INDIAN RESIDENTIAL, DAY,
AND INDUSTRIAL SCHOOLS
This page contains information on the impacts of the Indian Residential School system to the Survivors, their families, and communities. It is adapted from the booklet, The Soul Wounds of the Anishinabek People: The Psychological and Intergenerational Impacts of the Indian Residential School System, by Dr. Brenda Restoule. C. Psych.
The legacy of the Indian Residential School System continues to be affecting the Survivors, their children, grandchildren, and communities they live in. These experiences can be found for individuals, families and communities in the mental, emotional, physical, social, economical and spiritual parts of their lives. Understanding the soul wounds or impacts this has had across the generations can assist in creating healing and wellness for Anishinabek people.
THE PSYCHOLOGICAL AND INTER-GENERATIONAL IMPACTS OF THE RESIDENTIAL SCHOOL SYSTEM
Cited from The Soul Wounds of the Anishinabek People, by Dr. Brenda M. Restoule, C. Psych (Waub-Zhe-Kwens, Migizi dodem), Dokis First Nation, Anishinabek Nation.
Through the Indian Residential School system, many First Nation children suffered neglect and physical, sexual, and psychological abuse, while also enduring harsh living conditions under the pretense of gaining an education. As a result, many children experienced personal and cultural degradation that lasted a lifetime for many of them.
The Survivors often believed these experiences to be traumatic and resulted in long-term negative impacts across many areas of their lives such as relationships, parenting, health, mental health, beliefs, and coping. Many of the Survivors were left without any supports or help to heal from the traumas they experienced in the Indian Residential School system. In some cases, the Survivors didn’t recognize some of their problems as being connected to the Indian Residential School experience. As the Survivors had families of their own, they unintentionally placed their children at risk of being exposed to these same long-term negative impacts. In doing so, they transmitted their trauma and the effects to their children who were often unaware of their parents’ experiences in the Indian Residential School system. This transmission of trauma is known as intergenerational trauma transmission and it has negative long-term impacts across the generations.
Presently, there is greater awareness of the serious negative experiences that the students and Survivors of the Indian Residential Schools were exposed to, trauma and its impacts, and the ability to transmit trauma across generations. As Survivors and their families speak out about the trauma, there are opportunities available using cultural and counselling supports to heal from their soul wounds.
What happened to the children while at the school?
Disclaimer: this is not a comprehensive list, nor does it identify the legacies of the Indian Residential Schools.
- Forcible removal of their cultural identity such as cutting of hair, stripped of traditional clothing and possessions
- Renamed with ‘Christian’ names or known only by a number
- Unsanitary and overcrowded conditions
- Exposure to illnesses such as tuberculosis with a lack of effective and immediate healthcare
- Inadequate food and clothing
- Physical, sexual, psychological, emotional, and spiritual abuse
- Forced replacement of spiritual beliefs by religious teaching
- Physical and emotional separation from parents, grandparents, extended family, siblings, and the opposite sex
- Death due to violence, suicide, malnourishment, disease, exposure to extreme weather conditions
- Loss of language
- Sexual abuse and assault
- Loss of cultural practices and customs
What are the long-term impacts to Survivors of the Indian Residential School system?
- Inability to express feelings about the abuse they suffered in the schools
- Internalized feelings of anger, fear, grief, shame, and guilt
- Substance abuse, addictions
- Self-sabotaging behaviours
- Violence directed toward others or self (i.e., suicide, self-harm)
- Risk-taking behaviours
- Avoidance
- Mental health problems such as anxiety, depression, and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
- Cultural alienation
- Poor or no interpersonal and relationship skills
- Lack of trust or belief in others or in a safe and predictable world
- Lack of loving and effective parenting skills
- Inability to effectively handle conflict in healthy ways
- Continuation of abuse of others
- Anger
NSADAA’IINDENDAMOWIN
There are different types of trauma. Physical trauma is the result of a physical wound or injury. Psychological trauma is the result of extraordinarily stressful events that break a person’s sense of security and predictability, leaving one feeling helpless and vulnerable. It does not require a physical injury to be considered traumatic. Survivors of the Indian Residential School system often experienced psychological trauma and many report feeling alone, frightened, and overwhelmed.
Disclaimer: this is not a comprehensive list, trauma presents differently in everyone and is difficult to define.
Aaniish aanind aakwendamowinan enji teg nsadaa’iidendamowin?
- Shkonwaach zhiwebad
- Gaawiin ngii-de-zhiitaasii gwaya
- Bwaanwitoo wii-gibichichiged
- Aa’aanj zhiwebad
- Gwaya onjida gii-aakwaadizi
- Epiichi-binoojiinwid gii-zhiwebad
Aaniish ezhi-zhiwebag nsadaa’iidendamowin?
