I am the granddaughter of a Residential School Survivor. Let me tell you the horrors of what my grandfather went through. The specific school my grandfather was in, they did human live experiments on the children. They were testing medication and drugs for Pharmacy companies. They would overdose children in the school and test them, true damage was done to their bodies, sure they didn't die and survived, but the damage done to their bodies gave them long-term effects. My own grandpa who did survive, end up dying young at 58 due to the experiments caused to him. The experiments gave him cancer. Didn't happen to my grandfather but I know this as another fact. The Canadian Food Guide is the Nutrition guide for Canada. The way they got the results back then was to starve and experiment on the children of Residential schools to see if they can get proper nutrition or if they didn't, well this kids gonna starve to death no biggie. They played with the kids food, experimented on diets and meals. Its truly horrific. I myself am still affected by residential schools, it never stopped. The Schools stopped at 1997, but they just changed the way they took kids. Now they call it Child Care and Services. The majority of Fostercare children in Canada are Native American. Like they still take away us, they took away me from my own family, put me in a white family, took me to church and I don't know my own culture, my own language. I was even in a family where the mother specifically told me face to face she didn't like native americans. She was scared of them. You tell me that Canada stopped this? I inform you no they didn't, they just changed the way they did it. (I love your videos btw, I know this is heavy topic but thank you for doing this. I have a higher respect for you, keep doing what you're doing).
My father was being taken care of by his grandmother. She took him and his brother and lived in the bush for years so they wouldn't be taken. Thank you for touching on this subject.
The USA established residential schools from 1634 (in what is now southern Maryland). In the late eighteenth century, reformers starting with President George Washington and Henry Knox, in efforts to "civilize" or otherwise assimilate Native Americans, adopted the practice of assimilating Native American children into current American culture. The Civilization Fund Act of 1819 promoted this policy by providing funding to societies (mostly religious missionaries) who worked on Native American education, often at schools established in or near Native American communities. When students arrived at boarding schools in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, their lives altered dramatically. They were given short haircuts (a source of shame for boys of many tribes, who considered long hair part of their maturing identity), required to wear uniforms, and to take English names for use at the school. Sometimes the names were based on their own; others were assigned randomly. The children were not allowed to speak their own languages, even between each other. They were required to attend church services and were often baptized as Christians. As was typical of the time, discipline was stiff in many schools. It often included the assignment of extra chores for punishment, solitary confinement and corporal punishment, including beatings by teachers using sticks, rulers and belts.[26] The treatment of these children was abusive. They suffered physical, sexual, cultural and spiritual abuse and neglect, and experienced treatment that in many cases constituted torture for speaking their Native languages. From 1819 to 1969, the US federal Indian boarding school system consisted of 408 federal schools across 37 states and then territories, including 21 schools in Alaska and 7 schools in Hawaii. Basically, every school had a cemetery. Because the Bureau of Indian Affairs does not know how many children were forced to attend the schools, they cannot give an accurate estimate of how many children died while at the schools. The Bureau estimated that the overall number of deaths could be as high as 40,000, while others have estimated to be in the tens of thousands. Four schools are still open today. Chimo
I came here to say this. The US had school way before CA, that’s where CA got the idea from. Also at least all our schools are shut down since the 90’s. US still has some active schools to this day?! 💔 US could REALLY use a Truth and Reconciliation Day!! And reconciliation act with the indigenous within its government.
Thank you, Brenda, for your very appreciated greeting. I feel very honoured. When I was in grade 3 or 4, I was taught about the residential schools. I thought it wrong then and throughout my life I have continued to abhor what was done to the pure and innocent people of this continent. Three years ago I wrote to tribal leaders, leaders of government, prominent politicians, major newspapers and TV networks to suggest the national anthem should be changed to say, 'our home on Native land' instead of, 'our home and native land'. I only received one response and that was from the Governor-General. Since then, I understand there are now others who have suggested the same thing. How appropriate it would be if we recognised that we are guests on the land of the indigenous people of this continent each time we sing the national anthem. Recently, I began to trace my roots and believe I have found indicators that my forefather, 5 generations back, married the daughter of a leader of a part of the Blackfoot Nation. I hope that is true. Warm regards, Michael
I am a proud Indigenous woman from Canada. For me, this is more a day of mourning. This story goes so much deeper. Children were beaten, sometimes to death. They were raped and starved. They were kept away from home for so long they felt like strangers in their own communities. They no longer knew the language as they were punished for speaking it. Their hair was cut short. Hair is very important in indigenous spirituality. I even read an article about how they found a child sized electric chair in the basement of a residential school in Ontario after it closed in 1996. We are only now finding the mass graves of children at some of these schools and bringing them home finally to rest. Yes, it is a dark history and I have shed many tears when hearing these stories. Until every child is recovered, and every heart healed, there will be no forgiveness from me.
That's truly unfortunate. I love Natives, I love their beliefs, culture food and art. Truth be told, my first was Indigenous lol. I say it's unfortunate because we didn't do this. Of course,, yes Canadians were responsible for these horrific happenings, but, not us. I'll tell you, I lived with a man who had 2 young kids for 5 years on Reserve. t didd nothing but improve their lives by cooking, cleaning, laundry, getting school supplies, clothes, getting them to school etc. But, 5 years was all i could take. I loved them dearly, but, i was never accepted. His parents who were on the same property, not once called me by my first name. For 5 years, I was referred to as the "white woman".by the whole reserve. It would be yelled out at me when I tied to walk the same shortcut as others. The more I learned, the more i encouraged him to get them involved in his own culture, even. My point is, I guess is that, we can all acknowledge, try to make up for and be apologetic and remorseful for what happened in the past. But, it wasn't me. I had no part in those atrocities. I truly believe that until that fact can be accepted no one will ever be able to heal or move forward .
Truth and Reconciliation isn’t a ‘holiday’ that all employees get. Ironically, federal government workers get the day off and they were part of the systematic problem in the first place. I’m sure most people who have the day off as a statutory holiday aren’t spending it mourning. Very sad, not assisting with reconciliation but rather adding a bonus day off which to me, feels like a reward.
From a British Columbian, Canadian: Tyler, I think it would be important for you and other Americans from the United States to recognize and give voice to the fact that you have the SAME Native American history. "In 1878, John A. Macdonald commissioned Nicholas Flood Davin to write a report about residential schools in the United States" (from the article you were reading in your video). Canada's residential school system was based on the residential school system in the United States - copied, cut, and pasted in Canada. It's the same trauma, it's the same legacy, it's the same stain, it's the same truth, and has the same need to be spoken and reconciled. This same story is also in Australia, and Central and South America. What's REALLY gross is that when the residential schools were being fazed out, our Canadian government resorted to taking Aboriginal kids from their families and placing them in the foster care system. That is STILL going on. It's the SAME trauma, it's the SAME legacy, it's the SAME stain, it's the SAME truth, has the SAME need to be spoken and reconciled as the residential schools. The theft, abuse, and murder of Aboriginal children NEEDS TO STOP! What drives this is STILL THE BELIEF that "Aboriginal people need to be absorbed into the general population of Canada and extinguish their culture". Until this is abolished and replaced with a new belief that is in opposition to this, the atrocities against Aboriginal people will not stop. It's STILL going on. And keep in mind, this is not just here in Canada, but in the United States, in Australia, and in Central and South America.
i saw news segments today that some american schools & places are adopting the orange shirt day to remember the indian boarding schools in the US ~ i think & feel this is a good thing ~
I am a white English speaking Canadian male and the Residential School System is an absolutely horrific part of our history that I have trouble wrapping my head around. I am also a father and what the Indigenous People have had to endure is incomprehensible. The fact that this happened in my lifetime and I wasn't even aware of it or taught about it in school is unacceptable but my ignorance is also no excuse. No words can adequately express how bad I feel about this and honestly I find it amazing that any Indigenous people are willing to even consider reconciling with the people that have abused and tried to eradicate them. This is a testament to the Indigenous People's quality of character and show they are fundamentally better humans than I am. Nothing I say is going to be good enough. I am so sorry and have tears pouring down my face while writing this.
I couldn't have expressed this better myself. I am having pretty much the exact same thoughts and emotions as you are. I never know what to say, so thank you for finding the words and putting them out here.
During the residential school times, my uncle starved to death at home while children in the residences were well fed. A good portion of my family is aboriginal. There is more to this history than you know. A friend whose parents were in a residential school just received a $10,000 settlement for "abuse",which is the base settlement amount. Others in the reserve are very upset that everybody didn't exaggerate their experience to raise the total settlement amount. Many lied about their experiences. Money talks.
@@davidleskov5078 the base was 10 g,....Not every body wanted to go through their experiences again. Not everyone was or will ever be ready to tell the details of their rapes and abuses. I wasn't, I still won't. I may write it down in a letter to my child before I die, 50 years later and those details haven't dimmed at all.
I’m a native from a community in bc and i’ve had lots of family go through the residential school system, including my grandfather. he went years without saying a word about what happened until he finally opened up to me just last year about what he endured there, that was the first time i’ve seen my grandpa cry and it was truly heartbreaking.
C31 Native here the Mohawk institute in Brantford near Six Nations recently renovated the place and are using it now has a museum plus healing centre has well if you talk about it best way to heal the reason why they renovated the old school it called save the evidence so people can tour and see what actually happened and how it was
Thank you for covering this really important issue in Canada. It is part of the US history as well. Residential schools were basically forced full-time internment of Indigenous children into government and church schools, away from their families, languages and cultures. It was definitely an overt policy to assimilate them into white society, with a paternalistic point of view that the government and churches "knew better." I am glad that Canada undertook a Truth and Reconciliation process, heard from thousands of people affected by residential schools, and is taking steps to right some of these wrongs, but we have much more to do.
Important?? Yeah right! A glaring issue is that there is no truth and reconciliation. People are acting like it was never taught, but I remember being taught and I’m a “millennial elder” as they say. We already “reconciled” decades ago. It started in 1975 when juveniIe detention centres for delinquents we’re exposed as being worse than actual real life prisons! And then 1st Nations schools. There is literally nothing else to do. The Prime Minister gives us speech. The leader of a parade gives a speech tomorrow we go back as if nothing happened. There is no process. And there is no action because what on earth is left to do? People who are still alive from that era will never get over it, unless they are psych0pathic or something. Which I mean you do you I guess. What steps are there to take? At this point as our present becomes history, if anyone is wishing that something extra is going to happen, they are going to be sorely unsatisfied perpetually. At this point, it’s really only time that can heal any lingering trauma and bitterness
Thanks for such a comprehensive explanation. It always amazes me that Americans mostly don't know that the same deliberate cultural genocide was practiced in their country...and it's time they did know the full extent of their ancestors shameful and horrific treatment of the indigenous inhabitants of their country. But...they still are having trouble with the issues surrounding slavery...smh.
@pacscanadadatabaseservices3711, yes...I'm aware of that as well...and Canada was involved in the same atrocity. Measles laden blankets were deliberately handed out to indigenous communities with the intent to introduce diseases that the native communities had never encountered before and had no immunity to. The purpose was to kill them off without having to resort to violence. It worked. Mass deaths from the disease wiped out many small communities.
@@antoniocasias5545I for one really recpect Tyler for digging into our country, and perhaps as a benefit, he learns more about his own country as well. He is very open minded, articulate, and able to synthesize info quickly and make connections to other videos he has seen in the past.
So much respect to you for taking the time to learn about this dark history. I am literally brought to tears every time I think about the horrid abuse and torture these young ones went through. When you delve further into what actually happened at these schools it is SO much worse then you can imagine …
No school should have its own graveyard. The residential schools did, and still, many children’s graves went unmarked. The campus of my alma mater is located in a former residential school, and the whole original building serves as an exhibit to educate people about it - and yes, there’s a graveyard in the woods on campus. The horror seems so obvious when you see it through that lens.
