Historical Timeline

The Royal 1815 British government adopted policy to “civilize the 1850 Act for the Proclamation Indian.” protection of the of 1763 set 1842-44 Gradual assimilation strategy: The Bagot Indians in Upper out guidelines Commission proposed that the separation of children from for European from their parents would be the best way to achieve imposition, and the settlement assimilation. Considered the starting point for the property occupied of Aboriginal residential school system. or enjoyed by them territories in from trespass and what is now 1847 Egerton Ryerson’s Report on Native Education injury. North America. iterated the recommendation to separate children from parents, and to “give a plain English education adapted to the working farmer and mechanic.”

“Cultural genocide is the destruction of those 1857 – The Gradual Civilization Act was passed by the Province of Canada, structures and practices that allow the group to requiring the enfranchisement of any male Indians and Métis over the age continue as a group.” TRC Report of 21 who could read, write, and speak English or French and who were of good moral character and free from 1871-1906 The Numbered in : "The great aim of debt. Enfranchisement required Indians 2 (1871), (1874), (1875), our legislation has been to choose an approved surname by which they would be (1876, treaty adhesion 1883); (1899), to do away with the tribal legally recognized. The 1869 Gradual (1906). The treaties were land surrenders. Each treaty is system and assimilate the Enfranchisement Act set out more modeled after the 1850 Robinson Treaties; however, each Indian people in all respects with ways Indian and Métis would become has unique clauses, reflecting the negotiation between the other inhabitants of the enfranchised (i.e. Indian woman who the parties. For example, in the southeast corner Dominion as speedily as they marries non-Indian man and offspring of the province did not include rights to hunt and fish. are fit to change," John A. shall cease to be Indian) “In some locations, Canada negotiated Treaties with First Macdonald, in 1887. Nations; in others, the land was simply occupied or seized. The negotiation of Treaties, while seemingly honourable 1876 – The First was passed concerning and legal, was often marked by fraud and coercion, and registered Indian status Canada was, and remains, slow to implement their provisions and outlining of the and intent” (p. 3).1 Treaties granted limited land rights and administration of Indian financial compensation for the European acquisition of rights, but does not grant territory. Each treaty offered rights to on-reserve education. Indian rights. The act consolidates the 1857 and In 1870, some land grants were issued to Métis communities 1869 Acts (above)already (not individuals) in Saskatchewan.22 In the late 1870s, Chief instituted: Definition John A. Mistahi-Maskwa (Big Bear) of "Indian" including MacDonald 1 http://nctr.ca/assets/reports/Final%20Reports/Volume_1_History_Part_1_English_Web. 1840 - 1901 pdf refused to sign Treaty 6, categories of status and 2 Provincial Read about Métis Land rights and Self-Government warning other chiefs not to non-status, provincial Archives of sign as well, in his attempt to jurisdiction and ownership of land and natural resources, Saskatchewan/ negotiate for greater rights federal responsibility for Indians and reserve lands. R-A6665 for people. He Mistahi maskwa (Big attempted to create a political Bear, ca. 1885, a Plains confederation of Indian bands 1879 – The Davin Report Cree chief, O.B. Buell that could force concessions Nicholas Flood Davin prepared / Library and Archives from the government. The a report after visiting several US Canada / C-001873 government’s refusal to /C-1873 Industrial Boarding Schools. In his respond to the Band caused report, he recommended the US him to lose his influence. The desperate circumstances model of “aggressive assimilation” caused by the extermination of the buffalo, and thus, through Indian Boarding Schools the lack of food sources, finally forced him to sign an be adopted. He also recommended Nicholas Flood Davin adhesion to Treaty 6. a contract method, in which 1840 - 1901 missionary schools were utilized Provincial Archives of Saskatchewan/ R-A6665 where possible. (For more information, see pages 30-31)

