Module 5 Flashcards
Who developed the concept of genocide?
Raphael Lemkin
Lemkin was a Polish Jewish legal theorist who first coined the term in 1944.
What year was the term ‘genocide’ first developed?
1944
What was Lemkin’s first draft of the genocide convention in 1947 focused on?
Three specific forms of genocide: physical, biological, and cultural
What aspect of genocide did Lemkin emphasize in his definition?
Cultural genocide
What does cultural genocide refer to according to Lemkin?
Destruction of the spirit and culture of national, racial, or religious groups
What was the final definition of genocide in the UN Convention?
Acts intended to destroy a national, ethnical, racial, or religious group
List the five acts classified as genocide in the UN Convention.
- Killing members of the group
- Causing serious bodily or mental harm to members of the group
- Deliberately inflicting conditions of life calculated to bring about physical destruction
- Imposing measures intended to prevent births
- Forcibly transferring children to another group
True or False: Cultural genocide is recognized as a crime in international law.
False
What has been incorporated into Canadian law as crimes of genocide?
Only Articles II (a) and II (b) of the UN Convention
Who argued that the term ‘cultural genocide’ waters down the impact of residential schools?
Cree historian Robert Innes
What was the relationship between genocide and the Holocaust after World War II?
Genocide became primarily associated with the Holocaust
What did Innes challenge regarding the historiography of prairie development in the 1880s?
The failure to acknowledge high numbers of Indigenous deaths as genocide
What was Edgar Dewdney’s role regarding Indigenous peoples in the Cypress Hills region?
He was the Indian Commissioner who implemented a starvation policy
What was the estimated population of Indigenous peoples in the Cypress Hills region during the late 1870s?
Between 13,000 and 16,000
What was the result of Dewdney’s starvation policy?
Devastating effect on the First Nations population
What percentage of the Cowessess Band population died due to Dewdney’s starvation policy?
33%
According to Innes, how many deaths might have occurred as a result of the starvation policy?
Between 1,500 and 5,300
What did the Saskatchewan Herald report in 1879?
The hardship experienced by Indigenous families due to starvation
What was the government’s response to the Cowessess Band’s claims regarding deaths from the starvation policy?
The government agreed to include deceased members in the land benefits negotiations
What was the Canadian government’s agenda regarding education for Indigenous peoples in the 1880s?
Aggressive civilization through assimilation
Who was commissioned to study residential industrial schools in the U.S.?
Nicholas Flood Davin
What were the two types of schools established for Indigenous education?
- Boarding schools
- Industrial schools
What was the focus of industrial schools?
Intensive vocational training
Fill in the blank: The government felt that ______ were not effective for assimilating Indigenous children.
Day schools
What type of education did Indigenous leaders desire for their children?
Education in Euro-Canadian schools
True or False: The government had the resources to operate residential schools effectively.
False
What criticism did the government face regarding industrial schools?
High costs and lack of success
What age group did the industrial schools primarily target?
Older children in larger institutions
What type of training was emphasized in industrial schools?
Intensive vocational training
What were some of the criticisms faced by industrial schools?
Expense, lack of success rates, resistance from parents
What was a key reason for the failure of the industrial school model?
Students returning home after finishing school
What did the government believe about First Nations traditional culture?
It was an impediment to success in Euro-Canadian society
What was the purpose of creating ‘colonies’ for students?
To continue the assimilation process after graduation
What was the government’s approach in the File Hills Colony?
Extreme control over students’ lives
What were some restrictions placed on students at the File Hills Colony?
- Selected marriage partners
- Limited household visits
- Prohibited traditional activities
- Mandatory participation in Euro-Canadian activities
What was the educational focus for boys and girls in residential schools?
Boys were educated to become labourers, girls to be domestic help
How many residential schools operated in Canada from 1874 to the 1960s?
Approximately 130 schools
When did the last federally-run residential school close?
1996
What was a major cultural impact of residential schools?
