I just now realized that my Research Statement was not posted properly on the Webblog. I apologize for this late post as I thought I posted it some time ago but must not have published the post.

My main area of interest has to do with the lasting effects of the residential School Era in Canada. The topic is very popular today as it was only in June of 2008 when the Government of Canada made a formal recognition and apology.

The Government of Canada began to play a role in the development and administration of Indian Residential Schools in 1874. It operated nearly every school as a joint venture with various religious organizations including Anglican, Presbyterian, United and Roman Catholic churches.

Indian Residential Schools recognized by Canada are those where children were placed in a residence for the purposes of education by, or under, the authority of the Government of Canada; and, where the Government of Canada was jointly responsible for the operation of the residence and care of the children resident therein.

Some 150,000 Aboriginal children were removed and separated from their families and communities to attend residential schools. There were over 130 schools located in every province and territory except Newfoundland, New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island. While most Indian Residential Schools ceased to operate by the mid-1970s, the last federally-run school closed in the late 1990s. (AADNC, 2012)

I understand that the topic of residential schools on a whole is far too broad to focus on just for this class project. I hope to stream it to something along the lines of how has the Indian Residential School Settlement Agreement changed for the better and of the impacting effects of residential schools.

There are 2 major questions that I have came up with to focus my research efforts

1. Does money and settlements have any means of fixing the loss of identity and social problems caused by tearing families apart and in some cases torturing or murdering children?
2. Or, I may want to focus on how the necessity of bringing residential school awareness to Canadians. If we ignore the wrongdoings of a government and societal mindset do we risk having future atrocities taking place again?

Some Preliminary resources I have found are below:

References

AADNC. (2012, March 28). Indian Residential Schools  – Key Milestones. Affaires autochtones et Développement du Nord Canada / Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada. Retrieved September 28, 2013, from http://www.aadnc-aandc.gc.ca/eng/1332939430258/1332939552554

Exhibit / Where are the Children?. (n.d.). Where are the Children? Healing the Legacy of the Residential Schools. Retrieved October 1, 2013, from http://www.wherearethechildren.ca/en/exhibit/impacts.html

Canadian Press. (n.d.). Day students seek class action for suffering at B.C. residential schools  | Globalnews.ca. Global News | Latest & Current News – Weather, Sports & Health News. Retrieved September 29, 2013, from http://globalnews.ca/news/883196/day-students-seek-class-action-for-suffering-at-b-c-residential-schools/

Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada (TRC). (n.d.). Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada (TRC). Retrieved September 28, 2013, from http://www.trc.ca/websites/trcinstitution/index.php?p=3