The word “school” seems a misnomer when it comes to residential schools.
The news of the 215 unmarked graves found at a residential school in Kamloops and subsequent findings of more unmarked graves across the country demand we confront their dark legacy.
As the intergenerational trauma inflicted by these institutions is brought into sharp focus, the forced assimilation and genocide of the government project resounds. The term also helped serve the colonial narrative upheld by the media. As the conversation unfolds, replacements such as forced-assimilation institutions have been used by other contemporary media.
With this in mind, we want to ask:
Do you think we should stop using the term “residential schools"?
* Please note that all poll answers will be publicly viewable, but anonymous.
Please note that Tyee Barometer polls are only intended as a quick and engaging non-scientific snapshot of our readers' opinions on various topics that fit with The Tyee's very broad editorial mandate. They are not intended to be seen as a representative sampling of BC opinion.
