School a Government Tool to Destroy Native Cultures

by Daniel N. Paul
October 14, 1994
Halifax Herald

When Indian Affairs opened the Shubenacadie Indian Residential School in 1930, it was envisioned by them that it would prove to be an invaluable tool in their ongoing struggle to deliver the coup de grace to Micmac and Maliseet cultures. For instance, a cardinal offense for its students was to be caught uttering one word in either indigenous tongue.

How serious the Department of Indian Affairs took its goal of eradicating both cultures is witnessed by the information given in a well researched article about the operations of the School by Marilyn Millwood, called “Clean Behind the Ears.” She writes that the Halifax-Chronicle reported the Department’s goal for the school thus: “their object and desire in opening the new school was that its graduates should become self-supporting and not return to their old environment and habits.”

Another sad item from the same source highlights the cruelties the children suffered: A boy, who by accident, had put too much salt on his porridge, was forced by a Nun to eat it: “Eat it” (she said.) So he finally took his spoon and took a mouthful of the stuff. It didn’t stay down long. It came back up into his bowl. So she whacked him in back of the head and said, “I told you to eat it!” So he started to cry, ...