- Ngoding, ngoding eta gii-zhiwebad (daabaan psikaagaaza, shkonwaach naajtaasa, aa’aabiinjigaaza)
- Gibeying maa ge aanji’zhiwebzi (gotaanendamowin, goopajigaaza)
- Aa’aagwiita zhizhiwebad (aakwaadziwin + goopaji’iwe + zhiingenjigewin/aanwenimidiwin)
- Mewizha gaa-zhiwebag gbeying dash psakaagemgad (aanjiwizhweng)
Nsadaa’iidendamowin na we’iib zhiwebad?
Gwech go we’iib daa-mooshchigaade aanwi dash wii gwa aaniind ooshme gbeying daa-njitaamgad ngo-name-giizhgadoon, giizisoog maa ge nsa-bboon, piish ji-mooshtong wi nsadaa’iidendamowin.
Gbeying na daa-bbaamendmigemgad wi nsadaa’iidendamowin?
Enh, daa-temgad gwa inamanji’owini’, mshkaw bmaadziwini’, inendamowini’, doodamowini’, miinwaa manidowaadziwini’ bbaamenjigewin.
Wenesh manidowaadzi’bbaamenjigewin etemgak nsadaa’iidendamowining?
Aanind go daa-zhi-dbaataanaa’aa aanwetmowaad maa ge zhaagwenimowaad, waa’aach go ishpi-gshkewiziwin.
Wenesh inamanji’owini’bbaamenjigewin etemgak nsadaa’iidendamowining?
- goshko-ayaa, bwaanichige, zegizhiyaa, maanaadendam
- giiwashkwe’endam, giikiminzi, miinwaa gaawiin gashtosiin wii-mooshtood zaagidwin maa ge minwaangozwin
- mooshtong indowin maa ge menisendamowin
- miiwaashkwaa’aad bemaadzinjin, ngoji miinwaa gegoon enwemgak gaa-zhiwebag
- nishkendami-zhiyaad maa ge nishkaaji-zhiyaad miinwaa miigaaji-zhiyaad
- we’iib netaa maanaadendamo maa ge goshkwendamo
- azhetaawaadzi, aanwenimi-zhiyaang, maa ge webnigaazad
- Gashkitoosig wii-mazhiwed maa ge mooshtoong giichigon
- mooshtoong giichigon maa ge dbaadenmaasig gwaya
- goshko-ayaa miinwaa goshko zhiyaang gegoo noondmang
- wanishkwezhiyaa
- nsidzo-inendamowin miinwaa doodamowin
Wenesh inendamowini’bbaamenjigwewin etemgak nsadaa’iidendamowining?
- Naanmindizang maa ge maanaaji-gnowaamdizang maa ge maanaaji-gnowaamdang aki
- moonenmind gwaya, ntaa-miigaashkid, dbenmookaashkid
- gashkitoosig wii-naagdawendang maa ge wii-naakniged
- kandoo-zhiyaang miinwaa aabji-akawaamjiged
- maanaazaamdamang, miji-mjimendmowinan maa ge
- znagzing enji-nokiing maa ge enji-kinoomaagzing
- oke-wnenmaawza
- gaa-go-gegoo wii-nonkiisii
- nondaash zhi-gshkitmaawza
- eshkam znagzi wii-dbaajimotaaged
- Maanaadendamowin maa ge nibwadendamowin
- ojaanimendamowin
- gegoo gaa-izhi-ayaad gii-shkwaa-gchi-ozazaamendamosed
Wenesh doodmowini’bbaamenjigwewin etemgak nsadaa’iidendamowining?
- gashkitoosig wii-dbaajimotaaged
- moonenmiged
- aanmenjiged kognaawsang miinwaa wii-mazhiwed
Wenesh mshkawi bmaadziwini’bbaamenjigwewin etemgak nsadaa’iidendamowining?
- Dewkwewin, gaa-gaagiidziwin – waa’aach go gaagige-gaagaagiidzowin
- ozaam-manjigeng maa ge gaawiin zhaabendanzii ji-wiisinid
- baashkidiyaandaapinewin
- mokzhe’aapinewin
- jaanmibdeg’ode, jaanminaamong, jaanmenmong
- shazhgweweng
- washime aanimaapinewin
- badagonigong, nibaashking, gaawiin gashtoswang weweni wii nibaang
- ozaamendamo’igong dbishko go naa minikwewin maa ge biinisi-mashkikiwaapine
Wenesh wi gegoo gaa-izhi-ayaad gii-shkwaa-gchi-ozazaamendamosed?
