These schools forcibly separated Indigenous children from their families and communities, and subjected them to a curriculum designed to replace their traditional language and culture with the language and values of the dominant society. Many of these schools used physical, emotional, and sexual abuse as a means of coercion and to break the children's cultural and linguistic ties.
The impact of residential schools on Indigenous communities has been profound. Generations of Indigenous people were subjected to severe trauma, and many suffered lasting psychological and emotional damage. The residential schools contributed to a disruption of cultural practices, languages, and family structures within Indigenous communities, resulting in ongoing challenges and intergenerational trauma.
The legacy of residential schools continues to have far-reaching consequences, including high rates of poverty, addiction, and social problems among Indigenous communities in both Canada and the United States. Efforts are being made to address the historical injustices and address the lasting impact of residential schools through initiatives focused on reconciliation, truth and reconciliation commissions, and supporting the healing of Indigenous communities.