Tyler, this was not taught in our schools. I did not know about any of this, until we winter boarded our horses with the Stony Nakoda people at Morley Alberta. We had become good friends with many people on the reserve, and it was through Mary, my mom’s friend, that I first heard of the residential school. She said people came and literally dragged her and her brother out of the house. She was six years old and she didn’t know what was going on or who these people were. She told my mom, “Irene, that was the first time of my life that I was ever hit by an adult, and that I was put to bed hungry and cold with no blanket. The title of the government project for residential schools was called, and this is abhorrent beyond belief, “Killing the Indian in the Child.’ That was their mission. So whenever Mary spoke Nakoda, she was hit. Clergy ran the schools, and there was a great deal of sexual abuse, physical and mental abuse. And then these broken children were returned to their broken parents. Can you imagine what would happen to our society, if a more powerful force came in and took your children, and tried to remodel them in their image, and then gave them back to you after a year of abuse and suffering? Many of the children had to work long hours, so were tending vegetable gardens, and vegetables that were sold to support the school. Mary said they did not get to eat those vegetables until they were rotted. Many children died of malnutrition. Anyway, with Mary’s story, she was put on a bus at the end of the school year and taken back to her parents house on the Morley reserve. But her little brother, John, was not on the bus. She did not dare ask but when they got to her house, her parents asked where John was. And the bus driver casually said. “Oh he died.” Like he was a piece of luggage that had fallen off the bus. He died months earlier, but nobody had bothered to inform his family. He was five. I never ever ever forgot that. I wore my orange shirt on the 30th and I correct anybody who doesn’t understand why ‘ they just don’t get over it. “ We are finally moving in the right direction, but there are so many issues to still be solved.
When I was a kid in Ontario we were taken to many museums and shown indigenous exhibits, there were no native children in my school or surrounding schools and I thought they had gone extinct, meanwhile they were in those schools at that moment, dying and suffering, while they marched us to museums and taught us how amazing they were, now I know why I never met any native children for many years, it’s heartbreaking
C31 Native here they always used past tense for us like the Mohawks were etc. well we never went anywhere we still are here I also get this a lot I pull out my card when shopping or getting gas they are shocked there are white/albino natives I get called Metis all the time lol
I grew up in Ontario and went to school with many indigenous kids..lived on the same streets...went to the same parties...played on the same sports teams. Alternatively there were very few families of Asian countries. I'm pretty sure the reason there weren't native children in your schools wasn't because they were being killed.
My exact experience. I went to school in the 60/70's in northern BC...I never gave a second thought to why there were no "Indian" children in my class. A few hours west of Prince George, just past the LeJac Residencial School, was K'san Village (?) Inside the museum were beautiful baskets, jewelry, blankets, carving, etc. We drove past the school every summer on our camping holidays. ....I had no idea what was going on in there, neither did my parents.
My parents were residential school surviors. My mother did not speak of this time in her life. Since all of the horrors are now being uncovered, I can only guess what she experienced. She has passed for 16 years. Unfortunately this makes me incredibly angry and have deep sorrow. Thank you Tyler for using your imagination and trying to put yourself in their situation. There is still a lot of racism toward the aboriginal people of Canada 😢
C31 Native here registered with a Haudenosaunee ( Mohawk Nation) in Ontario I am just stating to learn some of the Language and culture now no one else in my family know it. However it does sadden me when I do see us C31 Natives learning and teaching the lost traditions culture and languages to the Full Bloods it should be the opposite.
I'm fortunate to live in a place in Canada where we don't experience Racism toward yoward indigenous people and we are both part of each other's culture. Born and raised in vancouver I didn't see any of it there either
As a Canadian I’m just glad that he’s taking the time to learn about our history, no matter how terrible it is. Like, think about, thousands, if not billions of kids murdered at these schools, and most likely half of these children didn’t even get proper graves, and were given new names and weren’t aloud to speak their native language while at these schools
My grandmother and her siblings attended a Residential School. Culture lost, but they learned parts of it again. On Sept 30 I proudly wore my braids for all those children who lost them.
C31 Native here I know all about residential schools I do were my orange shirt throughout the year good thing this is coming to light however it took Canada & Britain over 200 years to get into this mess question is how long will it take to get out.
@@marniemcfarlane2969agreed! I'm disgusted. I met an elder at a community rib festival a couple summers ago. I mentioned to her how lovely her teeth were. She said they were false teeth and that hers were all removed as a child in her residential school. Broke my heart. I can't believe that I never knew about this until I was well out of school.
Tyler, you hit the nail on the head. There can be NO reconciliation without truth of what the indigenous peoples endured for generations. Parents were jailed for not sending their children to the schools.
Thank you for touching on this topic. I'm Anishinaabe/Ojibwe and luckily never had to go to a residential school. So many people still don't understand the intergenerational trauma we still deal with. Think about this: Authorities come and take your children (as young as 5 and 6 yrs old) because of something they don't like. If you try to stop them you get thrown in jail. You can't hire a lawyer because Indians can't have lawyers. If you try leave the reserve you go to jail. Your children are gone. Hopefully your children come home maybe 10 years later as broken cold abused teens trying to deal with the abuse they've been going through for years. They've forgotten all about family love, family bonds, kindness and support. This is what the Canadian Government and Christian (Catholic and Protestant) churches did to them for their own good. Now these broken teens have to grow up, deal with the trauma, and try to have their own families with no idea how to do that. This went on for decades and decades. If you are Native in Canada you are the child, grandchild, great grandchild or great great grandchild of residential school survivors. In our community it makes me proud to see all the positive ongoing progress that's going on. From children beginning to learn our languages in daycare, to traditional drumming and dancing, and storytelling, to eventually most of them getting college degrees. Our community supports each and every family. None of this was going on when I was a child. A huge improvement is having our own Child and Family Services group based on our own teachings and values and no longer under the thumb of the government Children's Aid Society. We look forward to the future but we don't forget the past.
Statistically, that's not true, there's many indigenous people who we're not part of the residential school system or its lineage. I have relatives that were never part of it.
@@personincognito3989 I feel the legacy is still here. We still feel the sting of racism when people find out you're Native. It's better than it was but it still there. The stereotypes about being drunks, lazy, violent, etc are still there under the surface. This is the lineage and legacy the schools left. People are still blaming the victims of generational trauma for trying to deal with the pain in destructive ways because our traditional ways were never taught to us because they were illegal because they weren't the violent Christian ways people thought were the only path.
I was born and raised in Canada, and when I heard of the residential schools, it was always said in some way that made it very regrettable but far in the past. This past year or so has made me so ashamed of Canada, when I used to be so proud of my country. I did hear the phrase years ago "compassionate destruction" used of the residential schools, which did not sit well with me at all. But again the seemed to be speaking of long past history.
I too live in BC and I am so incredibly sorry for what our country did to all indigenous children. It breaks my heart to even think about what they endured.
When she said the children are still being taken from their families, she's referring to the lasting social and psychological impacts that the residential schools had on the Indigenous population. There are many substance abuse and mental health issues still present that cause families to lose their children to this day since the healing has only just begun and will take several generations to work through.
I want to make note that there no unmarked graves, there are anomalies that were observed underground that the government has claimed as graves whilst also refusing to dig. Not a single body has been exhumed. I am not a denialist and I am indigenous who has family that survived the residential school system, but I feel it important to mention that our government should not use anomalies found underground as a political weapon without evidence as this only continues the harm and pain.
You had residential schools in the States too. The trauma of this system is still with us as it wasn't too long ago. We had something called the 60s scoop where masses of children were removed from their families and put into the welfare system. All the abuse that they suffered led to things like drug use and alcohol abuse. This trauma lives on in their families. Just imagine growing up in this system.
I understood the children were put in foster care during the 60's, to remove them from abusive homes, just as other children were, and still are. Is this not correct? It's hard to tell what's true and what is exaggerated, even changed, to fit different agendas.
@@margaretr5701Often times, they were removed for “neglect”, mostly because their parents were in poverty and couldn’t care for them without assistance. But in the 60’s, they advertised Indigenous children to exclusively white families. It was an additional tactic to kill off Indigenous cultures and assimilate children. Instead of assisting the Indigenous families out of the cycles of poverty and generational trauma, they piled on more trauma.
I’m GenZ in grade 11 we learned about this in English class. It’s a horrible wound on Canada’s history. The schools were rampant with disease like TB, physical, mental and sexual abuse, those who died were buried in unmarked graves, those who survived had to deal with the loss of there culture, language and family ties as parents couldn’t visit and siblings weren’t allowed to know they went to the same school. If anyone wants to learn more the book we read for the class was “Indian Horse” by Richard Wagamese, it doesn’t shy away from the horrors faced at the school and even when the main character is a adult he is still deeply traumatized. I especially like the line “They say ghost linger”, meaning that the ghosts of Saul’s past and therefore the residential school system are still here.
I'm glad you are covering this topic. It isn't something we are taught happened, but I'm happy that people are not only learning the truth behind these horrible events but also educating people on the beautiful culture.
@@BarkerVancityso you prefer denying thousands of people seeking healing because your non-indigenous self cannot support the shame of your ancestors doing something bad? Your ancestors are dead, let the people heal the proper way and let live.
i am metis. my father went to one of those schools in montreal. my ancestors lived in europe till after ww2. so, big fail on your triggered reply. im talking about the school children scam, not the pre canadian genocides and small pox. @@PolitiqueQc2012
Thank you for being brave enough to cover this. It's sad to see how the mere existence of this day really brings out the worst in a lot of people in Canada. I first learned about this as a little kid in the 80s. It was not secret information. But denialism still remains strong, so strong the official day may not survive the next government.
I went to school in the late sixty seventies and early eighties and we did learn about this. I was confused when people said they didn't know about this. Because I always knew and that their culture was taken away. Their language was taken away, they were abused and they were higher deaths. I want them to be able to find the bones as proof to the nation.
Canada has no need to make recompense. At all. As you said every country has dark secrets. And every Canadian today has already had any recompense paid by providing a better world. paid in blood. This holiday is nothing but an excuse at greater division disguised as inclusion for a holiday based solely on the entitlement feeling of "what about me..?" Real holidays are about something bigger than humanity.
New Zealand and to a lesser extent Australia, has addressed this issue far longer than Canada. A lot of the techniques that governments are using come from those countries and tinkered to suit Canada. Stay safe, stay sane, stay strong 🧡🧡🧡
Very worthwhile video, thank you Tyler! Also worth noting that today Manitoba elected the FIRST EVER First Nations premier (provincial leader)! His father was a residential school survivor.
This is good to see. Yes, we have shame on what has been done in the past. The important thing is .... History should never be removed .... History is there so that mistakes are never repeated. 😘 to all who have that as part of their family history. Great respect for all. 🇨🇦
It makes sense in principle, but in real life, history, inspires people to try again and “do it better?” or “ for the right reasons” Like physiognomy or sharing wealth across other nations!
@@mikelavigne5085exactly. putting up statues to genocidal monsters, while concealing their crimes, is exactly part of the horror. If there is a plaque where the statue used to stand, that plaque could be informative and teach about history.
I worked with a woman who had been in a residential school ( here in British Columbia Canada) Her stories were heart breaking . Thanks again, Tyler for educating yourself and helping others understand as well .
❤❤❤❤please keep sharing😢.I am one of the residential survivors from 1967- 1973..😢😢😢😢it's so emotional watching you sharing our history 💙 thank you so much
Thank you for helping to bring awareness to this tragic event in Canadian history. Even though the residential schools have closed, Indigenous young people are still at great risk. Many remote communities are too small to have a local high school so teenagers must travel to cities to continue their education. They are often inadequately housed or living in foster care. Separated from their families and communities, these children are vulnerable to hate crime, abuse, and despair. Some do not survive, and those who are able to return home are often scarred for life. We Canadians may have many things to be proud of, but our injustice and cruelty to the Indigenous people is our greatest shame.
This is something that Canadians ourselves are learning about and trying to work to change Canada so we can create a country that is inclusive and respects everyone. And to also help stop the ever growing number of missing and murdered indigenous women. For current indigenous children the trauma of there parents and grandparents often leads them to drugs and suicide which leads to social services taking the children.
Are you sure we have learned anything? The government is still trying to take away parental rights…. All parents this time. Not just indigenous people.
As a indigenous person of Canada, I'm glad you looked into this. It was heartwarming & heartbreaking to see a non-indigenous, non-native, non-"indian" person realize and react to this event's details and history. I cried just as I did the first time I heard about what my grandparents and other ancestors went through in these schools. To me, tears are healing though so I don't say that to make you feel bad. I'm glad that you didn't take the post down.
I wish more people were willing to learn our ancestors history like you do. Hopefully your videos reach those willing to listen also. As a grandchild to a residential school survivor those of us who know about it wish more people were taught. My grandmother passed when i was very little due to tuberculosis she contracted from residential school.
