Introduction - Forced Assimilation

Canada’s history is marked by the enduring legacy of settler colonialism, which gave rise to issues of assimilation and discrimination against Indigenous peoples. This troubling history culminated in the establishment of residential schools (Figure 1). Instituted under the belief that Indigenous peoples were backward (Haque and Patrick, 2015), these schools separated children from their families, weakened cultural ties, and sought to prevent indigenous communities from maintaining their distinct identities (Government of Ontario, 2023). The consequences were dire, with over 150,000 children forced to attend, and tragically 4,200 of them lost their lives (Government of Ontario, 2022). This dark chapter gave rise to the Indian Residential Schools Settlement Agreement in 2007, which is the largest class-action settlement in Canadian history, leading to the establishment the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada (TRC) (Government of Canada, 2022).

In the pursuit of fostering understanding and harmony between Canada and its Indigenous peoples, the concept of reconciliation stands as a pillar. “Reconciliation”, as per the TRC, is an ongoing process involving respectful relationships and societal change (Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada, 2015). The exhibit seeks to explore the significance of language and culture of Indigenous communities and addresses that while the Canadian government (Figure 2) have taken steps to address the legacy of settler colonialism, and implemented recommendations from the TRC, reconciliation through the maintenance of Indigenous languages and cultures remains an ongoing challenge.

Consulted using scholarly sources, non-scholarly sources, and newspaper articles this exhibit will analyze the significance of language and culture in Indigenous communities and discuss the government’s legislative response to the TRC's Calls to Action and notable case studies indicating successful partnerships between the Government and Indigenous organizations. Finally, the exhibit will criticize the current revitalization efforts and address the remaining challenges of reconciliation.