriginal rights; terminate the Treaties; and, through a process of assimilation, cause Aboriginal peoples to cease to exist as distinct legal, social, cultural, religious, and racial entities in Canada. The establishment and operation of residential schools were a central element of this policy, which can best be described as “cultural genocide.” – The Truth & Reconciliation Commission of Canada
Residential Schools have perpetuated ongoing cycles of violence and inter-generational trauma. Victims of, and witnesses to, physical, mental, and sexual abuse frequently developed “residential school syndrome”. Symptoms are similar to that of PTSD (Brasfield, 2001), and may include flashbacks, emotional or behavioral symptoms, aggression, anxiety, restlessness, etc. (Menzies & Lavallee, 2014). Victims often became abusers in adulthood, with the next generation as their victims (Mussell, 2005). Language and culture were often lost. People were made to feel ashamed of their identity. Traditions, values and beliefs were suppressed
It’s difficult to imagine a population resilient enough to survive such oppressive and atrocious events. Indigenous people have gone far beyond just surviving, though. Today, efforts are underway to reclaim culture, reclaim land, revive language, and achieve reconciliation.
As mentioned earlier, I am learning of these events for the first time. I feel a sense responsibility to increase awareness. Nurses are in ideal positions to share knowledge with colleagues, as well as with the general public. I strongly recommend that others watch CBC’s 8th Fire, a documentary series that provides an engaging, informative introduction to the truth about Indigenous issues in Canada. After all, knowledge of the truth is a critical aspect of moving forward and reconciling:
Too many Canadians know little or nothing about the deep historical roots of these conflicts. This lack of historical knowledge has serious consequences for First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples, and for Canada as a whole. In government circles, it makes for poor public policy decisions. In the public realm, it reinforces racist attitudes and fuels civic distrust between Aboriginal peoples and other Canadians. Too many Canadians still do not know the history of Aboriginal peoples’ contributions to Canada, or understand that by virtue of the historical and modern Treaties negotiated by our government, we are all Treaty people. History plays an important role in reconciliation; to build for the future, Canadians must look to, and learn from, the past.
Two-Eyed Seeing for Health 