As a fellow Canadian, I am deeply sorry for the loss of your grandmother and for the horrendous treatment that she and so many of the Indigenous people were forced to endure, as well as the lingering effects that still haunt the survivors and the newer generations. I did learn of the residential schools while I was in school, but it was only taught as a positive thing. I knew more of what went on because of a friend that lived close by. He and his family were Indigenous, with many of his older family members having experienced this. The Indigenous languages and cultures are both beautiful and fascinating in my eyes, as are all languages and cultures. The people are so friendly, warm and welcoming, always willing to share and teach aspects of their particular First Nation culture. I wish you and your family, as well as all Indigenous people, much health and happiness, and that your healing journeys are free from the road blocks of the past.
What are you talking about? He literally doesn't even know that the US had residential schools as well. Even after coving this topic, I guarantee he still won't bother to learn anything.
Thank you for wanting to know about this and sharing to those that may not know. I am Squamish and am the first generation of my family that was not put into residential school. I am however, a survivor of the 60's Scoop-thousands of children that were ripped from their homes and put into foster care. I was abused, lost my culture and unloved. I went from a loving family to years of hardship and I'm still trying to heal. We're all trying to heal. My cousin said at residential they did medical experiments on her. My uncle said his first day at residential they locked him in a cupboard all day for speaking his language and I don't dare say what they did to my brother. My dad was only 5 years old when they took him and he was in there until he was 17. A lot of the deaths were at the hands of the priests and nuns. sexual abuse was common. Please keep educating yourself and others of these horrific times. I have just discovered your channel and can't stop watching. you're very entertaining and I too am learning lots about this country I live in.
C31 Native here when I tell people I am native decent I only look Native when I around family or other Natives they are shocked why they I show them my card and tell them it not a Metis Nation card
Thanks Tyler for your great choice in exploring the meaning of this Canadian holiday (and for wearing an orange shirt). Your genuine enthusiasm for wanting to learn more is a real gift.
Thank you for covering this very real and horrific part of Canadian history. Your reactions were very respectful and I appreciate your digging for more information and being thorough. Not everyone would. Thank you.
@antoniocasias5545 it's about awareness. You typical "White people" like to just wipe bad things you've done under the rug, this is our way of letting those like you who don't understand what your people have done to ours. My great grandmother went to these schools and experienced terrible things at a very young age. If you think this is horrible than just imagine what us as a people have gone trough. If you can't handle a video talking about it maybe think about how us as a people feel it happened to us. Now all we ask is for awareness that this has happened
@@FlipsideCollectsYT I’m half innu and half atikamekw thank you 😂 What bad things “I’ve” done ? Awareness doesn’t do anything. This isn’t a video I can’t “handle” it’s just a pointless pity party.
I love that you've worn an orange shirt for this video!! Also so glad you took the time to learn about this. This is very important and everyone should be learning about this. It should be taught in every school.
@@antoniocasias5545we can't turn back time, but something IS being done. Our past is being acknowledged! We're not being told to get over it, or that we're not believed. Change doesn't happen over night. It starts with acknowledgement of the past wrong and work towards repairing and building up our communities and people's.
Thank you so much for this video. It really means a lot to indigenous people to see someone so open to learning about residential schools and the tragedies that happened. My great grandfather was a survivor and luckily escaped, but he still had to pretend to be non-native for years just to be treated equally. Would love to see a video on the 60s scoop as that event is often forgotten. Again, thank you so much and keep making great videos man 🙏 happy t+r day forever
C31 Native here when I tell people I am of Native decent they try to correct me Metis I have status they are shocked has soon has I show them top right hand corner of my card Indian Status not Metis Nation lol
@markmiller4609 yeah I'm first nations myself and have met many first nation, I find that's usually what people assume native people are here. I've met a couple of metis people but would love to meet inuit aswell just to find out more about their amazing culture. So happy we can all share stories and experiences these days
The more you do research into the residential school system the more you find what horrors these young innocent children went thru. This is a definite scar on Canadian history. I am not aboriginal.
As i am part native canadian i can tell you they've found no bodies in these "graves" when they finally dug them up over the summer they found rocks the schools themself were terrible but i recale my grandparents who are white talk about being abused in school around the exact same time hitting children back then was common if any of us were to go to any school weather white black native we would all be horrified at the actions of the teachers for actions we find insignificant today history is ugly and in 100 years they will look at us the same way we look at our ancestors it is not up to us to pay for our ancestors sins but to change which we have as a country changed in the last 40 years its only in the last 5 or so tears that racial equality as gone backwards due to liberal propaganda
As a Canadian I assure you it isn't. They continue to discover unmarked mass Graves of dead children at old residential school locations. It is a horrible part of Canada's history and very true.
I had no idea growing up what had happened to Canada's First people. As an adult, about 20 years ago, I was living with a woman who was a victim of the 60's scoop. When she explained it to me, I was appalled. Since then, I've learned more about the issue. It's indefensible. I am *very* glad that it is now part of school curriculums when teaching the history of Canada.
All I can do is cry and pray for forgiveness. That some day no child will ever be abused. Thank you to our indigenous peoples for not allowing this to be pushed aside and swept under the rug. Bless you for all you have done for I know it is far more reaching and will continue to grow as the generations keep telling the stories. So sad that instead of trying to take away their way of life we didn’t listen and learn the great knowledge and how to respect and take care of this land.
Thank you for covering this and trying to understand🧡 I as a native woman knew the atrocities of the residential schools growing up, hearing the heartbreaking stories of our families but I was astounded to learn that a majority of Canadians didn’t know of or believe what was being told. Am I in my late 30’s and I was technically in a residential school the first 5 years of my schooling. I did not face the abuses and tragedy of older generations but I wasn’t properly educated which made going to school (which goes to grade 6) off reserve near impossible without extra help.
Thank you for sharing this, and for your respect by wearing an orange shirt. Keep digging into this subject to understand more the horrific trauma that occurred.
I have native cousins, so I heard the horror stories like, 40-50 years ago. It's about time the truth is coming out. It's not so much a holiday as it is a remembrance.
@markmiller4609 yeah, I do find it a little weird that as of right now it's for federal employees. The federal people that our indigenous have fought with. I believe this should be a day for ALL people, including retail workers (like Christmas), so we can all truly stay home and reflect. A quiet day. Just my opinion though.
Hey Tyler. Really appreciate you covering this as I have relations who passed in the Residential school in Chapleau Ontario and the indian act/residential school system has deeply impacted my family. Those in my generation are working hard to reclaim language and traditions lost to those times. My grandfather could speak fluent Ojibwe but rarely did as it cause him shame and embarrassment that he had been taught to feel by the nuns and priests, my mother and none in her generation learned to speak more than a few words.
I am glad you are reacting to this and not sweeping it under the rug for viewership. Keeping ugly history away from the public won't solve the problem. Like the old saying goes, "Those who are ignorant of history are doomed to repeat it."
I am glad you found out about this. It is an ongoing tragedy. There is an ongoing search for the buried bodies that the churches just buried in fields around the schools without acknowledging the deaths. Horrific. A school in Kamloops BC began the searching that many First Nation peoples knew had happened. It is now an ongoing search through much of this country.
I am proud to be a Canadian. BUT , I am in no way proud of what my country did to the children and their families . I am ashamed of that part of Canadian history . All I can say is how very sorry I am to those who were treated so cruel . I cannot imagine what the children went through or their parents . No idea ! So Sorry !
I'm Gen X & I wish we had learned this in school. My heart breaks for what thousands of little kids had to go through. I'm glad my granddaughter is learning the truth
the truth is it wasnt true. they dug up the mass grave in kamloops and not a single human remain was found. nothing was fact checked, everyone jumped to conclusions over some lydar readings. theres just no way that 500+ children were genocided in the last century and there just wasnt any eyebrows raised? cmon, this is canada not auchwitz
I was taught about it in the late 90's in school but as I've gotten older I realized that wasn't the experience for many Canadian kids at that time. I'm glad its no longer a location spicific thing for people to learn about. Every country's history have moments of darkness but I'm glad that it's not something the Canadian people are shying away from.
That’s weird because my parents are gen x and 12 years apart! And they were taught it. There are still presentations of that era on the subject. EDIT: hold up, why would you want to know about this LMAO?
I understand the meaning for the holiday but being a Canadian from BC I never heard about the holiday until this year and was surprised but it is a deserved day of recognition what happened in those schools was just awful, Canada may have lost one of its most beloved musical icons with the passing of Gord Downie, but the frontman of The Tragically Hip is also being remembered as a passionate advocate for Indigenous rights and reconciliation.
C31 Native here the main problem is where do you begin T&R, MMIW, residential schools, Healthcare, Housing, Land Claims the 94 calls to action is great but where do you start and how much will all this cost in the long run.
THIS. I'm in Manitoba and the refusal of this current govt to search the landfill where they know murdered women are is absolutely horrific. Today is an election and I'm hoping we get a change. The conservatives are so beyond vile for how they've been handling these (and many other) situations. 🧡
That's a poverty issue, not a race issue. Females of low socioeconomic status are more likely to be the victims of violent crime regardless of race. Also, cops run into a wall of silence when trying to investigate any of these. I lived on the Downtown Eastside of Vancouver and virtually nobody would talk to the cops. People are paranoid of being labelled a "narc" or be arrested for some minor drug offence, but then turn around and whine and bitch about the cops not protecting them. You can't have it both ways.
Tyler, you are a very good, and brave individual to take the time to learn about every sides of our identities... The good, the funny, the sad and the horrifying ones. I humbly thank you!
Not to rain on your parade but your comment made me wonder.. like... There's nothing brave about this and someone suggested it to him there's nothing to thank.
@@mattybrunolucaszeneresalas9072 Ok so ? The guy is learning about Canada... I think it's great... Even if it was "proposed" to him. You think it's lame! Great!
I'm not sure "brave" is the right word, but I do like how Tyler is so curious and open to learning. I'm glad he's moving beyond the hockey and health care stereotypes that make it sound like Canada it some sort of northern utopia, and going deeper into the realities of life in Canada.
This was, by far, one of Tyler's best episodes. I'm a Canadian, and I learned stuff I didn't know from it. Also, it's important to understand the dynamics of the Pope mentioning his sorrow, and our prime minister pointing out that he did not apologize. His church is a huge part of this story.
I just found out about it this year. What the natives went through was horrendous and it should never be forgotten. The children were forced to deny their heritage and those who didn't want to follow white man's rule were beaten, raped and even murdered. Thousands of them. This can never happen again
@@Thatgeekycanadian My old school was turned into the 'Native Equal Opportunity Program'. Now it's being called Aboriginal Headstart. But just goes to show they use to use the term themselves, but yes, as I was born here, I too am native here.
Tyler: the United States had residential schools as well. You also had the trail of tears, both of our nations were not good to our indigenous people. I’m glad Canada is trying to address this issue. If you go to any theatres or various places you will see plaques saying which indigenous lands you are standing on. You should look up The Tragically Hips song the Secret Path. It tells about an indigenous child who escaped a school to get home, he never made it.
Hi Tyler - I am a Canadian school teacher. I agree with @GV80p. The Government of the Unites States had residential schools with the same atrocities occuring to the Indigenous peoples in your country also. When you highlighted Nicholas Davin's name, I found it interesting that you did not know the connection to the US residential school system as ours was patterned after yours through his report. This included forcing people to give up their children to reprehensible abuse under the guise of "schooling". Residential schools (in both the US and Canada) were never about schooling, it was about getting rid of the "Indian problem". Your government still hides this, and clearly it is not is school curricula. Every student in Canada is required to learn about this and the effects it has had on Indigenous peoples today. We still have a long way to go for Truth and Reconciliation to occur, but we have made a start. Orange Shirt Day is like a Remembrance Day to honour those who died, and to ensure that this never happens again. You have a large following. Maybe you could learn about the US residential school system, meet some elders who went through it so you have first hand information, and spread some knowledge about the US residential school system, and the generational trauma many Indigenous Americans face. Though this is not normally what you do, thank you for going through it posting it anyway. Thank you for not shying away. It is people like you who can get conversations started. By the way, I love watching your reactions. Glad you are taking the time to learn a little about us!
Love your content Tyler. Thank you so much for highlighting this in the wonderful way you did! It means so much to us as Canadians for you to learn about this and teach others. Amazing!
