Congress 2021 blog edition
The Stolen Niitsitapi (the Real People) Children webcast at Congress 2021 was an open event hosted by the Canadian Society for the Study of Education (CSSE). It featured a powerful and innovative presentation by Tiffany Prete who eloquently spoke on the struggles Indigenous children in Canada endured at the hands of the Government. Also in attendance was Jennifer Tupper, the Dean of Faculty of Education, University of Alberta.
Research Project
Partnering with several archives and museums across Canada, Prete conducted an archival and oral history research study to explore, reveal and record significant aspects of the Indian residential school history. Additionally, she worked with a group of Elders from the blood reserve.
Childhood
Prete spoke about how when growing up, she was always fearful for her future after learning that her mother was a survivor of the residential school system. She wondered if the same horrendous fate might befall her later in life because of her heritage. She outlined the following misconceptions she grappled with in her early years:
- Why and how residential schools began
- The Indian Act
- The Canadian Government’s system of checks and balances
- Stolen Children Era
- Who is culpable
- School-aged children
- Mortality rates
- The experiences of residential school survivors.
- Discharge from residential schools
In her presentation, Prete discussed the only three reasons why children were ever discharged from residential schools:
- Once they turned 18
- In the event of marriage
- In the event of death.
Prete concluded her presentation by criticizing the Canadian Government for implementing several school models and overarching policies in an attempt to try and assimilate Indigenous children. She acknowledged that the damage residential schools have done to our community is real and terrifying and we are only just scratching the surface of all the work needed as a society to reconcile with our Indigenous communities.
This webcast presentation was dedicated to the 215 children of the Indian residential school site in Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc.
Special thanks to the Canadian Society for the Study of Education (CSSE) for hosting the Stolen Niitsitapi (the Real People) Children open event Webcast at Congress 2021.
Workshop Resource:
Surviving Colonization Video: https://youtu.be/jLGCqTgdX70