Read on Twitter
I studied history in undergrad and Poli sci in grad school & I don't find this to be a helpful explanation either (though nowhere near as grotesque & tone deaf as what O'Toole said)
Epistemological underpinnings of residential schools was that Indig people were uncivilized..... https://twitter.com/theJagmeetSingh/status/1339222542842814466
Epistemological underpinnings of residential schools was that Indig people were uncivilized..... https://twitter.com/theJagmeetSingh/status/1339222542842814466
...and therefore, to help Indigenous children live better in Canadian society, they had to be raised by "civilized" people with "more structure", "discipline", and on topics that would help them thrive in Canadian (ie, colonial Canada) society.
What does this mean?
What does this mean?
Strictly speaking, it means that O'Toole's not wrong that they were designed to give Indig kids an education--what white Canadian men *thought* was a better education.
But also, Jagmeet isn't fully correct in saying they were *only* to wipe out cultures.
But also, Jagmeet isn't fully correct in saying they were *only* to wipe out cultures.
To my view, residential schools are a perfect example of "benevolent racism"-- enacting policies to benefit a people without engaging those people. And having grossly negative impacts on those people as a result of those policies.
To combat and deconstruct colonial vestiges...
To combat and deconstruct colonial vestiges...
I think it's extremely important to understand how those structures were erected and the ontological base upon which they were conceived.
O'Toole presents a "good intentions" argument. That's ahistorical. It was borne of disdain for Indigenous cultures.
O'Toole presents a "good intentions" argument. That's ahistorical. It was borne of disdain for Indigenous cultures.
Singh suggests "pure malevolence". Also ahistorical
While disdain for Indigenous cultures was the operative impulse, was basically a religious conviction (& associated compassion) for "savage children" needing salvation which formed ideological underpinnings of res school policy
While disdain for Indigenous cultures was the operative impulse, was basically a religious conviction (& associated compassion) for "savage children" needing salvation which formed ideological underpinnings of res school policy
