1. Physical Abuse: Children in residential schools were often subjected to physical abuse, including beatings, whippings, and other forms of corporal punishment. These punishments were often inflicted for minor offenses or for speaking their native languages.
2. Sexual Abuse: Many children in residential schools were sexually abused by priests, nuns, and other staff members. This abuse ranged from inappropriate touching to rape, and it had devastating consequences on the victims.
3. Emotional Abuse: Children were subjected to emotional abuse, which included verbal abuse, isolation, and humiliation. They were often made to feel inferior and worthless, and their culture and heritage were denigrated.
4. Cultural Genocide: The residential school system was designed to eradicate Indigenous languages, cultures, and traditions. Children were forbidden from speaking their native languages, practicing their ceremonies, or expressing their cultural identity.
5. Neglect: Children in residential schools were often neglected and deprived of basic necessities such as food, clothing, and medical care. This neglect led to malnutrition, illness, and even death.
6. Malnutrition: Children in residential schools were often provided with insufficient and poor-quality food. They were frequently hungry, and malnutrition was widespread.
7. Medical Neglect: Children who became ill in residential schools were often denied proper medical care. This neglect led to unnecessary suffering and even death.
8. Loss of Identity: The residential school system aimed to assimilate Indigenous children into Euro-Canadian society, stripping them of their cultural heritage and eroding their sense of identity.
9. Forced Labor: Many children were forced to work in the fields, do domestic labour, or perform other manual tasks, contributing to the economic exploitation of Indigenous communities.
10. Lack of Accountability: For many years, the Catholic Church and other entities involved in operating residential schools evaded accountability for the abuses that took place, causing lasting trauma and ongoing pain to Indigenous survivors and their communities.
The legacy of the residential school system continues to affect Indigenous communities in Canada. Many survivors suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, and substance abuse. The residential school system has left a lasting mark on Indigenous peoples, and it will take generations to fully heal the wounds inflicted by the Catholic Church.