Loss of ability to pass on Indigenous language and culture
What were some common forms of punishment in residential schools?
- Needles stuck into tongues for speaking Indigenous languages
- Forced to eat vomit
- Locked in basements
- Beaten with metal whips
What were some long-term consequences of abuse in residential schools?
- Loss of parenting roles
- Decreased self-esteem
- PTSD
- Addictions and violence
What was a significant reason for the failure of residential schools?
Government parsimony and First Nations resistance
What caused the poor quality of education in residential schools?
Chronic underfunding and lack of qualified teachers
What was the ‘half-day system’ in residential schools?
Students either attended school for half a day and worked the other half or alternated days
What health issues were prevalent in residential schools due to poor conditions?
- Malnutrition
- Susceptibility to illness
- High death rates from diseases
What amendment allowed the government to compel First Nations children to attend residential school?
1920 amendment to the Indian Act
What actions were taken against parents who resisted sending their children to residential schools?
Threats of charges and coercive measures by priests, Indian Agents, and the RCMP
What did many First Nations people continue to do despite government pressure?
Resist sending their children to residential schools
Fill in the blank: Many children left residential schools without having parents to model their _______.
Roles and responsibilities
True or False: The sexual abuse that occurred in residential schools was widely known during the time.
False
What was the estimated number of children who perished in residential schools?
At least 6000 children
What was the exhibition entitled that was commissioned for Canada’s 150th anniversary?
Shame and Prejudice
What were the main reasons First Nations people resisted sending their children to residential schools?
- Substandard level of education
- Unhealthy living conditions
- Types of abuse faced by children
In which year did the Dept. of Indian Affairs report difficulties in getting Indian parents to consent to leave their children in residential schools?
1894
What extreme actions did parents take to resist sending their children to residential schools?
Hiding their children in secluded areas
What incident occurred on the Blackfoot reserve in 1895 involving an Indian Affairs employee?
An Indian Affairs employee was killed.
What forms of resistance did students exhibit in residential schools?
- Running away to reunite with families
- Speaking their language
- Stealing food
- Confronting officials
- Arson
What severe punishments did students face for running away from residential schools?
- Heads shaved
- Isolation confinement
- Restricted diet (bread and water)
- Beatings
What tragic fate befell some children who attempted to run away during winter?
Many froze to death.
Who is Chanie Wenjack and why is he significant?
An Indigenous boy who died trying to run away from a residential school, his story highlighted by Gord Downie.
What was one method of resistance that students used to maintain cultural identity?
Continuing to speak their language
What was the Indian Residential Schools Settlement Agreement (IRSSA) negotiated?
A settlement agreement to compensate survivors of residential schools.
What is the Common Experience Payment in the IRSSA?
A payment to eligible former Indian residential school students based on years of attendance.
What was the goal of the Truth and Reconciliation Process included in the IRSSA?
To rebuild and renew relationships between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal peoples.
What did the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada aim to document?
The history, impacts, and ongoing legacies of the residential school system.
What were the 94 Calls to Action released by the TRC focused on?
- Legacy
- Reconciliation
What is cultural genocide as defined by the report?
Destruction of structures and practices that allow a group to continue as a group.
What did the TRC state about truth, justice, and healing in relation to reconciliation?
Without truth, justice, and healing, there can be no genuine reconciliation.
What was the significance of the Prime Minister’s apology on June 11, 2008?
An official apology to Aboriginal people who attended residential schools.
What has been the progress on the TRC’s Calls to Action as of 2019?
Only 9 of the 94 Calls to Action had been completed.
What categories are included in the TRC’s Calls to Action?
- Legacy
- Reconciliation
- Commemoration
- Education for Reconciliation
- Youth Programs
What was the role of the Chairperson of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission?
To lead the documentation of the residential school system’s history and impacts.
What does the TRC suggest is necessary for genuine reconciliation?
Truth-telling and accountability.
