Ignoring abuses makes villains of those who knew

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To review the stack of case historiesWindspeaker has acquired, documenting the stories of men and women who endured the abuse and despair offered up by residential schools aross the nation, is a mind-numbing experience.

The reasonable person cannot fully comprehend the depth of mankind's penchant for perversion, because it knows no bounds.

The question is not Did the atrocities which Native people claim took place, actually happen?' but 'What so compelled a nation to turn a blind eye to the light of these Indian children in its care?'

Although it is unfair to view these events, which occurred from the mid-1800s to the late 1970s, with the 20/20 vision of the enlightened eyes of the 1990s. It's important to understand the motivation of those who set up these children, some unwittingly, to be victimized by white society and so damaged an entire people.

In one account from our files, circa 1957, a principal is asked for his overall perception of residential school policy in the education of Indians.

"The present aim was to give such an education as would enable children to get off the reserves into gainful employment and inculcate a desire to stay off the reserves for good," he said.

Further, "Our long-term cultural aim must be to change the philosophy of the Indian child. In other words, since they must work and live with whites, then they must begin to think as whites".

How did he make Indian children think white? Through humiliation, denigration and strict control of his students.

In several cases students' heads were shaved as punishment for truancy, bullying by the principal was prevalent, and marks on report cards that would have promoted students to the next grade were erased and replaced with failing grades, reads a DIAND manager's report.

"Had (the school superintendent) access to all the past history of immorality within this school, pregnant pupils and pregnant teachers and teachers sleeping with pupils, he would surely agree that strictness was necessary," the principal defends himself in a letter to DIAND.

The principal soon resigned from the position, but not before this statement from the DIAND managers was written in the report.

"...I will pursue the details further and have left off at the present time only because I had felt that, to some degree, the Church may be smeared by pursuing the matter, and I seek to avoid this if you feel (the principal's) resignation removed the need for your investigation."

Never mind the complaints, never mind the assaults on children in care, never mind the blatant admissions of sexual abuses of students at the school, a church's reputation was at stake and that was reason enough for Indian Affairs to tip-toe around the allegations.

This is not an isolated incident. Cruelty to children went on year after year with little or no intervention from the powers that be.

Bare-bottom strappings on female students, aged 14 and 15, by the male principal is cited in one case. Strapping for talking at meal time or unauthorized conversation between sister and brother were cited in others. Children were strapped for being hungry and looking through the garbage for food. Shoes were not provided. They were put to work scrubbing and sewing and knitting for the profits of the schools, and often lived in slum-like conditions while the staff lived in relative luxury.

Who were the villains? Without a doubt those that perpetrated the crimes against these youthful victims are to blame, but also those who turned away, allowing the crimes to be perpetuated, also must share the guilt.