Indigenous peoples in Canada have faced a long history of colonialism and oppression. Here are some key events and issues:
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Residential Schools: Starting in the 1880s and for much of the 20th century, more than 150,000 children from hundreds of Indigenous communities across Canada were forcibly taken from their parents by the government and sent to what were called Residential Schools. Funded by the state and run by churches, they were designed to assimilate and Christianize Indigenous children by ripping them from their parents, their culture, and their community. The last of Canadas 139 residential schools for Indigenous children closed in 1998.
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Forced Separation: Between 1883 and 1996, up to 150,000 Indigenous children were separated from their families, often by force, and sent to government-funded institutions.
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Unmarked Graves: In recent years, the remains of more than 200 Indigenous children, including some as young as three, were discovered at the site of a former residential school in Canada. This has brought renewed attention to the legacy of residential schools and the ongoing impact on Indigenous communities.
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Cultural Genocide: Residential schools carried out "cultural genocide" against Indigenous children by severing Indigenous family and cultural ties and assimilating the children into white Canadian society.
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Ongoing Issues: Indigenous children continue to be taken away from their families in disproportionate numbers across Canada. Indigenous peoples have also faced violence, discrimination, and marginalization.
Despite these challenges, Indigenous peoples in Canada have a rich and diverse history that stretches long into the past before the arrival of European newcomers. They have played important roles in Canada's development and continue to shape its future.
