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Aboriginal Language In Canada

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The residential schools of Canada can be dated back to the 1870s. Before 1996, when the last of 170 schools were closed, an estimated 150,000 indigenous youth were forced to attend. In an attempt to blend indigenous youth into Canadian society, both the Canadian government and Christian churches believed educating and converting the youth would achieve their goal of integrating them into Canadian society (Miller, 2014). The infliction of economic self sufficiency and religious conversion caused the loss of languages which further resulted in the loss of culture among traditional indigenous peoples. The death of a language is more complex than simply a loss of communication, it is a loss of knowledge. "The wisdom of humanity is summarized in …show more content…
As stated earlier, each language carries with it a sense of identity and belonging. As languages are lost we lose knowledge of humanity. This loss affected traditional community and family life. The constant scorning of authorities caused low self esteem, fostering self abuse such as high alcoholism, substance abuse, and suicide. Due to the inferior view posed on youth by authorities, they found it difficult and, in cases, impossible to develop bonds with their elders therefore unable to learn the traditional ways of their …show more content…
(2015). Retrieved November 27, 2016, from https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2011/as-sa/98-314-x/98-314-x2011003_3-eng.cfm

Hanson, Erin (2009). The Residential School System. Retrieved January 11, 2016, from http://indigenousfoundations.arts.ubc.ca/home/government-policy/the-residential-school-system.html Ivor, M. (2013). CBC Archives. Retrieved November 27, 2016, from http://www.cbc.ca/archives/entry/abuse-affects-the-next-generation

J. R. (2011). Indian Residential School Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada. Retrieved November 27, 2016, from https://www.culturalsurvival.org/publications/cultural-survival-quarterly/canada/indian-residential-school-truth-and-reconciliation-c

Miller, J (2014). (n.d.). Residential Schools. Retrieved November 27, 2016, from http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/residential-schools/ The Atlantic. Atlantic Media Company, n.d. Web. 05 Jan. 2017.

Yesno, J. (2013). CBC Archives. Retrieved November 27, 2016, from http://www.cbc.ca/archives/entry/losing-native-languages

@. (2015). Number of Indian residential school student deaths may never be known: TRC - APTN National News. Retrieved November 27, 2016, from

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