|Banner Photograph for the Truth and Reconciliation Commission
of Canada| The book touches upon the problems caused by the
education of generations of Canadian Indians in residential
schools. Thousands of Indian children, as young as 6 years of
age, were taken from their families on their home reserves to
attend these schools. At some schools they would get to go home
at Christmas. At other schools they would be there from
September to June. The schools were part of the Federal
Government’s attempt to assimilate Canadian Indians through
education and taking away their culture. At the schools children
were punished for using their native language or following any
traditional cultural practices. Discipline was harsh. They would
remain in the residential schools for up to 12 years. There were
major problems with physical and sexual abuse. There have been
generational problems as the children who, essentially grew up
without parents and other family, became adults and had their
own children. In recent years the i