Ojaanmendamowini’aapinewin temgak sa aanji-makwenjigaadeg nonda gchi-goopji-doodaamowinan ishkwaa zhiwebag go naniizaaniziwin, makwenjigaadeg, badagonigong miinwaa go mshkawi’bmaadziwini’aazhidetamowinan _ dbishkoo go naa ntaa-wiisnising miinwaa nbaang)
Daa-aashtowgaaza na gwaya maanda nsadaa’iidendamowin?
Enh, gshkotaawinan miinwaa ninaakwiwinan daa-aazhtoogaazwag niijaansag (miinwaa aankobijiganag) gaa-goopajichigaazjig mzawe inamanji’owini’ing miinwaa oshtigwaani nsadaa’iidendamowin. Aanike-bimaadziwin, aanike’aajimowin maa ge niibna aanike-bimaadziwinan nsadaa’iidendamowin zhi-gkendaagwad maanda.
Daa-zhiwebziwag na Anishinaabeg maanda aanike-bimaadziwini-nsadaa’iidendamowin?
Enh, aanike-bimaadziwini-nsadaa’iidendamowin geget zhi-gkendaagwad gii-gnamaading anishinaabe-aadiziwinan, inaaknigewinan, miinwaa gaa-nji-naasaab zhindwaa miinwaa gii-niwtowaad dinaadziwiniwaa. Ninaakwiwin zhi-bgomshkaa niibna aanike-bimaadziwini, maamawini, aanike’aajimowini inaganaamgaajgaadeg inendamowin, inamanji’owin miinwaa manidowaadziwin.
Aaniish enji-zhiwebag maanda aanike-bimaadziwini-nsadaa’iidendamowin?
Gaa-goopajichigaazjig dbishkoo go naa gaa-zhaabwiijig oodi Anishinaabe Dnizii Kinoomaagegamig nonj gegoo nikeying waabanda’iwe izhiwebiziwin miinwaa myaanaadag zhichigewinan ji-maajiishkaamgag nsadaa’iidendamowinaazhtowin.
- Jaanmendamang nsadaa’iidendamowini-mjimendamowinan, izhiwebiziwinan miinwaa myaanaadag zhichigewinan e-aankenamowaawaad dibnoojiinmowaan waamdamowewaad ezhchigewaad.
- Ishkwaashkinemagag miinwaa/maa ge noondesemgag gkendaaswin miinwaa wawiingewiziwinan wii-naadmowaawaad dibnoojiinmowaan wii-nkweshkamwaad e-znagag mji-ayaawinan maa ge inamanji’owin.
- Ishkwaashkinemagag miinwaa/maa ge noondesemgag gkendaaswin miinwaa wawiingewiziwinan wii-naadmowaawaad dibnoojiinmowaan wii-daatagaadenimowaad myaajiishkaamgag aanjsewinan miinwaa dibaamjiginan (dbishkoo go naanh abinoojiinwid piish shkiniigid).
- Ozaami-kowaabmaad maa ge wanenmindwaa abinoojiinhag miinwaa menwezwaad.
Aaniish ezhi-psakaagemgak maanda aanike-bimaadziwini-nsadaa’iidendamowin?
- Gaa-ozaamendamowichigaadeg, mnikwewin, maa ge biinisi-mashkikiwaapinewin
- E-zaamibmiikgaadegin: mashkaw-bmaadiziiwin, mazhiwewin, inamanji’owin/ oshtigwaani nsadaa’iidendamowin, inendamowin, manidowaadiziwin
- Dibisaamdizowin
- egaa gaa-gwayakoseg ngodoodegizwinan miinwaa wiijgaabwitaadiwinan
- Gidimaagi-kognaawsiwin dbishkoo go naanh aakwaadiziwin, wanendaagoziwin, nganaawsawin, tiki inamanji’owin
- Nisidizowi-izhichigewin, inendamowin miinwaa izhichigewin
- Oshkiniigi-aanjigowin
- Migoshkaadendamowin, memdige go gaagige bezhigowii miinwaa saweshkaamgag dazhiikewining
- gaagige miinwaa e-saweshkaamgag nishkaadiziwin miinwaa ozaamigidaazowin
- Wiisini miinwaa nibe’aapinewin e-gichinendaagwag miinwaa e-gaagigewang
- gaagige mashkaw-bmaadziwni aakziwin
- gaagige giizhendazig gashkendamowin miinwaa niisaadendamowin
- Gotaajiwin wii-mno-maajiiging, aandaadizing miinwaa noojimong
- Gaawiin gwayak izhigisii abinoojiinh netaa-minikwed amaamaa megwaa gigishkawaawasad (FAS) miinwaa dabishkoo Gaawiin gwayak izhigisii abinoojiinh netaa-minikwed amaamaa megwaa gigishkawaawasad (FAE)
