Canada's dark history: Abuse in residential schools revealed

After the discovery of the Americas, many Europeans settled on the continent and built a future by violating the rights of others. The Maya and Aztec communities nearly disappeared, and Native Americans came close to extinction. But this wasn't enough for Europeans. Starting in the early 17th century, Catholic and Anglican sects carried out missionary activities on the continent, and by the 19th century, they opened residential schools to implement a policy of 'assimilation and Christianization.' This policy led to the abuse of thousands of children, many of whom were later found buried around the schools. Canada, known today for its respect for human rights, multiculturalism, and kindness, actually has a dark and hidden history. Between the late 19th century and the end of the 20th century, hundreds of thousands of Indigenous people were abused in these missionary schools, with many killed. The government and church collaborated in the construction of residential schools, often in remote rural areas, to carry out assimilation policies. In the early 17th century, the Catholic Church began missionary activities in North America, opening schools, which evolved into a government-church partnership by the 19th century. Despite generous offers, Indigenous people did not show interest in the schools, and this is where the destructive plan began. In 1876, Canada's first Prime Minister, John A. Macdonald, passed the 'Indian Act,' allowing the forced assimilation of Indigenous children into church-run schools. By 1883, Canada started economically supporting these schools, and missionary activities became state policy. By the 1930s, there were 80 church schools across Canada. These schools were primarily Catholic, with others belonging to Anglican, United, and Presbyterian denominations. The goal was to 'civilize' the Indigenous children and convert them to Christianity. Children were forced to work in physical labor to cover the school's expenses, under the guise of 'preparing them for life.' Conditions at these schools were similar to prisons, with unheated dormitories and inadequate facilities. Many children died from cold, and sexual abuse and medical experimentation were uncovered by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission in 2008. The commission's reports revealed horrific details of abuse, including thousands of deaths, with some children dying after being forced to flee the schools. Generations of Indigenous children were scarred by this 'education' system, with many succumbing to suicide due to the alienation they faced. The evidence of brutal human rights violations from Canada's colonial period is still being uncovered today, with hundreds of lost graves found on school grounds. In January 2023, the remains of nearly 2,000 individuals were discovered at the site of the now-closed Lebret Residential School in Saskatchewan. Canada's first residential school opened in 1880, and the last closed in 1998, with hundreds of thousands of Indigenous children abused during this period. This dark chapter in Canadian history reveals one of the most hidden and brutal events in world history.