Friday, June 13, 2008

Residential School Survivors

When Native Canadian children were torn from their families and taken to residential schools, how do you think they must have felt? What can be done now to help these survivors of a cruel school system?

I look forward to reading your ideas on this important subject.

Carol

8 comments:

Kim dohyun said...

They must have felt sad, and meserable, also seen everything around themselves hopeless. I can assure that a large propotion of children who had to undergo that situation have felt like that. Even some of them might have considered really extremely dangerous thing such as a suicide.

The government had to prevent that, but they didn't.(they? it?) Of course, they have a reponsibility of dealing with it. They should compensate it, and those poor children deserve it. However, the scar in their mind can't be removed forever. People should remember that, and try not to happen that kind of things again.

Anyway, Don't go! Sammi!!
Go away right now, Beef!!

Kim dohyun said...

Carol! I have a question.
If I want to put "the last few days" in the sentence, what kind of tense do I have to use?

I know it's usually used with present perfect.
However, if something doesn't happen anymore now, can I use it with past tense?

pbbabc said...

They must have felt sad and anger. It didn't be tolerated by everyone. Every person has their life. Even if the Government can't control a person's life. I think the residential school could be a very good policy. But, the Government wasn't interested in a person's feeling.
They were hurt very emotionally. But, an apology was too late. First, the Government must support some money. And, the Government should exempt them from some taxes.
Second, the people should have concern about it, and remember it. We should be sad with them, so we can share the sadness.
Third, the Government should appoint one day as the day for remembering about it. And, the people will not forget about it. Also, the people will not make another mistake again.

Jennifer Lee said...

One of the Residential School survivors told that the Apology of the government was just a baby step. We can imagine how much the survivors got hurt in their mind and how much they felt ashamed through their mentions. The hurt must have destroyed their lives, lost their self-pride, and destroyed their trust on human beings. The physical and emotional pain must have remained and bothered them even after the tragedy. In addition, the survivors' families might also have been depressed and hurt deeply, watching the survivors' pain. The Apology is just a beginning of healing. Canadians government has begun to recognize the tragedy. It is more important that the government will work on recovering this tragedy.
How can we help the survivors and their families? I think it would help to heal them by compensating their pain, asking the forgiveness of aboriginal people, continuously, and forging a new relationship between aboriginal people and other Canadians, which is based on the knowledge of their shared history and a respect for each other.

qq951753tw said...

That is a horrible things. The survivor must got hurt in their heart. But this case is a long time ago, we can't go back that time. The government has made a apology to survivors, but still not enought. Should make a manument for this, beside the children should be take care who is become to older. Help these survivors to cure their pain.
People should remeber that and don't let it happen again.

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Almir Cardoso said...

I thing that they must have felt like the African slaves of Brazil, Aboriginal Indians of South America and Mexico, Black person of the South of United States, before 1776, Black persons of South Africa before Apparthaid, Jurishes in Germany Nazist Period. I can remember of hundreds of this cases in all world.

The history has a lot of cases that one culture want to dominate another one, generally using the political power, due personal or ideology reasons. It's happens always when the State leave to do your 3 basic functions (Police Power, Taxes Collection and creation of laws) to influence in
People's life in another way.

And I don't believe that an apologize can clear all the years of pain and suffering of these families. But I prefer say that was a bad chapter of the history. If all countries were apologize due the economic-social problems caused each other, I think that will be need a special newspaper, only to publish this apologies.

Almir Cardoso said...

Just to finish, I think that the best apologize is to create a fair society that the laws is the same for all citizens, without the preconception of aboriginals are only drugers and marginals. Should have respect for the cultural habits of these citizens and give the opportunity of growing. I don't know the folklarama, but I would like that there are things about the culture of aboriginal people.

katsuya said...

This is one of a sad history in Canada.
The people who lived in residential school must have felt painful.It is so difficult for us to understund ther sadness, but we have to think about it.
I was surprised at a purpose of residental school that is to kill naitive people during they are children.I couldn't believe my eyes.
This time the apology by goverment have a effect not only for naitive people but also others, because to apologise on official can inform to many people especially other countries.To think is one of the things that we can do for they.