Gordon's Indian Residential School

Gordon's Indian Residential School was a boarding school for First Nations students in Punnichy, Saskatchewan, Canada. It was located adjacent to the George Gordon Reserve.[1]

History

Rev. J Reader, C. E. established the school. A part of the Canadian Indian residential school system, it opened as a day school operated by the Anglican Church of Canada in 1876.[1] The government of Canada owned the school from its beginning, and the school was initially known as Gordon School.[2]

First Nations C. E. Mr. Settee became the school head in 1880. Boarding began on 1888.[1] Accordingly, the name changed to Gordon Boarding School in 1889, and then to Gordon's Indian School in 1893, and then Gordon's Indian Residential School in 1926.[2]

On February 1, 1929, a fire destroyed the school building, and a replacement opened the following year. The church managed the school's affairs until 1946, when the Indian and Eskimo Welfare Commission took control, but continued to provide chaplains.[1]

Problems with a water supply and maintenance led to its being closed for much of the time between 1947 and 1953.[3] The Canadian government began directly operating the school on April 1, 1969. The educational sector became the Gordon Day School while the dormitory became the Gordon Student Residence.[2] Gordon's Student Residence closed in 1996, and the principal building was razed.[1]

Abuse

Children attending Gordon Indian Residential School were reported to have suffered various forms of abuse, inflicting severe damage to the Gordon community.[4] The schools have been proven to have facilitated the abuse of children under their care. The federal government knew of these abuses, and has since apologized and paid compensation to the victims. The extent of the damage done to these communities is still unknown.[5][6] The residential school system is widely regarded as cultural genocide, due to the action of destroying Indigenous culture, language, and religion, as well as the intent to do so.[7] On the reserve, the Gordon Recovery and Wellness Centre provides services and support to the victims of the abuse that occurred during the Residential School System.[8]

References
  1. "Gordon's Indian Residential School". University of Regina. Retrieved 2019-06-21.
  2. http://nctr.ca/School narratives/SK/GORDONS.pdf
  3. "Gordon's Location Report". National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation.
  4. "Saskatchewan First Nation eyes wind power business to help future generations", Winnipeg Free Press
  5. "School abuse victims getting $1.9B". From CBCNews.
  6. "PM cites 'sad chapter' in apology for residential schools", CBC News, 11 June 2008
  7. Macdonal,David B., and Graham Hudson. 2012."The Genocide Question and Indian Residential Schools in Canada", Canadian Journal of Political Science 45(2):427-449.
  8. "Recovery and Wellness" Archived 2010-10-18 at the Wayback Machine, Gordon First Nation website

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