Page 16 Edgar Dewdney established the Industrial schools in what is now Saskatchewan, Provincial Archives of Human Rights Atrocities in Residential Schools Saskatchewan/R-B48-1 • Substandard Living • Forced Confinement Conditions • Religious Fear and 1883 – Industrial Residential Schools were intentionally built • Poor Construction and Indoctrination 2008, June 11 The Day of Apology far from reserves to limit parental and cultural influence Ventilation • Cultural Theft Language Formal Apology: Former Prime Minister • Malnutrition Tortures Stephen Harper on behalf of the Government 1884 -1885 North-West Resistance (often called North- West • Separation from Siblings • Hatred, Racism, and of Canada Rebellion in history books). Cree and Métis resistance in the • Manual Labour for Half Oppression Saskatchewan District of the North-West Territories (Louis Riel, of School Day • Forced Sterilization Gabriel Dumont, Poundmaker, Mistahi-Maskwa/Big Bear, Star • Physical Assaults • Medical Experiments Blanket) • Sexual Violence • Disease and Inaction • Emotional/ Mental • Unsolved Child Deaths 1885 – Amendment to the Indian Act prohibits traditional Abuse and Burials Indian ceremonies such as potlatches and the Sun Dance. (see Indian Act - Amendments). Hayter Reed's implementation of the The "Sixties Scoop" Pass System The residential school Click to read: "How I lost my legacy of removing mother, found my family, 1894 – Amendments to the Indian Act gave authority to an children from their recovered my identity" Indian agent or justice of the peace to remove any "Indian child families and communities between six and sixteen years of age" who was "not being properly continued through the child protection system, with the cared for or educated, and that the parent, guardian or other person mass removal of Indigenous children from their families 2008 - 2015 The Truth and having charge or control of such child, is unfit or unwilling to provide in the child welfare system. (June 2015 Province of Reconciliation Commission of Canada. for the child's education" to place the children in an industrial or issued an apology for the Sixties Scoop. 2016 Justice Harry S. Laforme was the first chair of boarding school. the commission. After he resigned in 2008, "The great aim of Call for apology in Saskatchewan) Justice Murray Sinclair was appointed chair. our legislation has been 1969 - White Paper proposed end of discrimination The Commission focused on the residential to do away with the tribal 1907 – Medical Inspector against Indians and assimilation into Canada--the end schools, which were one aspect of the system and assimilate the for Indian Affairs, Dr. P. H. of the Indian Act. 1970 The Red Paper: Aboriginal assimilation strategy. Indian people in all respects with Bryce, reports that health resistance. the other inhabitants of the conditions in residential 2015 The National Centre for Truth Dominion as speedily as they 1980s – Adult students began disclosing sexual and schools are A Story of a and Reconciliation (NCTR) was formed are fit to change," John A. other abuses while attending the schools. Sixties Scoop National Crime. Bryce to house the collection of materials on Macdonald, in 1887. children began looking for their parents. recommends Residential Peter Henderson Bryce the history and effects of the Canadian Schools be turned into (photo courtesy of Andy Early 1900s– Tuberculosis 1990 – Phil Fontaine, Residential School System. sanatoriums. Bryce) and Influenza epidemics National Chief of the cause high death rates in Manitoba Chiefs goes public Indian Residential Schools as the first Indigenous April 2016 – Daniels Decision: The leader to tell the story Phil Fontaine (photo courtesy of Supreme Court of Canada declared Métis 1920 – Indian Act of his own abuse in Chamber of Commerce) and non-status Indians as "Indians" under legislates compulsory school residential school, calling for recognition of the abuse, the Constitution, thus owing fiduciary attendance (day, industrial or compensation and an apology for the inherent racism in duty to Métis and non-status Indians, and

boarding); Children were forcibly taken the policy. that Métis and non-status Indians have a OVERVIEW HISTORICAL and resistant parents fined or jailed. right to be consulted and negotiated with 1996 – The Royal Commission on Aboriginal in good faith by the federal government

"I want to get rid of the Indian n

Peoples Report is released and recommends that a o i t problem....Our object is to continue , public inquiry be held to investigate and document the c e

until there is not a single Indian in Dupras & Colas, Library and n

abuses in Indian Residential Schools n

Archives Canada/ C-003187 o

Canada that has not been absorbed C

r a into the body politic, and there is 1997 - Muscowequan(Lestock), Marieval l u c

no Indian question, and no Indian i

(Grayson, Cowessess), and the Prince Albert r r

department...’’ Head of Department of residences closed u C

Indian Affairs, Duncan Campbell Scott. K

1998- Lebret(Qu'Appelle) School closed S

1998 – The Canadian Federal Government's response to the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples 1951– An Act respecting Indians Report: Gathering Strength: Canada's Aboriginal Action Plan 1952 – Indian Residential schools: Federal Government was 1998 – Aboriginal Healing Foundation established to foster healing strategies for Indigenous responsible for hiring all teachers and had complete control over communities in Canada. Published a 2004 Report on Canada’s Dispute Resolution Plan to Compensate for in-class curriculum. Abuses in Indian Residential Schools 2001 – Federal Office of Indian Residential Schools Resolution set up to manage and resolve abuse claims Russell Diabo talks about the 2006 – Indian Residential Schools Settlement Agreement (IRSSA) recognizing the damage inflicted by current problems with the Residential Schools Indian Act.

Shattering the Silence: The Hidden History of Residential Schools in Saskatchewan Page 17