What Led To Residential Schools

     When the Europeans settled into Canada, they brought with them, the assumption that the social-cultural differences between themselves and the Aboriginal people, was proof that Canada'a first settlers were arrogant, savage - and like children, in need of guidance. They felt the need to turn the Aboriginals into well mannered civilize individuals. Therefore, they turned to the education system, a federal responsibility.
     It was John A. Macdonald, who commissioned Nicholas Flood Davin to study industrial schools for Aboriginals in Canada. It was Davin, who suggested to follow the United tates of America with the approach of "aggressive civilization". It was this statement that led to the public funding for residential schools. In Davin's Report on Industrial Schools for Indians and Half-Breeds in 1876, he stated, "If anything is to be done with the Indian, we must catch him very young. The children must be kept constantly within the circle of civilized conditions".
     In 1920, under the Indian Act, it became mandatory for all Indian children to attend residential schools and illegal for them to attend any other educational program.