"The wonderful way that he did?" He literally didn't know what a residential school was. We was treating this like his Victoria Day video before he realized that it was actually serious. And the fact that he was oblivious to the fact that his own country did this first and on a much more massive scale makes it all the more cringy.
@@damonx6109 This entire video is him learning about the day and horror of what happened in those schools it isn’t at all cringy he is allowed to not have knowledge on certain subjects and it is wonderful that he is educating himself on them and there is no need and it is highly disrespectful to compare situations like that saying that one was worse than the other they were both terrible he didn’t know that it was serious in the beginning but as he learned he treated this very seriously
Thank you for learning about this. It’s been a hard pill for Canadians to swallow but hopefully going forward we can do our best to make amends. Unfortunately, the residential school system was a plague on both Canada and the USA in both our histories and the abuse that was present at these schools. It’s a sad common history to share.
the residential schools were a poorly implemented project to give Natives the opportunities every other citizen had. the initial idea was to provide education so the children could choose not to be poor on the reservations with no other options. was it paternalistic? yes very much so. was it handed to those who never should have been allowed power? why yes it was. did children suffer? yes. did some die? yes. nothing done today will erase that the dead will still be dead regardless, and the Natives are likely to ride this dead horse to mush with no real resolution because there is no resolution. the direct survivors deserve what restitution that can be lawfully offered for thier pain. the rest get over it and move on. remember what happened absolutly. but there is no amends no taking things back. its in the past and nothing anyone does can remove it
@@kertagin1 That wasn't why they were implemented at all. You need to do some further reading. I recommend "21 Things You May Not Know about the Indian Act" by Bob Joseph.
@@HeatherSealey-b2y I read the act itself. I also read the first proposal. its all public access info. a bit dull but not hard to gain access to. the government of the day realized there were sizable populations on the reserves with no useful ability to function off reservation. they saw this as an issue and rightly. the tribes of then interacted with the rest of the nation as little as possible, their education was this side of nonexistent and the available wild life populations were dropping. the tribes would soon lose the ability to support themselves as they mostly at the time survived by trapping (dropping animal populations should be an obvious problem). there were some talks of encouraging farming but even by then the tribes faced difficulties as many could not read and the newer farming equipment required a base level of understanding. the man who posited the schools was not so racist wacko out to erase anyone, he suggested schools to educate. as per government standard the initial good idea went to committee, where to save money and time the project was handed to the catholic board and Indian affairs... the Catholics have had as a standard behavior for the last 1000 yrs to convert the heathen... so turning children of nonchristian beliefs over to them should have been seen as a bad plan, but was not due to prevailing ideas of the time, and Indian Affairs has from the start been run by people who did not like natives. obviously there is more to it but that is the simplified version. the church was given the duty to run the schools because they had the infrastructure and curriculum already so it would save time and money (always great places to start planning). but the core idea providing the natives a way to function with the rest of society was not based in racism or even meant to do harm, it became both for many reasons, but at the same time leaving the reserve populations as they were was a worse idea as well not enough animals left to trap or eat for a large population has lots of historical bad things tied to it. would the tribes be thanking anyone if the decision was made to leave them separated by languages no one speaks and no way to live save government hand outs? I'd like to believe they have enough self respect to not relish being a perpetually broke under class with no ways out
Thank you for covering this matter in your videos. At times I felt like you are trying not to burst into tears 🥺. I would have cried. I cried watching your video and I already knew what you are going to talk about.
Hi Tyler, it sounds like you don’t realize that Residential Schools were also a part of US history. You might want to listen to a song sung by Gord Downie called Secret Path which tells the true story of a Residential School student
Thank you so much for doing this video; spreading awareness on this. I am an intergenerational child of this. My grandparents and their siblings were forcibly removed from our community and my great-grandfather (with the threat of imprisonment). One of my grandfather's sisters never made it home and my great-grandfather was never told what happened (though other students said she was pushed by a nun and broke her arm) or where she went and where she was. She just went missing. Our family just recently found her grave in a southern town graveyard. Some of my aunts & uncles were also in Residential Schools and my mother attended a Day School (same kind of school, but they got to come home occassionally). My grandfather and his siblings were all abused (physically & sexually) by the priests & nuns who ran these schools. The effects of this forced assimiliation has/had great impacts on our families and communities with the loss of culture, language, and more (family skills, family relationships, etc.). Such a horrid part of our history, but we are trying to overcome this and trying to find our paths to healing and reclaiming/reconnecting with our cultures. The USA had something similar, but are called 'Boarding Schools' FYI.
I've watched you learn about Canada for a while now, and I just want to thank you for covering this topic. I really appreciate your understanding and the fact you acknowledge the level of severity and how truly disgusting it is.ive got family and friends who survived the residential school's. That in all honesty were just ran by pedophile pastor's and psychopaths alike. The dying conditions ( because you can't call them living conditions ) were akin to genocide camp's. The stories are enough to effect the soul of even the listener's and I've heard my fair share 😢. It was almost common practice for the older children to volunteer for abuse to hopefully save the younger children having to... like let that sink in for just a moment...
C31 Native here registered with a Mohawk Nation in Ontario only good 2 things about the Indian act is tax exemption and the extended health care we get I recently turned 56 and do not have to worry about dental vision hearing mobility devices etc. It better than that new dental drug plan government making you take it even better than my work plan which I only pay for the basic coverage since we have to take it.
I would not consider myself an ignorant person who thought their country was perfect and could do no wrong; but when the truth was exposed and these stories started unfolding for the first time in my life I was ashamed to be a Canadian. Not only are these facts so disturbing and shockingly disgusting - but also the fact that this genocide has been going on for so long (And until only recently!) and it was kept so well hidden. I am so glad that they are raising awareness about these crimes against humanity even if it is a shameful part of our history.
I’m so glad you made this reaction. Canada is often portrayed with this glossy shiny image of beauty and greatness. Finally we’re peeling back those layers.. 🧡🖤🧡
Similar systems happened in the USA. Right now there is also a task force of lawmen and women who are taking on the missing and murdered native indigenous women an youth largely attributed to loss of culture. This was due to schools set up there as well. Heartbreaking 💔 here ‘cause many children were ripped from their homes to go study at these boarding school type things. Not able to have family visits or go home for holidays Christmas and Easter. Once in these schools told not to speak their own language or practice their own faith. Once they were old enough, graduated etc they were given a small amount of money and told basically you’re fee to leave. Many tried to go home but felt they didn’t belong anymore. They tried to get jobs in the big cities but few would hire them. There are no words really to describe how terrible this was. I mean once admitted to this residential school children’s heads were shaved etc. My niece’s mother in law had older brothers taken from the family and sent to these schools. I hate even talking about the residential schools because it makes me angry and hurt. Hurt for those children. They found unmarked graves behind some of the large schools out west in recent years obviously of children who got sick and died, others beaten horribly because they tried to run away and verbal and sexual abuse by the priests there was shocking. There are movies about this “Iron Horse” is one of the more recent movies.
It a Government only holiday in NB which was put in to recognize the loss of hundreds of native children that died in the school system and never returned home to their families. It a day to ware orange shirts for the loss of the children. residential means they forced them to go to schools where they would live separate from their homes and live on the school grounds.
The purpose of residential schools was to, “ take the Indian out of the child “. Catholic, Anglican, Presbyterian, Methodist, and United Churches all participated, with the federal government funding and planning residential schools. Gord Downie, and The Hip, did an album called the Secret Path, which chronicles the journey of a young indigenous child, escaping from a school. He was found frozen to death beside a railway track. Stay safe, stay sane, stay strong 🧡🧡🧡
My dad went to a residential school growing up (he didn’t know it then) he was on the “white side” of the school but there was a whole section for the indigenous children. This was only in the 1960s 😢
Wela'lin (thank you) for taking the time to learn a bit about this. My mother and uncles were only spared enrollment because part of the terms that brought Newfoundland into Canada was Joey Smallwood stating that "There are no Indians in Newfoundland", a horrendous lie that cut our people off from any supports or recognition of sovereignty but did stop forced assimilation on the Island (Labrador wasn't so lucky). In spite of all this, we are still here.....and always will be.
This is an issue in the USA, Australia and CANADA and others. The raiding / removal of native culture throughout the Commonwealth had great tragedy and loss over the Centuries. History is the record, no longer to be denied. Only now, are all people included and recognized. "Never again" is all we can do or say every day for the future. to be better and brighter.
Hi Tyler. I am an intergenerational survivor and struggle to heal from it. My mom was abused in residential school and became alcoholic. She died 22yrs ago. I know she suffered much. I now am left with the pain and became alcoholic. I just want to say that I appreciate you sharing this information as I come across a lot of people who still do not believe the history and truth of it all. I am a grandmother now and need to work on myself for my family. ❤ Peace
I am the granddaughter of a Residential School Survivor.
Let me tell you the horrors of what my grandfather went through.
The specific school my grandfather was in, they did human live experiments on the children. They were testing medication and drugs for Pharmacy companies. They would overdose children in the school and test them, true damage was done to their bodies, sure they didn't die and survived, but the damage done to their bodies gave them long-term effects. My own grandpa who did survive, end up dying young at 58 due to the experiments caused to him. The experiments gave him cancer.
Didn't happen to my grandfather but I know this as another fact. The Canadian Food Guide is the Nutrition guide for Canada. The way they got the results back then was to starve and experiment on the children of Residential schools to see if they can get proper nutrition or if they didn't, well this kids gonna starve to death no biggie. They played with the kids food, experimented on diets and meals. Its truly horrific.
I myself am still affected by residential schools, it never stopped. The Schools stopped at 1997, but they just changed the way they took kids. Now they call it Child Care and Services. The majority of Fostercare children in Canada are Native American. Like they still take away us, they took away me from my own family, put me in a white family, took me to church and I don't know my own culture, my own language. I was even in a family where the mother specifically told me face to face she didn't like native americans. She was scared of them.
You tell me that Canada stopped this? I inform you no they didn't, they just changed the way they did it.
(I love your videos btw, I know this is heavy topic but thank you for doing this. I have a higher respect for you, keep doing what you're doing).
Anishinaabe sixties scoop and second- and third-generation survivor. Sending you a hug 🥰
@@ShandraBombay Cuzzin, i am also Anishinaabe
C31 Mohawk here
G'chi-miigwech for your story. 🧡✊
This country is a horror story with a smiling face.
My father was being taken care of by his grandmother. She took him and his brother and lived in the bush for years so they wouldn't be taken. Thank you for touching on this subject.
"...so they wouldn't be taken."
The USA established residential schools from 1634 (in what is now southern Maryland). In the late eighteenth century, reformers starting with President George Washington and Henry Knox, in efforts to "civilize" or otherwise assimilate Native Americans, adopted the practice of assimilating Native American children into current American culture. The Civilization Fund Act of 1819 promoted this policy by providing funding to societies (mostly religious missionaries) who worked on Native American education, often at schools established in or near Native American communities.
When students arrived at boarding schools in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, their lives altered dramatically. They were given short haircuts (a source of shame for boys of many tribes, who considered long hair part of their maturing identity), required to wear uniforms, and to take English names for use at the school. Sometimes the names were based on their own; others were assigned randomly. The children were not allowed to speak their own languages, even between each other. They were required to attend church services and were often baptized as Christians. As was typical of the time, discipline was stiff in many schools. It often included the assignment of extra chores for punishment, solitary confinement and corporal punishment, including beatings by teachers using sticks, rulers and belts.[26] The treatment of these children was abusive. They suffered physical, sexual, cultural and spiritual abuse and neglect, and experienced treatment that in many cases constituted torture for speaking their Native languages.
From 1819 to 1969, the US federal Indian boarding school system consisted of 408 federal schools across 37 states and then territories, including 21 schools in Alaska and 7 schools in Hawaii. Basically, every school had a cemetery. Because the Bureau of Indian Affairs does not know how many children were forced to attend the schools, they cannot give an accurate estimate of how many children died while at the schools. The Bureau estimated that the overall number of deaths could be as high as 40,000, while others have estimated to be in the tens of thousands. Four schools are still open today. Chimo
I came here to say this. The US had school way before CA, that’s where CA got the idea from. Also at least all our schools are shut down since the 90’s. US still has some active schools to this day?! 💔
US could REALLY use a Truth and Reconciliation Day!! And reconciliation act with the indigenous within its government.
Thank you so much to each of you who took the time to read my comment and give it a 'like'. Chimo
Thank you, Brenda, for your very appreciated greeting. I feel very honoured.
