Canada today celebrates its multiculturalism and has a wide variety of citizens of differing races, religions, languages, and heritages. However, throughout Canadian history, indigenous people have been subjected to forced assimilation, enslavement, and displacement and have felt the devastating effects of residential schools. The impacts of residential schools and colonialism can still be seen in modern days. The silenced voices of indigenous children will not be forgotten or ignored. According to ‘National Geographic,’ “Residential schools have operated in Canada for more than 160 years, with upwards of 150,000 passing through their doors. Every province and territory except Prince Edward Island, Newfoundland, and New Brunswick were home…show more content… Indigenous children at these residential schools were treated terribly. Based on the ‘Indigenous Foundation,’ “abuse at these schools was widespread”. Emotional and psychological constant and physical abuse were metered out as punishment, and sexual abuse was also common. Indigenous children at these facilities were exposed to horrible treatment such as being beaten, and shackled to their beds, some children faced needles being shoved in their tongues if they were to speak their native language. The kids also faced punishment for talking about their customs, beliefs, and values. Part of the assimilation process was having the children cut their hair short against their will. Rather than the residential schools utilizing the kid’s given names, they were forced to change their names to something Euro-Canadian or given a dehumanizing identification number. Indigenous children were forced to be separated from their siblings. Not only that but the schools exhibited poor sanitation, overcrowding, inadequate food sources, little to no medical treatment, and a high rate of disease
