"Cultural Genocide": Landmark Report Decries Canada’s Forced Schooling of Indigenous Children

http://democracynow.org - The Truth and Reconciliation Commission in Canada has concluded the country’s decades-long policy of forcibly removing indigenous children from their families and placing them in state-funded residential Christian schools amounted to "cultural genocide." After a six-year investigation, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission report concluded: "The Canadian government pursued this policy of cultural genocide because it wished to divest itself of its legal and financial obligations to aboriginal people and gain control over their lands and resources. If every aboriginal person had been 'absorbed into the body politic,' there would be no reserves, no treaties and no aboriginal rights." The first schools opened in 1883. The last one closed in 1998. During that time over 150,000 indigenous children were sent away to rid them of their native cultures and languages and integrate them into mainstream Canadian society. Many students recall being beaten for speaking their native languages and losing touch with their parents and customs. The report also documents widespread physical, cultural and sexual abuse. We are joined by Pamela Palmater, associate professor and chair of the Centre for Indigenous Governance at Ryerson University, an Idle No More activist and author of "Beyond Blood: Rethinking Indigenous Identity and Belonging."

Democracy Now! is an independent global news hour that airs weekdays on 1,300+ TV and radio stations Monday through Friday. Watch our livestream 8-9am ET: http://democracynow.org

Please consider supporting independent media by making a donation to Democracy Now! today: http://democracynow.org/donate

FOLLOW DEMOCRACY NOW! ONLINE:
Facebook:   / democracynow  
Twitter:   / democracynow  
YouTube:    / democracynow  
SoundCloud:   / democracynow  
Daily Email: http://democracynow.org/subscribe
Google+: https://plus.google.com/+DemocracyNow
Instagram:   / democracynow  
Tumblr: http://democracynow.tumblr
Pinterest:   / democracynow  
iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/podcast/demo...
TuneIn: http://tunein.com/radio/Democracy-Now...
Stitcher Radio: http://www.stitcher.com/podcast/democ...