- Gaawiin makawsii biindnang mkwendmowin dnizi-kinoomaagegamgoong gaa-gkendaang zhiyaawin bishkoo go naanh mnaazomkaazad, gaawiin gegoo kidsig, gaawiin wiidookaasig, ozaami-biinaadziwin, mchiwe babaamitaagewin
- Kinoomaagegamgoong gaa-bi-njibaamgag kendaaso-znagziwin dbishkoo go naanh zegzing wii-bwaanitmaang, ozhindamang wii-gkendmang gegoo zaam ‘gkenoomaagzowining zhiyaamgad’, nda-gkendmowini-bwaanitmowin
- Manidowaadziwin giiwanaadendamowin miinwaa webni-zhiyaawin e-bgidnigesiimgag wii-nitaawging
- Biinji-gnawenjigaadeg dibisendizwin maa ge miiwaashkwaang e-Anishinaabesigwaa
- Ani-gdag’aad miinwaa niisnaad bemaadzinjin
- Inaadiziwin eyaawing gigwiinendamowin ashi aagde’endamowin maa ge aagonwetamowin ezhi-inaadizising, inaadziwin giiwanaadendamowin, zegzing wii-gkendmang maa ge wii-anishinaabewichigeng
- Godiskiing bgoji-bimaadiziwining ge zhi-gchipiitendaagkiba enso-giizhgak ezhi-bmaadizing miinwaa manidoowaadizing
- Gaawiin gegoo kidsiing maa ge yaazwang inwewin
- Ishpi-iniwe’idizwini’izhiwebiziwin (dbishkoo go naah bishigwaadiziwin)
- ozaam wiiba aanjkiing
- Gaawiin zaagenimaasig gwaya nyaagdowenjiged
Daa-aashtoodim na dazhiikewining maanda aanike-bimaadziwini-nsadaa’iidendamowin?
Enh, niibna ne’en wiidookaazwinan, ondaadiziwinan, miinwaa inaakonigewini’znagendaagziwinan Anishinaabekiing dbishkoose maa ge go gaa’ii dbishkoosesnoo omaa dnizi kinoomaagegamgoong nagadenmowin miinwaa go aanind omgimaakodaawinan . Nonda dash aanind daa-ddagoyaamgadoon:
- Oosi-ogimaakodaadwin
- Bgadendimo-apenimowin
- Zhizhnaagwag mji-aabjitood mashkawiziiwin wii-dibenmaawzad
- Dazhiikewining ezhchigewaad wii-zhichgeng dinaangindoonwin miinwaa baabaamaajimowinan wii- aasgaabwitowaad miinwaa wii-wiijgaabwitowaad ne’en sa e-giigdanjin wii-maanenimowaad
- Niisaakseg wi e-gookzigemgag e-zigibnaad enigokoodewizijig miinwaa dazhiikewinan dbishkoo dnoo apenimowin, naasaab bezhigwendamowin, maadookiing inendamowin miinwaa ezhaang, mashkawizii dazhiike-bimaadiziwin miigweng miinwaa maadookiing, tesnog wenpash nokiing, maamwi naadmaadwaad bemaadzijig wii-zhawenjigewaad kina
- Miigaadwin miinwaa noondeseg wiijkiwendiwin biitawiing bebezhigowing miinwaa ngodoodegizing dagwagindaming ezhi-bebkaandizing dazhiikewining
- Miigaadwin miinwaa gwiwninendamowin onji zhitwaawin miinwaa manidowaadziwin
- Bichibowi-ganoondiwin: mji-danaagidooniwin, mji-dibaaknigewin, mookiitaagewin, nanaawndakootaagziwin, giimoodiziwin, dbastaagoziwin, miinwaa….
- banaajchigaadedoodmowini’aasgaabwitaagewin
- Bagidendimo-daapnaming mashkawiziising dazhiikewini’bimaadiziwin miinwaa/maa ge ogimaawewin
- Noondeseng mewizha gaa-zhi-ogimaakandakeng bemaadzijig gaa-miinindwaa gashkewiziwin wii-bbaamiikmowaad wdoo-dazhiikewininwaa
- Nokiiswang miinwaa gdamaagziwin
- Maaskaamagak ngodoodegizing
- Maazhseg ngodoodegizing
- ngoji-daasig
- baatiinag gibaakogewin
Trigger warning: readers may be triggered by the recount of Indian Residential Schools. To access a 24-hour National Crisis Line, call: 1-866-925-4419. Community Assistance Program (CAP) can be accessed for citizens of the Anishinabek Nation: 1-800-663-1142.
