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Residential school survivors on the scars of abuse

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The unmarked graves burial at the residential schools are a tragic testament to the systematic mistreatment and sorrow experienced by Indigenous children. These unmarked graves were due to government agreements and the catholic church. The children passed away due to various reasons, including illness, lack of nutrition, running away attempts or mistreatment from the schools and surrounding communities. Numerous children were interred without their families being informed or giving their permission. The conversation and subsequent exposure of these occurrences have led the country into a time of grief and anger, sparking demands for justice, a confrontation with Canada's colonial history, and affecting Indigenous populations.

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Residential schools were created for indigenous children to be stripped of there cultures, beliefs, traditions, language and knowledge. The first residential school opened in 1870 and the last one closed in 1996.

Children, often without consent, were taken from their families and required to live in residential schools. There they often suffered extreme physical and emotional abuse through draconian discipline and neglect, and forced labor. Children were not allowed to speak their first language or practice their traditions. Many children suffered traumatic experiences. Many died due to illness, malnutrition, or abuse.

Survivors have experienced numerable long-lasting consequences, including depression, a fractured sense of identity, and broken family structures. The residential school system has left Indigenous people with a deep wound that endures social, psychological, and cultural trauma. A detailed account of the abuses suffered was documented in Canada by a Truth and Reconciliation Commission, and later a formal apology from the government issued in 2008.

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Thousands of Indigenous individuals attending residential schools fell victim to physical, emotional, and sexual abuse. Many survivors now have long-term psychological problems arising from these traumatic experiences: post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, and depression. On top of untreated trauma, many survivors and their families face far worse qualms: substance abuse and suicidal thoughts, making them more vulnerable to mental health issues. By and large, intergenerational trauma impacts the lives of Indigenous communities, stretching much farther than the first and continuing abuse, making it crucial that healing as well as assistance is sought from outside sources, no matter the intent of assistance.