When I was in grade 3 or 4, I was taught about the residential schools. I thought it wrong then and throughout my life I have continued to abhor what was done to the pure and innocent people of this continent.
Three years ago I wrote to tribal leaders, leaders of government, prominent politicians, major newspapers and TV networks to suggest the national anthem should be changed to say, 'our home on Native land' instead of, 'our home and native land'. I only received one response and that was from the Governor-General.
Since then, I understand there are now others who have suggested the same thing. How appropriate it would be if we recognised that we are guests on the land of the indigenous people of this continent each time we sing the national anthem.
Recently, I began to trace my roots and believe I have found indicators that my forefather, 5 generations back, married the daughter of a leader of a part of the Blackfoot Nation. I hope that is true.
Warm regards, Michael
I am a proud Indigenous woman from Canada. For me, this is more a day of mourning. This story goes so much deeper. Children were beaten, sometimes to death. They were raped and starved. They were kept away from home for so long they felt like strangers in their own communities. They no longer knew the language as they were punished for speaking it. Their hair was cut short. Hair is very important in indigenous spirituality. I even read an article about how they found a child sized electric chair in the basement of a residential school in Ontario after it closed in 1996. We are only now finding the mass graves of children at some of these schools and bringing them home finally to rest. Yes, it is a dark history and I have shed many tears when hearing these stories. Until every child is recovered, and every heart healed, there will be no forgiveness from me.
That's truly unfortunate. I love Natives, I love their beliefs, culture food and art. Truth be told, my first was Indigenous lol. I say it's unfortunate because we didn't do this. Of course,, yes Canadians were responsible for these horrific happenings, but, not us. I'll tell you, I lived with a man who had 2 young kids for 5 years on Reserve. t didd nothing but improve their lives by cooking, cleaning, laundry, getting school supplies, clothes, getting them to school etc. But, 5 years was all i could take. I loved them dearly, but, i was never accepted. His parents who were on the same property, not once called me by my first name. For 5 years, I was referred to as the "white woman".by the whole reserve. It would be yelled out at me when I tied to walk the same shortcut as others. The more I learned, the more i encouraged him to get them involved in his own culture, even. My point is, I guess is that, we can all acknowledge, try to make up for and be apologetic and remorseful for what happened in the past. But, it wasn't me. I had no part in those atrocities. I truly believe that until that fact can be accepted no one will ever be able to heal or move forward .
Truth and Reconciliation isn’t a ‘holiday’ that all employees get. Ironically, federal government workers get the day off and they were part of the systematic problem in the first place. I’m sure most people who have the day off as a statutory holiday aren’t spending it mourning. Very sad, not assisting with reconciliation but rather adding a bonus day off which to me, feels like a reward.
From a British Columbian, Canadian: Tyler, I think it would be important for you and other Americans from the United States to recognize and give voice to the fact that you have the SAME Native American history. "In 1878, John A. Macdonald commissioned Nicholas Flood Davin to write a report about residential schools in the United States" (from the article you were reading in your video). Canada's residential school system was based on the residential school system in the United States - copied, cut, and pasted in Canada. It's the same trauma, it's the same legacy, it's the same stain, it's the same truth, and has the same need to be spoken and reconciled. This same story is also in Australia, and Central and South America. What's REALLY gross is that when the residential schools were being fazed out, our Canadian government resorted to taking Aboriginal kids from their families and placing them in the foster care system. That is STILL going on. It's the SAME trauma, it's the SAME legacy, it's the SAME stain, it's the SAME truth, has the SAME need to be spoken and reconciled as the residential schools. The theft, abuse, and murder of Aboriginal children NEEDS TO STOP! What drives this is STILL THE BELIEF that "Aboriginal people need to be absorbed into the general population of Canada and extinguish their culture". Until this is abolished and replaced with a new belief that is in opposition to this, the atrocities against Aboriginal people will not stop. It's STILL going on. And keep in mind, this is not just here in Canada, but in the United States, in Australia, and in Central and South America.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Indian_boarding_schools
Thanks for pointing that out. Canada is one of many to mistreat the native peoples of their lands. Horrible.
60s scoop is living memory and living trauma.
Thank you for sharing this.
i saw news segments today that some american schools & places are adopting the orange shirt day to remember the indian boarding schools in the US ~ i think & feel this is a good thing ~
This man took a half hour out of his day to learn himself. Another genuine great reaction Tyler.
I am a white English speaking Canadian male and the Residential School System is an absolutely horrific part of our history that I have trouble wrapping my head around. I am also a father and what the Indigenous People have had to endure is incomprehensible. The fact that this happened in my lifetime and I wasn't even aware of it or taught about it in school is unacceptable but my ignorance is also no excuse. No words can adequately express how bad I feel about this and honestly I find it amazing that any Indigenous people are willing to even consider reconciling with the people that have abused and tried to eradicate them. This is a testament to the Indigenous People's quality of character and show they are fundamentally better humans than I am. Nothing I say is going to be good enough. I am so sorry and have tears pouring down my face while writing this.
Thank you, a real heartfelt comment ❤️
I couldn't have expressed this better myself. I am having pretty much the exact same thoughts and emotions as you are. I never know what to say, so thank you for finding the words and putting them out here.
During the residential school times, my uncle starved to death at home while children in the residences were well fed. A good portion of my family is aboriginal. There is more to this history than you know. A friend whose parents were in a residential school just received a $10,000 settlement for "abuse",which is the base settlement amount. Others in the reserve are very upset that everybody didn't exaggerate their experience to raise the total settlement amount. Many lied about their experiences. Money talks.
Migwetch
@@davidleskov5078 the base was 10 g,....Not every body wanted to go through their experiences again. Not everyone was or will ever be ready to tell the details of their rapes and abuses. I wasn't, I still won't. I may write it down in a letter to my child before I die, 50 years later and those details haven't dimmed at all.
I’m a native from a community in bc and i’ve had lots of family go through the residential school system, including my grandfather. he went years without saying a word about what happened until he finally opened up to me just last year about what he endured there, that was the first time i’ve seen my grandpa cry and it was truly heartbreaking.
C31 Native here the Mohawk institute in Brantford near Six Nations recently renovated the place and are using it now has a museum plus healing centre has well if you talk about it best way to heal the reason why they renovated the old school it called save the evidence so people can tour and see what actually happened and how it was
Thank you for covering this really important issue in Canada. It is part of the US history as well. Residential schools were basically forced full-time internment of Indigenous children into government and church schools, away from their families, languages and cultures. It was definitely an overt policy to assimilate them into white society, with a paternalistic point of view that the government and churches "knew better." I am glad that Canada undertook a Truth and Reconciliation process, heard from thousands of people affected by residential schools, and is taking steps to right some of these wrongs, but we have much more to do.
Important?? Yeah right! A glaring issue is that there is no truth and reconciliation. People are acting like it was never taught, but I remember being taught and I’m a “millennial elder” as they say.
We already “reconciled” decades ago. It started in 1975 when juveniIe detention centres for delinquents we’re exposed as being worse than actual real life prisons! And then 1st Nations schools.
There is literally nothing else to do.
The Prime Minister gives us speech. The leader of a parade gives a speech tomorrow we go back as if nothing happened.
There is no process. And there is no action because what on earth is left to do? People who are still alive from that era will never get over it, unless they are psych0pathic or something. Which I mean you do you I guess.
What steps are there to take? At this point as our present becomes history, if anyone is wishing that something extra is going to happen, they are going to be sorely unsatisfied perpetually.
At this point, it’s really only time that can heal any lingering trauma and bitterness
Thanks for such a comprehensive explanation. It always amazes me that Americans mostly don't know that the same deliberate cultural genocide was practiced in their country...and it's time they did know the full extent of their ancestors shameful and horrific treatment of the indigenous inhabitants of their country. But...they still are having trouble with the issues surrounding slavery...smh.
@@Gwennedd y tho. And no we’re not. After 200 videos, you should know that Tyler is not the sharpest knife in the…… place where they keep the knives
@pacscanadadatabaseservices3711, yes...I'm aware of that as well...and Canada was involved in the same atrocity. Measles laden blankets were deliberately handed out to indigenous communities with the intent to introduce diseases that the native communities had never encountered before and had no immunity to. The purpose was to kill them off without having to resort to violence. It worked. Mass deaths from the disease wiped out many small communities.
@@antoniocasias5545I for one really recpect Tyler for digging into our country, and perhaps as a benefit, he learns more about his own country as well. He is very open minded, articulate, and able to synthesize info quickly and make connections to other videos he has seen in the past.
So much respect to you for taking the time to learn about this dark history. I am literally brought to tears every time I think about the horrid abuse and torture these young ones went through. When you delve further into what actually happened at these schools it is SO much worse then you can imagine …
No school should have its own graveyard. The residential schools did, and still, many children’s graves went unmarked. The campus of my alma mater is located in a former residential school, and the whole original building serves as an exhibit to educate people about it - and yes, there’s a graveyard in the woods on campus. The horror seems so obvious when you see it through that lens.
Tyler, this was not taught in our schools. I did not know about any of this, until we winter boarded our horses with the Stony Nakoda people at Morley Alberta. We had become good friends with many people on the reserve, and it was through Mary, my mom’s friend, that I first heard of the residential school.
She said people came and literally dragged her and her brother out of the house. She was six years old and she didn’t know what was going on or who these people were.
She told my mom, “Irene, that was the first time of my life that I was ever hit by an adult, and that I was put to bed hungry and cold with no blanket.
The title of the government project for residential schools was called, and this is abhorrent beyond belief, “Killing the Indian in the Child.’ That was their mission.
So whenever Mary spoke Nakoda, she was hit. Clergy ran the schools, and there was a great deal of sexual abuse, physical and mental abuse.
And then these broken children were returned to their broken parents. Can you imagine what would happen to our society, if a more powerful force came in and took your children, and tried to remodel them in their image, and then gave them back to you after a year of abuse and suffering?
Many of the children had to work long hours, so were tending vegetable gardens, and vegetables that were sold to support the school. Mary said they did not get to eat those vegetables until they were rotted. Many children died of malnutrition.
Anyway, with Mary’s story, she was put on a bus at the end of the school year and taken back to her parents house on the Morley reserve. But her little brother, John, was not on the bus.
She did not dare ask but when they got to her house, her parents asked where John was.
And the bus driver casually said. “Oh he died.” Like he was a piece of luggage that had fallen off the bus. He died months earlier, but nobody had bothered to inform his family. He was five.
I never ever ever forgot that. I wore my orange shirt on the 30th and I correct anybody who doesn’t understand why ‘ they just don’t get over it. “
We are finally moving in the right direction, but there are so many issues to still be solved.
Still missing from history lessons: the history of the 100,000+ Home Children, subjected to the same horrors.
Your story made me cry. Hipe she have a better life now. Bless her. 🙌
Thank you for wearing a orange shirt while doing this video 🙏🏻 Thank you from Canada on acknowledging this day ❤️🩹
When I was a kid in Ontario we were taken to many museums and shown indigenous exhibits, there were no native children in my school or surrounding schools and I thought they had gone extinct, meanwhile they were in those schools at that moment, dying and suffering, while they marched us to museums and taught us how amazing they were, now I know why I never met any native children for many years, it’s heartbreaking
C31 Native here they always used past tense for us like the Mohawks were etc. well we never went anywhere we still are here I also get this a lot I pull out my card when shopping or getting gas they are shocked there are white/albino natives I get called Metis all the time lol
Same
I grew up in Ontario and went to school with many indigenous kids..lived on the same streets...went to the same parties...played on the same sports teams. Alternatively there were very few families of Asian countries. I'm pretty sure the reason there weren't native children in your schools wasn't because they were being killed.
My exact experience. I went to school in the 60/70's in northern BC...I never gave a second thought to why there were no "Indian" children in my class. A few hours west of Prince George, just past the LeJac Residencial School, was K'san Village (?) Inside the museum were beautiful baskets, jewelry, blankets, carving, etc.
We drove past the school every summer on our camping holidays. ....I had no idea what was going on in there, neither did my parents.
My parents were residential school surviors. My mother did not speak of this time in her life. Since all of the horrors are now being uncovered, I can only guess what she experienced. She has passed for 16 years. Unfortunately this makes me incredibly angry and have deep sorrow. Thank you Tyler for using your imagination and trying to put yourself in their situation. There is still a lot of racism toward the aboriginal people of Canada 😢
???? It’s not “now” being uncovered!
