Throughout the 1900’s, the Canadian government believed that it was their responsibility for education and caring for aboriginal people in Canada. The Canadian government wanted to teach the aboriginal children English, Christianity and Canadian customs.  This would result in the complete diminishing of native traditions for future generations.

             The Canadian government created a policy called the “aggressive assimilation”, to be taught at church-run, government-funded schools. These were later called residential schools. The residential schools were federally run by the Department of Indian Affairs. All native children were taken from their homes as young as four years of age and then brought to residential schools run by religious orders in collaboration with the federal government.

            Over one hundred and fifty thousand who attended these schools lived in poor conditions and endured physical, sexual and emotional abuse. Students were malnourished and prohibited from speaking their native languages. Most were in school ten months a year and some stayed all year round. All letters from the children were written in English which many native parents could not read. Brothers and sisters at the same school rarely saw each other because schools were separated by gender. When students returned home they often did not belong and did not have the skills to help their parents.

             The last residential school closed in 1996. In Januarry,1998 the government apologized and set up a "healing" fund.  Almost twelve thousand Native people have sued the government or churches involved. The legacy of the horrific residential schools across Canada during the 19th century will always be remembered. The government was unable to get rid of the aboriginal traditions but the students memories of the years spent in the residential schools will haunt them forever.