Date of Award
7-13-2009
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Department
Educational Leadership
First Advisor
Sherryl A. Houdek
Abstract
This study investigated the perceptions, beliefs, and attitudes of First Nation adults who have been influenced by their education from attending an Indian Residential School system. An examination of the residual effects of this “educational opportunity” focuses on the themes and patterns that were evident then and purportedly continue today: educational opportunities driven by the issues of colonialism, racism, superiority, and ethnocentrism. An analysis of the Indian Residential School experiences and the quality of education was conducted through two research processes: (1) background review to establish what research has been previously conducted relevant to this study, and (2) interviews conducted with ten Indian Residential School adults from various First Nation communities in the province of Manitoba, Canada.The medicine wheel concept was utilized to illustrate how each participant was affected by their experience in the Indian Residential School system. The data revealed that it was a negative experience for most participants. All participants recall loneliness and pain of being separated from families and communities. Guidance, and nurturing that individuals receive from family were absent, thus the attainment of educational goals became secondary. For each participant, the ties binding families together as a unit were severed and for some, the damage was irreparable.Through empowerment, the First Nation people can begin to address the legacies of the Indian Residential School.
Recommended Citation
Myran, Shirley, "The Educational Experience Of First Nation People In The Indian Residential School System In Canada" (2009). Theses and Dissertations. 8047.
https://commons.und.edu/theses/8047