“A lot of racism” sure Jan sure
C31 Native here registered with a Haudenosaunee ( Mohawk Nation) in Ontario I am just stating to learn some of the Language and culture now no one else in my family know it. However it does sadden me when I do see us C31 Natives learning and teaching the lost traditions culture and languages to the Full Bloods it should be the opposite.
I'm fortunate to live in a place in Canada where we don't experience Racism toward yoward indigenous people and we are both part of each other's culture. Born and raised in vancouver I didn't see any of it there either
@@markmiller4609 c31?
@@antoniocasias5545 Bill C31 not full blood I registered under grandparent amendments under the Indian act Bill C31
As a Canadian I’m just glad that he’s taking the time to learn about our history, no matter how terrible it is. Like, think about, thousands, if not billions of kids murdered at these schools, and most likely half of these children didn’t even get proper graves, and were given new names and weren’t aloud to speak their native language while at these schools
My grandmother and her siblings attended a Residential School. Culture lost, but they learned parts of it again. On Sept 30 I proudly wore my braids for all those children who lost them.
Omg same here, I have a braid now lol, both sets of my grandparents went to residential school.
My heart goes to them ❤
C31 Native here I know all about residential schools I do were my orange shirt throughout the year good thing this is coming to light however it took Canada & Britain over 200 years to get into this mess question is how long will it take to get out.
I (fellow Canadian) extend my sincere apologies for what my government did and still does to Indigenous people.
@@marniemcfarlane2969agreed! I'm disgusted. I met an elder at a community rib festival a couple summers ago. I mentioned to her how lovely her teeth were. She said they were false teeth and that hers were all removed as a child in her residential school. Broke my heart. I can't believe that I never knew about this until I was well out of school.
Tyler, you hit the nail on the head. There can be NO reconciliation without truth of what the indigenous peoples endured for generations. Parents were jailed for not sending their children to the schools.
Thank you for touching on this topic. I'm Anishinaabe/Ojibwe and luckily never had to go to a residential school. So many people still don't understand the intergenerational trauma we still deal with.
Think about this: Authorities come and take your children (as young as 5 and 6 yrs old) because of something they don't like. If you try to stop them you get thrown in jail. You can't hire a lawyer because Indians can't have lawyers. If you try leave the reserve you go to jail. Your children are gone. Hopefully your children come home maybe 10 years later as broken cold abused teens trying to deal with the abuse they've been going through for years. They've forgotten all about family love, family bonds, kindness and support. This is what the Canadian Government and Christian (Catholic and Protestant) churches did to them for their own good. Now these broken teens have to grow up, deal with the trauma, and try to have their own families with no idea how to do that. This went on for decades and decades.
If you are Native in Canada you are the child, grandchild, great grandchild or great great grandchild of residential school survivors.
In our community it makes me proud to see all the positive ongoing progress that's going on. From children beginning to learn our languages in daycare, to traditional drumming and dancing, and storytelling, to eventually most of them getting college degrees. Our community supports each and every family. None of this was going on when I was a child. A huge improvement is having our own Child and Family Services group based on our own teachings and values and no longer under the thumb of the government Children's Aid Society.
We look forward to the future but we don't forget the past.
Statistically, that's not true, there's many indigenous people who we're not part of the residential school system or its lineage. I have relatives that were never part of it.
C31 Native here some were lucky some in my family were at the time crossed of the list if the agents were paid off
@@personincognito3989 I feel the legacy is still here. We still feel the sting of racism when people find out you're Native. It's better than it was but it still there. The stereotypes about being drunks, lazy, violent, etc are still there under the surface. This is the lineage and legacy the schools left. People are still blaming the victims of generational trauma for trying to deal with the pain in destructive ways because our traditional ways were never taught to us because they were illegal because they weren't the violent Christian ways people thought were the only path.
I was born and raised in Canada, and when I heard of the residential schools, it was always said in some way that made it very regrettable but far in the past. This past year or so has made me so ashamed of Canada, when I used to be so proud of my country.
I did hear the phrase years ago "compassionate destruction" used of the residential schools, which did not sit well with me at all. But again the seemed to be speaking of long past history.
I too live in BC and I am so incredibly sorry for what our country did to all indigenous children. It breaks my heart to even think about what they endured.
When she said the children are still being taken from their families, she's referring to the lasting social and psychological impacts that the residential schools had on the Indigenous population. There are many substance abuse and mental health issues still present that cause families to lose their children to this day since the healing has only just begun and will take several generations to work through.
Thank you for the courage to post this video. Many of us are flattered by your videos, but you need to know the truth.
I want to make note that there no unmarked graves, there are anomalies that were observed underground that the government has claimed as graves whilst also refusing to dig. Not a single body has been exhumed. I am not a denialist and I am indigenous who has family that survived the residential school system, but I feel it important to mention that our government should not use anomalies found underground as a political weapon without evidence as this only continues the harm and pain.
You had residential schools in the States too. The trauma of this system is still with us as it wasn't too long ago. We had something called the 60s scoop where masses of children were removed from their families and put into the welfare system. All the abuse that they suffered led to things like drug use and alcohol abuse. This trauma lives on in their families. Just imagine growing up in this system.
Riiiiiight like why do you gotta say that?
@antoniocasias5545 because it has been happening around the world. Australia, New Zealand, part of Africa, Russia, and yes, The US of A.
@@barbietrink4984 that has nothing to do with what we just said
I understood the children were put in foster care during the 60's, to remove them from abusive homes, just as other children were, and still are. Is this not correct?
It's hard to tell what's true and what is exaggerated, even changed, to fit different agendas.
@@margaretr5701Often times, they were removed for “neglect”, mostly because their parents were in poverty and couldn’t care for them without assistance. But in the 60’s, they advertised Indigenous children to exclusively white families. It was an additional tactic to kill off Indigenous cultures and assimilate children. Instead of assisting the Indigenous families out of the cycles of poverty and generational trauma, they piled on more trauma.
I’m GenZ in grade 11 we learned about this in English class. It’s a horrible wound on Canada’s history. The schools were rampant with disease like TB, physical, mental and sexual abuse, those who died were buried in unmarked graves, those who survived had to deal with the loss of there culture, language and family ties as parents couldn’t visit and siblings weren’t allowed to know they went to the same school. If anyone wants to learn more the book we read for the class was “Indian Horse” by Richard Wagamese, it doesn’t shy away from the horrors faced at the school and even when the main character is a adult he is still deeply traumatized. I especially like the line “They say ghost linger”, meaning that the ghosts of Saul’s past and therefore the residential school system are still here.
I'm glad you are covering this topic. It isn't something we are taught happened, but I'm happy that people are not only learning the truth behind these horrible events but also educating people on the beautiful culture.
they dug up the "mass graves"in kamloops, not a single human remain was found. it didnt happen
@@BarkerVancity That doesn't cancel out the other mass graves.
@@BarkerVancityso you prefer denying thousands of people seeking healing because your non-indigenous self cannot support the shame of your ancestors doing something bad? Your ancestors are dead, let the people heal the proper way and let live.
none of them after 2 years have brought up anything other then some lydar blips@@noadlor
i am metis. my father went to one of those schools in montreal. my ancestors lived in europe till after ww2. so, big fail on your triggered reply.
im talking about the school children scam, not the pre canadian genocides and small pox. @@PolitiqueQc2012
Thank you for being brave enough to cover this. It's sad to see how the mere existence of this day really brings out the worst in a lot of people in Canada. I first learned about this as a little kid in the 80s. It was not secret information. But denialism still remains strong, so strong the official day may not survive the next government.
I went to school in the late sixty seventies and early eighties and we did learn about this. I was confused when people said they didn't know about this. Because I always knew and that their culture was taken away. Their language was taken away, they were abused and they were higher deaths. I want them to be able to find the bones as proof to the nation.
Every country has dark secrets in there past, but Canada is the first country I have seen make any type of recompense.
We could be doing more.
Canada has no need to make recompense. At all.
As you said every country has dark secrets. And every Canadian today has already had any recompense paid by providing a better world. paid in blood.
This holiday is nothing but an excuse at greater division disguised as inclusion for a holiday based solely on the entitlement feeling of "what about me..?"
Real holidays are about something bigger than humanity.
Canada's not the very first. Don't forget South Africa's Truth and Reconciliation process after apartheid.
New Zealand and to a lesser extent Australia, has addressed this issue far longer than Canada.
A lot of the techniques that governments are using come from those countries and tinkered to suit Canada.
Stay safe, stay sane, stay strong 🧡🧡🧡
@@sirdavidoftor3413 Yes. I remember the guy who sang "Beds are Burning" song being a big voice for the aboriginal treatment back in the 80s/90s.
Very worthwhile video, thank you Tyler! Also worth noting that today Manitoba elected the FIRST EVER First Nations premier (provincial leader)! His father was a residential school survivor.
This is good to see. Yes, we have shame on what has been done in the past.
The important thing is .... History should never be removed .... History is there so that mistakes are never repeated. 😘 to all who have that as part of their family history. Great respect for all. 🇨🇦
It makes sense in principle, but in real life, history, inspires people to try again and “do it better?” or “ for the right reasons”
Like physiognomy or sharing wealth across other nations!
You mean like tearing down statues?
@@mikelavigne5085exactly. putting up statues to genocidal monsters, while concealing their crimes, is exactly part of the horror. If there is a plaque where the statue used to stand, that plaque could be informative and teach about history.
@@mikelavigne5085 Yes...so much linked it it.
@@mikelavigne5085 whoa literally was about to say!
I worked with a woman who had been in a residential school ( here in British Columbia Canada) Her stories were heart breaking . Thanks again, Tyler for educating yourself and helping others understand as well .
It is an important topic for all Canadians to educate themselves about. Thank you for making this video.
How come?
@@antoniocasias5545What are you asking?
@@melissawhite218 I’m asking why
@@antoniocasias5545 Why, what?
Americans too. It happened there too, although it may have looked a little different.
I don't have time to watch your reaction atm but I definitely will. The day brought me so much tears
Unfortunately this happened in the US of A as well. It's a extremely sad . I'm glad we are acknowledging it now. I apologize.
Gee wilikers! You don’t say! we got Germany, Hungary, Russia, Japan, Australia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Eritrea and Paraguay to name a few
@@antoniocasias5545 Just what is your beef, kid? You're dumping your bad attitude all over. If you don't like the topic, move on.
seems strange to apologize for something you had nothing to do with
@@henrysinclair5914 My ancestors did . This is what reconciliation is.
@@noadlor dafuq u mean? Lmao. And she’s not? Ironically, you tell me to get over it.
❤❤❤❤please keep sharing😢.I am one of the residential survivors from 1967- 1973..😢😢😢😢it's so emotional watching you sharing our history 💙 thank you so much
Thank you for helping to bring awareness to this tragic event in Canadian history. Even though the residential schools have closed, Indigenous young people are still at great risk. Many remote communities are too small to have a local high school so teenagers must travel to cities to continue their education. They are often inadequately housed or living in foster care. Separated from their families and communities, these children are vulnerable to hate crime, abuse, and despair. Some do not survive, and those who are able to return home are often scarred for life. We Canadians may have many things to be proud of, but our injustice and cruelty to the Indigenous people is our greatest shame.
No? Someone just suggested it and he’s reacting to it. Don’t make a mountain out of a mole hill.
Speaking as a Mikmaq woman from Canada , both my parents were in the "school". Thanx for this young sir.
This is something that Canadians ourselves are learning about and trying to work to change Canada so we can create a country that is inclusive and respects everyone. And to also help stop the ever growing number of missing and murdered indigenous women. For current indigenous children the trauma of there parents and grandparents often leads them to drugs and suicide which leads to social services taking the children.
Are you sure we have learned anything? The government is still trying to take away parental rights…. All parents this time. Not just indigenous people.
Generational trauma is a thing.
As a indigenous person of Canada, I'm glad you looked into this. It was heartwarming & heartbreaking to see a non-indigenous, non-native, non-"indian" person realize and react to this event's details and history. I cried just as I did the first time I heard about what my grandparents and other ancestors went through in these schools.
To me, tears are healing though so I don't say that to make you feel bad. I'm glad that you didn't take the post down.
