the canadian government became interested in starting schools for indigenous people because they were no longer allies in war. instead, they were seen as nuisances because many of them moved around as nomads and didn't practice agriculture. the department of indian affairs (dia) partnered up with the churches to start putting more indigenous children into the residential schools and "kill the indian in the child" by converting them to christianity and bringing them into european-canadian society. the government provided the buildings and money while the church provided the teachers and staff.