This introduction to Canadian Residential Schools will give young learners a developmentally appropriate idea of the damage and shame caused by the residential school system in Canada.  

1. Cultures and European Colonization
Hear my family's immigration history (Ukraine to Alberta/ Netherlands to BC) to learn about the "free land" that was advertised and given to Europeans.  Understand the terms "reserve" and "residential school" as the places that the Indigenous inhabitants of that "free land" were sent to.  
2. Law and Assimilation 
Why did kids go to residential schools? What was life in residential schools like? We will look at examples from Dr. Elsie Paul's Written As I Remember It and discuss her experiences and how we might react in those situations.  Examples are about new foods, languages, loneliness and bed wetting.    
3.  Culture and Me: Show and Tell! 
Loss of culture is more fully understood when we can identify our own cultures and beliefs. What is something you can share about your family's culture?  What is a part of your culture that you learned from the older members of your family? When and how did you learn it? 

Discuss human rights, oppression, colonization, and racial injustice as related to this historic example which was directed specifically at children.  We will think about how culture, family and personal identity are related.  We will wrap up this heavy content by celebrating a little bit of culture from each learner's family.