I wish more people were willing to learn our ancestors history like you do. Hopefully your videos reach those willing to listen also. As a grandchild to a residential school survivor those of us who know about it wish more people were taught. My grandmother passed when i was very little due to tuberculosis she contracted from residential school.
As a fellow Canadian, I am deeply sorry for the loss of your grandmother and for the horrendous treatment that she and so many of the Indigenous people were forced to endure, as well as the lingering effects that still haunt the survivors and the newer generations.
I did learn of the residential schools while I was in school, but it was only taught as a positive thing. I knew more of what went on because of a friend that lived close by. He and his family were Indigenous, with many of his older family members having experienced this.
The Indigenous languages and cultures are both beautiful and fascinating in my eyes, as are all languages and cultures. The people are so friendly, warm and welcoming, always willing to share and teach aspects of their particular First Nation culture.
I wish you and your family, as well as all Indigenous people, much health and happiness, and that your healing journeys are free from the road blocks of the past.
What are you talking about? He literally doesn't even know that the US had residential schools as well. Even after coving this topic, I guarantee he still won't bother to learn anything.
Thank you for wanting to know about this and sharing to those that may not know. I am Squamish and am the first generation of my family that was not put into residential school. I am however, a survivor of the 60's Scoop-thousands of children that were ripped from their homes and put into foster care. I was abused, lost my culture and unloved. I went from a loving family to years of hardship and I'm still trying to heal. We're all trying to heal. My cousin said at residential they did medical experiments on her. My uncle said his first day at residential they locked him in a cupboard all day for speaking his language and I don't dare say what they did to my brother. My dad was only 5 years old when they took him and he was in there until he was 17. A lot of the deaths were at the hands of the priests and nuns. sexual abuse was common. Please keep educating yourself and others of these horrific times. I have just discovered your channel and can't stop watching. you're very entertaining and I too am learning lots about this country I live in.
Thank you for looking into this Tyler. My mother's side are Metis and were (still are) affected by this. This means a lot. ❤
C31 Native here when I tell people I am native decent I only look Native when I around family or other Natives they are shocked why they I show them my card and tell them it not a Metis Nation card
Thanks Tyler for your great choice in exploring the meaning of this Canadian holiday (and for wearing an orange shirt). Your genuine enthusiasm for wanting to learn more is a real gift.
Thank you for covering this very real and horrific part of Canadian history. Your reactions were very respectful and I appreciate your digging for more information and being thorough. Not everyone would. Thank you.
Thank you for looking at something really horrific
Me: uhhh
@antoniocasias5545 it's about awareness. You typical "White people" like to just wipe bad things you've done under the rug, this is our way of letting those like you who don't understand what your people have done to ours.
My great grandmother went to these schools and experienced terrible things at a very young age.
If you think this is horrible than just imagine what us as a people have gone trough. If you can't handle a video talking about it maybe think about how us as a people feel it happened to us.
Now all we ask is for awareness that this has happened
@@FlipsideCollectsYT I’m half innu and half atikamekw thank you 😂 What bad things “I’ve” done ? Awareness doesn’t do anything.
This isn’t a video I can’t “handle” it’s just a pointless pity party.
I love that you've worn an orange shirt for this video!! Also so glad you took the time to learn about this. This is very important and everyone should be learning about this. It should be taught in every school.
Well done Tyler. We are all trying to come to terms with this history and figure out how to move forward.
It’s not groundbreaking. How to move forward? People have already done that! We have passed it and even when People talk about it more it does nothing
@@antoniocasias5545well said
@@antoniocasias5545 IT HELPS THEM. A century of trauma does not go away in a day.
@@antoniocasias5545we can't turn back time, but something IS being done. Our past is being acknowledged! We're not being told to get over it, or that we're not believed. Change doesn't happen over night. It starts with acknowledgement of the past wrong and work towards repairing and building up our communities and people's.
@@LifeOfNigh by??? acknowledgement seems to be serving, no purpose, and honestly dwelling on the past is never encouraged
Thank you so much for this video. It really means a lot to indigenous people to see someone so open to learning about residential schools and the tragedies that happened. My great grandfather was a survivor and luckily escaped, but he still had to pretend to be non-native for years just to be treated equally. Would love to see a video on the 60s scoop as that event is often forgotten. Again, thank you so much and keep making great videos man 🙏 happy t+r day forever
C31 Native here when I tell people I am of Native decent they try to correct me Metis I have status they are shocked has soon has I show them top right hand corner of my card Indian Status not Metis Nation lol
@markmiller4609 yeah I'm first nations myself and have met many first nation, I find that's usually what people assume native people are here. I've met a couple of metis people but would love to meet inuit aswell just to find out more about their amazing culture. So happy we can all share stories and experiences these days
Jeez, Tyler, this happened in the USA too! In fact, Canadian policy was based on the American model.
I was reallllly hoping you were going to learn about this. Thank you for using your platform to spread awareness for our brothers and sisters ❤
The more you do research into the residential school system the more you find what horrors these young innocent children went thru. This is a definite scar on Canadian history. I am not aboriginal.
Cool story bro
Why do we care about that you’re not aboriginal rando fact man
As i am part native canadian i can tell you they've found no bodies in these "graves" when they finally dug them up over the summer they found rocks the schools themself were terrible but i recale my grandparents who are white talk about being abused in school around the exact same time hitting children back then was common if any of us were to go to any school weather white black native we would all be horrified at the actions of the teachers for actions we find insignificant today history is ugly and in 100 years they will look at us the same way we look at our ancestors it is not up to us to pay for our ancestors sins but to change which we have as a country changed in the last 40 years its only in the last 5 or so tears that racial equality as gone backwards due to liberal propaganda
Sure. The more you do your research the more you realize we're being duped.
@Nagle1234 I have family that went through it, you are a fool
As a Canadian I assure you it isn't. They continue to discover unmarked mass Graves of dead children at old residential school locations. It is a horrible part of Canada's history and very true.
Thank you Tyler Bucket for lending your voice to the understanding of this tragic & horrific happening in Canada.
I had no idea growing up what had happened to Canada's First people. As an adult, about 20 years ago, I was living with a woman who was a victim of the 60's scoop. When she explained it to me, I was appalled. Since then, I've learned more about the issue. It's indefensible. I am *very* glad that it is now part of school curriculums when teaching the history of Canada.
All I can do is cry and pray for forgiveness. That some day no child will ever be abused. Thank you to our indigenous peoples for not allowing this to be pushed aside and swept under the rug. Bless you for all you have done for I know it is far more reaching and will continue to grow as the generations keep telling the stories. So sad that instead of trying to take away their way of life we didn’t listen and learn the great knowledge and how to respect and take care of this land.
Been waiting for Tyler to learn about this
Thank you for covering this and trying to understand🧡 I as a native woman knew the atrocities of the residential schools growing up, hearing the heartbreaking stories of our families but I was astounded to learn that a majority of Canadians didn’t know of or believe what was being told. Am I in my late 30’s and I was technically in a residential school the first 5 years of my schooling. I did not face the abuses and tragedy of older generations but I wasn’t properly educated which made going to school (which goes to grade 6) off reserve near impossible without extra help.
Thank you for sharing this, and for your respect by wearing an orange shirt. Keep digging into this subject to understand more the horrific trauma that occurred.
I'm pretty sure the orange shirt was coincidental....
Tyler thank you for doing this topic. Truth will ensure this never happens again
I have native cousins, so I heard the horror stories like, 40-50 years ago. It's about time the truth is coming out. It's not so much a holiday as it is a remembrance.
C31 Native here has long has Orange shirt day does not become commercialized or just another paid holiday that is what I worry about
@markmiller4609 yeah, I do find it a little weird that as of right now it's for federal employees. The federal people that our indigenous have fought with. I believe this should be a day for ALL people, including retail workers (like Christmas), so we can all truly stay home and reflect. A quiet day. Just my opinion though.
Hey Tyler. Really appreciate you covering this as I have relations who passed in the Residential school in Chapleau Ontario and the indian act/residential school system has deeply impacted my family. Those in my generation are working hard to reclaim language and traditions lost to those times. My grandfather could speak fluent Ojibwe but rarely did as it cause him shame and embarrassment that he had been taught to feel by the nuns and priests, my mother and none in her generation learned to speak more than a few words.
very informative even for this old Canadian. love your orange shirt Tyler! Every Child Matters
I am glad you are reacting to this and not sweeping it under the rug for viewership. Keeping ugly history away from the public won't solve the problem. Like the old saying goes, "Those who are ignorant of history are doomed to repeat it."
I am glad you found out about this. It is an ongoing tragedy. There is an ongoing search for the buried bodies that the churches just buried in fields around the schools without acknowledging the deaths. Horrific. A school in Kamloops BC began the searching that many First Nation peoples knew had happened. It is now an ongoing search through much of this country.
Thank you so much for reacting to this undercovered topic.
I’ve been waiting for this, to understand and appreciate Canadas beauty you must acknowledge the atrocities 🧡🧡🧡🧡
I am proud to be a Canadian. BUT , I am in no way proud of what my country did to the children and their families . I am ashamed of that part of Canadian history . All I can say is how very sorry I am to those who were treated so cruel . I cannot imagine what the children went through or their parents . No idea ! So Sorry !
Yes, the catholic cult is evil!
Same here
I'm Gen X & I wish we had learned this in school. My heart breaks for what thousands of little kids had to go through. I'm glad my granddaughter is learning the truth
the truth is it wasnt true. they dug up the mass grave in kamloops and not a single human remain was found. nothing was fact checked, everyone jumped to conclusions over some lydar readings. theres just no way that 500+ children were genocided in the last century and there just wasnt any eyebrows raised? cmon, this is canada not auchwitz
I was taught about it in the late 90's in school but as I've gotten older I realized that wasn't the experience for many Canadian kids at that time. I'm glad its no longer a location spicific thing for people to learn about. Every country's history have moments of darkness but I'm glad that it's not something the Canadian people are shying away from.
I am also Gen X and we never learned about this in school in the 70’s and 80’s.
That’s weird because my parents are gen x and 12 years apart! And they were taught it. There are still presentations of that era on the subject.
EDIT: hold up, why would you want to know about this LMAO?
@stephaniec3619 yeah this Gen X didn't learn anything about residential schools until I took sociology courses in college.
I understand the meaning for the holiday but being a Canadian from BC I never heard about the holiday until this year and was surprised but it is a deserved day of recognition what happened in those schools was just awful, Canada may have lost one of its most beloved musical icons with the passing of Gord Downie, but the frontman of The Tragically Hip is also being remembered as a passionate advocate for Indigenous rights and reconciliation.
Another issue both our governments are not addressing and hoping no one notices are the number of missing Indigenous women each year. It's disturbing.
Yes! The highway of tears here in BC
Time to search the garbage dumps as we have been demanding.
C31 Native here the main problem is where do you begin T&R, MMIW, residential schools, Healthcare, Housing, Land Claims the 94 calls to action is great but where do you start and how much will all this cost in the long run.
THIS. I'm in Manitoba and the refusal of this current govt to search the landfill where they know murdered women are is absolutely horrific. Today is an election and I'm hoping we get a change. The conservatives are so beyond vile for how they've been handling these (and many other) situations. 🧡
That's a poverty issue, not a race issue. Females of low socioeconomic status are more likely to be the victims of violent crime regardless of race. Also, cops run into a wall of silence when trying to investigate any of these. I lived on the Downtown Eastside of Vancouver and virtually nobody would talk to the cops. People are paranoid of being labelled a "narc" or be arrested for some minor drug offence, but then turn around and whine and bitch about the cops not protecting them. You can't have it both ways.
Thank you for your respectful attitude
Tyler, you are a very good, and brave individual to take the time to learn about every sides of our identities... The good, the funny, the sad and the horrifying ones. I humbly thank you!
Not to rain on your parade but your comment made me wonder.. like... There's nothing brave about this and someone suggested it to him there's nothing to thank.
@@mattybrunolucaszeneresalas9072 Ok so ? The guy is learning about Canada... I think it's great... Even if it was "proposed" to him. You think it's lame! Great!
I'm not sure "brave" is the right word, but I do like how Tyler is so curious and open to learning. I'm glad he's moving beyond the hockey and health care stereotypes that make it sound like Canada it some sort of northern utopia, and going deeper into the realities of life in Canada.
