Living Discipline Photo

Essay: Social Studies

Amy Patterson
The Social Studies front matter in the Alberta Program of
Studies calls for teachers to provide learning opportunities
for students to understand contemporary challenges and
contributions of Aboriginal peoples in urban settings.
 Many of the challenges that Indigenous peoples face
in urban cities today can have their roots traced back
to the trauma endured in Canada’s residential schools.
 The goal of residential schools in Canada was to strip the Indigenous
identity and culture away, so that Indigenous peoples could be assimilated
into European culture.
Students who attended residential schools were not allowed to practice their
traditional religion or language. These major parts of their identity were
replaced with European traditions and values.
In addition to having their identities broken, many students at
residential schools suffered profound physical, emotional, and
sexual abuse.
The legacy of trauma inflicted by residential schools is inter-generational. The legacy of
trauma will be passed on to survivor’s children, grandchildren, and so on. The last
residential school closed in 1996, so survivors of these schools are still living. The
impact of being abused, as well as watching classmates be abused and pass away, will
stay with survivors for their entire lives.
In today’s society, Indigenous peoples
are marginalized. Reconciliation is
necessary, but there is much debate over
how reconciliation should take place.
Although the Government of Canada
issued apologies for Residential Schools,
more action on the part of the Government
has been demanded.
Living in an urban centre presents
unique challenges for residential
school survivors, their children, their
grandchildren, and other relatives.
Many survivors turn to drugs and
alcohol to cope with trauma, due to a
lack of help from the community and
government to healthily cope with
these issues.
Canada is currently experiencing an opioid crisis, many of the victims of
which are Indigenous peoples who are coping with the legacy of
residential schools. People who experienced trauma as children often
pass that trauma on to their children and grandchildren, because trauma
affects interpersonal relationships.
 Work must be done, whether by governments, communities, or both, to ensure that
Indigenous peoples are supported in their healing journey. Without this work, the health and
lives of Indigenous peoples will remain at risk.The Calgary DOAP team is an example of one
initiative that can support Indigenous peoples while they are working towards healing.
In addition to community supports, this reconciliation work must also include a restoration of Indigenous
identity. Having a strong identity and sense of self can have a great impact on how one copes with
trauma. Affirmation and restoration of the vibrant culture, language, and traditions of Indigenous peoples
would allow Indigenous peoples to celebrate their unique heritage, rather than try to conform to European
culture. It is important for European cultures, such as the culture in Canada, to learn to be appreciative of
Indigenous ways of knowing and experiencing.
 By valuing and affirming Indigenous culture, we can support
Indigenous peoples on their journey of healing. Raising Indigenous
flags in the Calgary Council Chamber is just one small example of
supporting the identities of Indigenous peoples in an urban setting.
Another initiative that has been implemented across Canada is Orange Shirt Day.
This day has students wear orange shirts in order to remember the students who
suffered in residential schools. Introducing this to young students is important
because it increases awareness of Indigenous marginalization and demonstrates
compassion.
It is through genuine
compassion and understanding
that meaningful education can
take place. Through a
compassionate lens, we can
learn a lot from Indigenous ways
of life.
 The subject of social studies gives us the opportunity to reflect on past actions and
transform our actions in the present day. It gives us the opportunity to think about how
equity and affirmation can affect one’s identity. Identity is the centrepiece of the
development of coping abilities.
● Chan, K. (2016, December 31). Vancouver to host year-long First Nations celebrations for Canada's 150th birthday [Digital
image]. Retrieved November 20, 2020, from https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/canada-150-vancouver-drum-is-calling-festival
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Society, Calgary]. Retrieved November 20, 2020, from
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● Old Sun Indian Residential School [Photograph]. (1945). Historical Sketch for Anglican Residential Schools, General Synod
Archives, Gleichen AB. Retrieved November 20, 2020 from https://www.anglican.ca/tr/schools/
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Archives Canada]. (2015). Retrieved November 20, 2020, from
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(Originally photographed 1897)
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Retrieved November 20, 2020, from https://presbyterianarchives.ca/2016/10/26/residential-school-photographs/
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Ste Marie, Ontario]. (2019, May 9). Retrieved November 20, 2020, from
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● Prayer time, junior girls' dormitory, Cecilia Jeffrey School [Photograph found in Residential School Photographs, The
Presbyterian Church in Canada Archives]. (2016, October 26). Retrieved November 20, 2020, from
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● Chopping wood, Birtle School [Photograph found in Residential School Photographs, The Presbyterian Church in Canada
Archives]. (2016, October 26). Retrieved November 20, 2020, from
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● Boys' washroom, Cecilia Jeffrey School [Photograph found in Residential School Photographs, The Presbyterian Church in
Canada Archives]. (2016, October 26). Retrieved November 20, 2020, from
https://presbyterianarchives.ca/2016/10/26/residential-school-photographs/ (Originally photographed 1950)
● A residential school student views graves in Fort George, Quebec on November 3, 1946 [Photograph found in Truth and
Reconciliation Commission in Canada, Fort George, QUE]. (2015, December 16). Retrieved November 20, 2020, from
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(Originally photographed 1946)
● Tribes lead the battle to combat a national opioid crisis [Photograph found in Department of Interior]. (2018, May 9). Retrieved
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● Remarks by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to apologize on behalf of the Government of Canada to former students of the
Newfoundland and Labrador residential schools [Photograph found in Newfoundland and Labrador]. (2017, November 24).
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Reconciliation Commission]. (2020, January 7). Retrieved 2020, from
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ml (Originally photographed 2015, June 2)
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found in The Canadian Press, Goose Bay, NFLD]. Retrieved November 20, 2020, from
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https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/opioid-epidemic-first-nations-blood-tribe-alberta-1.53841042019
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2020, from https://www.macleans.ca/society/inside-the-history-of-canadas-opioid-crisis/ (Originally photographed 2016,
December 22)
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● Fast, J. (2018, June 28). Women compete in the Fancy Dance competition in the Indian Village at the 2017 Calgary
Stampede. [Photograph found in Canadian Geographic, Calgary]. Retrieved November 20, 2020, from
https://www.canadiangeographic.ca/article/photos-celebration-first-nations-calgary-stampede (Originally
photographed 2017)
● 'Every child matters': Orange Shirt Day remembers residential school victims [Photograph found in AFN Updates].
(n.d.). Retrieved 2020, from
https://www.ctvnews.ca/canada/every-child-matters-orange-shirt-day-remembers-residential-school-victims-1.411551
0 (Originally photographed 2018)
● Fast, J. (2018, June 28).Harland Smalleyes, a dancer representing the Stoney Nakoda and Blackfoot First Nations,
performs during the 2017 Calgary Stampede. [Photograph found in Canadian Geographic, Calgary]. Retrieved
November 20, 2020, from
https://www.canadiangeographic.ca/article/photos-celebration-first-nations-calgary-stampede (Originally
photographed 2017)
● Guay, C. (2018). Visit With Indigenous Families in Their Teepees at the 2018 Calgary Stampede’s Indian Village
[Photograph found in WestJet Magazine, Calgary]. Retrieved 2020, from
https://www.westjetmagazine.com/story/article/indigenous-teepees-calgary-stampede-indian-village (Originally
photographed 2018)
● Edwardson, L. (2017, December 8). [Alberta Education Minister David Eggen speaks with a teacher at Connect
Charter School in Calgary Thursday.]. Retrieved November 26, 2020, from
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