Residential Schools

Residential Schools were an instrument of genocide. These schools were not places of learning and growth but of loss and suffering. Our children were taken from their families, stripped of their language, culture, and identity. What was meant to “civilize” us left deep scars that many of us still feel today.

Residential schools aimed to erase who we were as Anishinabe people. Our children were forbidden to speak their languages, practice their ceremonies, or even keep their traditional names. The message was clear – who we were was not good enough. This caused a great disconnection between generations. Children returned home unable to communicate with their families, feeling ashamed of their roots. Parents grieved not just the physical absence of their children, but the loss of the bond that once connected them.

The impacts of these schools ripple through our communities today. Many of our people struggle with identity, self-worth, and belonging. The trauma experienced within those school walls often led to cycles of pain, seen in addiction, mental health challenges, and broken families. But as Elders, we remind our youth that healing is possible. Our languages, ceremonies, and traditions still live within us, waiting to be reclaimed.

We are in a time of remembering and restoring. Survivors have bravely shared their stories, and the truth is finally being acknowledged by others. We teach our young people that while the past cannot be changed, it can guide us toward a future where our children walk proudly in two worlds – grounded in their Anishinabe identity and thriving in today’s society. As long as we hold onto our teachings and pass them down, the spirit of our ancestors will remain strong.