@@shirley7777 not really. It's foreign and therefore magical and cool
This was, by far, one of Tyler's best episodes. I'm a Canadian, and I learned stuff I didn't know from it. Also, it's important to understand the dynamics of the Pope mentioning his sorrow, and our prime minister pointing out that he did not apologize. His church is a huge part of this story.
I just found out about it this year. What the natives went through was horrendous and it should never be forgotten. The children were forced to deny their heritage and those who didn't want to follow white man's rule were beaten, raped and even murdered. Thousands of them. This can never happen again
Forget it! How on earth will this happen again? Unless an extremist group overthrow the government?
Please do not call indigenous people ‘the natives’
In Canada we call indigenous "First Nations". We do not say " Natives" as America does as in "American Natives."
@@Thatgeekycanadian many that I know and are friends with prefer the term native. Perhaps it's a localized term . It's not meant to be insulting
@@Thatgeekycanadian My old school was turned into the 'Native Equal Opportunity Program'. Now it's being called Aboriginal Headstart. But just goes to show they use to use the term themselves, but yes, as I was born here, I too am native here.
Thank you for covering that topic! We need to talk about it!
Tyler: the United States had residential schools as well. You also had the trail of tears, both of our nations were not good to our indigenous people. I’m glad Canada is trying to address this issue. If you go to any theatres or various places you will see plaques saying which indigenous lands you are standing on. You should look up The Tragically Hips song the Secret Path. It tells about an indigenous child who escaped a school to get home, he never made it.
ALSO IN THE U.S. TYLER!!!!!!!
Hi Tyler - I am a Canadian school teacher. I agree with @GV80p. The Government of the Unites States had residential schools with the same atrocities occuring to the Indigenous peoples in your country also. When you highlighted Nicholas Davin's name, I found it interesting that you did not know the connection to the US residential school system as ours was patterned after yours through his report. This included forcing people to give up their children to reprehensible abuse under the guise of "schooling". Residential schools (in both the US and Canada) were never about schooling, it was about getting rid of the "Indian problem". Your government still hides this, and clearly it is not is school curricula. Every student in Canada is required to learn about this and the effects it has had on Indigenous peoples today. We still have a long way to go for Truth and Reconciliation to occur, but we have made a start. Orange Shirt Day is like a Remembrance Day to honour those who died, and to ensure that this never happens again. You have a large following. Maybe you could learn about the US residential school system, meet some elders who went through it so you have first hand information, and spread some knowledge about the US residential school system, and the generational trauma many Indigenous Americans face. Though this is not normally what you do, thank you for going through it posting it anyway. Thank you for not shying away. It is people like you who can get conversations started. By the way, I love watching your reactions. Glad you are taking the time to learn a little about us!
Love your content Tyler. Thank you so much for highlighting this in the wonderful way you did! It means so much to us as Canadians for you to learn about this and teach others. Amazing!
"The wonderful way that he did?" He literally didn't know what a residential school was. We was treating this like his Victoria Day video before he realized that it was actually serious. And the fact that he was oblivious to the fact that his own country did this first and on a much more massive scale makes it all the more cringy.
@@damonx6109 This entire video is him learning about the day and horror of what happened in those schools it isn’t at all cringy he is allowed to not have knowledge on certain subjects and it is wonderful that he is educating himself on them and there is no need and it is highly disrespectful to compare situations like that saying that one was worse than the other they were both terrible he didn’t know that it was serious in the beginning but as he learned he treated this very seriously
my father and his siblings were/are residential school survivors, thank you for learning about this.
Thank you for doing this video!!
im so glad your talking about this its a huge pice of Canadian history
Thank you for learning about this. It’s been a hard pill for Canadians to swallow but hopefully going forward we can do our best to make amends. Unfortunately, the residential school system was a plague on both Canada and the USA in both our histories and the abuse that was present at these schools. It’s a sad common history to share.
Make amends ?? To whom?
the residential schools were a poorly implemented project to give Natives the opportunities every other citizen had. the initial idea was to provide education so the children could choose not to be poor on the reservations with no other options. was it paternalistic? yes very much so. was it handed to those who never should have been allowed power? why yes it was. did children suffer? yes. did some die? yes. nothing done today will erase that the dead will still be dead regardless, and the Natives are likely to ride this dead horse to mush with no real resolution because there is no resolution. the direct survivors deserve what restitution that can be lawfully offered for thier pain. the rest get over it and move on. remember what happened absolutly. but there is no amends no taking things back. its in the past and nothing anyone does can remove it
@@kertagin1 That wasn't why they were implemented at all. You need to do some further reading. I recommend "21 Things You May Not Know about the Indian Act" by Bob Joseph.
@@HeatherSealey-b2y I read the act itself. I also read the first proposal. its all public access info. a bit dull but not hard to gain access to. the government of the day realized there were sizable populations on the reserves with no useful ability to function off reservation. they saw this as an issue and rightly. the tribes of then interacted with the rest of the nation as little as possible, their education was this side of nonexistent and the available wild life populations were dropping. the tribes would soon lose the ability to support themselves as they mostly at the time survived by trapping (dropping animal populations should be an obvious problem). there were some talks of encouraging farming but even by then the tribes faced difficulties as many could not read and the newer farming equipment required a base level of understanding. the man who posited the schools was not so racist wacko out to erase anyone, he suggested schools to educate. as per government standard the initial good idea went to committee, where to save money and time the project was handed to the catholic board and Indian affairs... the Catholics have had as a standard behavior for the last 1000 yrs to convert the heathen... so turning children of nonchristian beliefs over to them should have been seen as a bad plan, but was not due to prevailing ideas of the time, and Indian Affairs has from the start been run by people who did not like natives. obviously there is more to it but that is the simplified version. the church was given the duty to run the schools because they had the infrastructure and curriculum already so it would save time and money (always great places to start planning). but the core idea providing the natives a way to function with the rest of society was not based in racism or even meant to do harm, it became both for many reasons, but at the same time leaving the reserve populations as they were was a worse idea as well not enough animals left to trap or eat for a large population has lots of historical bad things tied to it. would the tribes be thanking anyone if the decision was made to leave them separated by languages no one speaks and no way to live save government hand outs? I'd like to believe they have enough self respect to not relish being a perpetually broke under class with no ways out
Thank you for covering this matter in your videos. At times I felt like you are trying not to burst into tears 🥺. I would have cried. I cried watching your video and I already knew what you are going to talk about.
Hi Tyler, it sounds like you don’t realize that Residential Schools were also a part of US history.
You might want to listen to a song sung by Gord Downie called Secret Path which tells the true story of a Residential School student
Thank you so much for doing this video; spreading awareness on this. I am an intergenerational child of this. My grandparents and their siblings were forcibly removed from our community and my great-grandfather (with the threat of imprisonment). One of my grandfather's sisters never made it home and my great-grandfather was never told what happened (though other students said she was pushed by a nun and broke her arm) or where she went and where she was. She just went missing. Our family just recently found her grave in a southern town graveyard. Some of my aunts & uncles were also in Residential Schools and my mother attended a Day School (same kind of school, but they got to come home occassionally). My grandfather and his siblings were all abused (physically & sexually) by the priests & nuns who ran these schools. The effects of this forced assimiliation has/had great impacts on our families and communities with the loss of culture, language, and more (family skills, family relationships, etc.). Such a horrid part of our history, but we are trying to overcome this and trying to find our paths to healing and reclaiming/reconnecting with our cultures.
The USA had something similar, but are called 'Boarding Schools' FYI.
I've watched you learn about Canada for a while now, and I just want to thank you for covering this topic. I really appreciate your understanding and the fact you acknowledge the level of severity and how truly disgusting it is.ive got family and friends who survived the residential school's. That in all honesty were just ran by pedophile pastor's and psychopaths alike. The dying conditions ( because you can't call them living conditions ) were akin to genocide camp's. The stories are enough to effect the soul of even the listener's and I've heard my fair share 😢. It was almost common practice for the older children to volunteer for abuse to hopefully save the younger children having to... like let that sink in for just a moment...
Thank you for covering this. The Indian Act and the schools are our greatest shame as a country.
C31 Native here registered with a Mohawk Nation in Ontario only good 2 things about the Indian act is tax exemption and the extended health care we get I recently turned 56 and do not have to worry about dental vision hearing mobility devices etc. It better than that new dental drug plan government making you take it even better than my work plan which I only pay for the basic coverage since we have to take it.
I would not consider myself an ignorant person who thought their country was perfect and could do no wrong; but when the truth was exposed and these stories started unfolding for the first time in my life I was ashamed to be a Canadian.
Not only are these facts so disturbing and shockingly disgusting - but also the fact that this genocide has been going on for so long (And until only recently!) and it was kept so well hidden. I am so glad that they are raising awareness about these crimes against humanity even if it is a shameful part of our history.
and we still haven't even talked about forced sterilization, the 60's scoop and MMIW.
I’m so glad you made this reaction. Canada is often portrayed with this glossy shiny image of beauty and greatness. Finally we’re peeling back those layers..
🧡🖤🧡
Similar systems happened in the USA. Right now there is also a task force of lawmen and women who are taking on the missing and murdered native indigenous women an youth largely attributed to loss of culture. This was due to schools set up there as well. Heartbreaking 💔 here ‘cause many children were ripped from their homes to go study at these boarding school type things. Not able to have family visits or go home for holidays Christmas and Easter. Once in these schools told not to speak their own language or practice their own faith. Once they were old enough, graduated etc they were given a small amount of money and told basically you’re fee to leave. Many tried to go home but felt they didn’t belong anymore. They tried to get jobs in the big cities but few would hire them. There are no words really to describe how terrible this was. I mean once admitted to this residential school children’s heads were shaved etc. My niece’s mother in law had older brothers taken from the family and sent to these schools. I hate even talking about the residential schools because it makes me angry and hurt. Hurt for those children. They found unmarked graves behind some of the large schools out west in recent years obviously of children who got sick and died, others beaten horribly because they tried to run away and verbal and sexual abuse by the priests there was shocking. There are movies about this “Iron Horse” is one of the more recent movies.
It a Government only holiday in NB which was put in to recognize the loss of hundreds of native children that died in the school system and never returned home to their families. It a day to ware orange shirts for the loss of the children. residential means they forced them to go to schools where they would live separate from their homes and live on the school grounds.
Thank you for making this video and sharing this message.
It was modelled on the residential school system in your country. A lot of the children died from physical abuse, malnutrition and tuberculosis.
The purpose of residential schools was to, “ take the Indian out of the child “.
Catholic, Anglican, Presbyterian, Methodist, and United Churches all participated, with the federal government funding and planning residential schools.
Gord Downie, and The Hip, did an album called the Secret Path, which chronicles the journey of a young indigenous child, escaping from a school. He was found frozen to death beside a railway track.
Stay safe, stay sane, stay strong 🧡🧡🧡
My great grandma was forced into a residential school. I don’t know much about it, because apparently she never ever talked about it to anyone.
I am pretty sure there were residential school system in the united states as well.
There were 350
there was a form of.
I don't mean to down play the situation in Canada, it was horrific.
Thank you for bringing this Topic to peoples attention. These things did happen to our Indigenous tribes. 😊
For the record, there were residential schools in the US as well.
Mr. Bucket, I already know quite a bit about my country, but I like watching your videos because sometimes I learn something I didn't know
My dad went to a residential school growing up (he didn’t know it then) he was on the “white side” of the school but there was a whole section for the indigenous children. This was only in the 1960s 😢
Wela'lin (thank you) for taking the time to learn a bit about this. My mother and uncles were only spared enrollment because part of the terms that brought Newfoundland into Canada was Joey Smallwood stating that "There are no Indians in Newfoundland", a horrendous lie that cut our people off from any supports or recognition of sovereignty but did stop forced assimilation on the Island (Labrador wasn't so lucky). In spite of all this, we are still here.....and always will be.
This is an issue in the USA, Australia and CANADA and others. The raiding / removal of native culture throughout the Commonwealth had great tragedy and loss over the Centuries. History is the record, no longer to be denied. Only now, are all people included and recognized. "Never again" is all we can do or say every day for the future. to be better and brighter.
Hi Tyler. I am an intergenerational survivor and struggle to heal from it. My mom was abused in residential school and became alcoholic. She died 22yrs ago. I know she suffered much. I now am left with the pain and became alcoholic. I just want to say that I appreciate you sharing this information as I come across a lot of people who still do not believe the history and truth of it all. I am a grandmother now and need to work on myself for my family. ❤ Peace