Learning from the Past: Understanding Historical Injustices in Canada

You are about to explore an important part of Canada's history. A historical injustice is when a group of people was treated in an unfair or harmful way in the past. Learning about these events helps you understand why they were wrong and how you can help make things better today.

Canada's history includes painful moments when Indigenous peoples, Japanese Canadians, and Chinese railway workers were treated very unfairly. By learning about these events, you can help build a kinder and more fair Canada for everyone.

One of the most serious historical injustices in Canada was the residential school system. These were schools where Indigenous children were taken away from their families and forced to live, often very far from home. Children were not allowed to speak their languages or practise their cultures, which caused great harm to families and communities.

The three groups of Indigenous peoples in Canada are First Nations, Métis, and Inuit. Residential schools specifically targeted children from all three of these groups. Many languages were lost because children were punished for speaking them at these schools.

In 2008, Canada's Prime Minister gave a formal apology in Parliament to residential school survivors. This was an important step, but many survivors noted that an apology must be followed by real and lasting action.

Every year on September 30th, Canadians observe Orange Shirt Day, also known as the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. You can wear an orange shirt to honour the children who attended residential schools and to remember those who never came home. The orange shirt symbol comes from the story of Phyllis Webstad, whose orange shirt was taken on her first day at a residential school.

The Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) was created to listen to and record the experiences of residential school survivors. It produced 94 Calls to Action, which are recommendations for how Canada can move forward toward healing. These Calls to Action guide governments, schools, and all Canadians in the work of reconciliation.

During World War II, the Canadian government forced Japanese Canadians to leave their homes and move to internment camps. These people had done nothing wrong, and the government later apologised for this unfair treatment.

Thousands of Chinese workers helped build the Canadian Pacific Railway in the 1880s but were paid less than other workers and given the most dangerous jobs. Many lost their lives, and their contributions were not properly recognised for a very long time.

When you learn about past mistakes and injustices, you can make better and fairer choices today. Canada's Confederation in 1867 joined provinces together to form the country, but Indigenous peoples were not included in those decisions. Understanding this helps you think carefully about whose voices are heard in shaping a country.

A land acknowledgement is a statement that recognises the Indigenous peoples who have lived on the land since long before European settlers arrived. Many schools and organisations begin events with a land acknowledgement as a small but meaningful step toward respect and reconciliation.

You can also show respect by learning about treaties, which are formal agreements made between the Canadian government and Indigenous nations. Many treaties were not honoured by the government, which is considered a major historical injustice in Canada.

Tradition: A tradition is a special custom or practice that is passed down from one generation to the next. For example, Indigenous ceremonies and storytelling are important traditions that have been shared for thousands of years.

Injustice: An injustice means that someone was treated in an unfair or harmful way. When you hear about historical injustices, you are learning about times when groups of people were not treated fairly.

Reconciliation: Reconciliation means working together to heal relationships and rebuild trust between people who were hurt. In Canada, reconciliation is about healing the harm caused by residential schools and other injustices done to Indigenous peoples.

Elder: An Elder is a respected knowledge keeper in an Indigenous community. Elders share important wisdom, history, and cultural teachings with younger generations, and listening to them is a way to honour Indigenous ways of knowing.

Culture: Culture includes the language, traditions, and way of life of a group of people. Indigenous peoples across Canada have rich and unique cultures that have existed for thousands of years.

Residential Schools: Residential schools were places where Indigenous children were separated from their families and forced to live. Children were forbidden from speaking their languages or practising their cultures, which caused deep and lasting harm.

Apology: An apology means saying sorry for harm that was done. In 2008, Canada's Prime Minister gave a formal apology to residential school survivors in Parliament.

Heritage: Heritage refers to the history and traditions that you inherit from those who came before you. Indigenous peoples have a rich heritage of languages, ceremonies, and ways of life.

Survivor: A residential school survivor is a person who attended a residential school and lived through that very difficult experience. Many survivors have bravely shared their stories to help Canadians understand what happened.

Land Acknowledgement: A land acknowledgement is a statement that recognises the Indigenous peoples who have lived on the land since long before European settlers arrived. It is a respectful way to honour Indigenous peoples and their deep connection to the land.

Treaty: A treaty is a formal agreement made between the Canadian government and Indigenous nations about land, rights, and promises. Many treaties were not honoured by the government, which is a major historical injustice.

Confederation: Confederation refers to July 1, 1867, when several British colonies joined together to form the Dominion of Canada. Indigenous peoples were not consulted or included in this process.

Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms: This is an important document that protects the rights and freedoms of all people living in Canada, including Indigenous peoples. It helps you understand why past injustices were wrong and why protecting rights matters.

Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC): The TRC was a group that collected stories from residential school survivors to share the truth about what happened. It produced 94 Calls to Action to guide Canada toward healing.

You can take meaningful steps toward reconciliation in your everyday life. Start by learning whose traditional land you live on and showing respect for it through a land acknowledgement. You can also listen to the stories of Elders and knowledge keepers in Indigenous communities.

At school, you can learn about First Peoples History and explore Indigenous stories, art, and traditions as part of your lessons. Wearing an orange shirt on September 30th is another powerful way to show that every child matters and that you remember those who were harmed.

You have already explored some important ideas that connect to this topic. In Changes in Community Life, you learned how communities change over time, which helps you understand how historical events shaped Canada. Through Understanding Evidence and Using Historical Sources, you developed skills for examining the past carefully and honestly.

Your study of First Peoples History introduced you to the rich cultures and histories of Indigenous peoples in Canada. Learning about Family and Community History helped you see how the past connects to the present. Your work in Thinking About Learning also prepared you to reflect carefully on difficult topics like historical injustices.

This topic connects to many other important ideas you will explore. In Early Contact History, you will learn about what happened when European explorers first arrived in Canada and how this affected Indigenous peoples. This connects directly to understanding why historical injustices occurred.

You will also explore Local Heritage, where you will discover the history and traditions of the place where you live, including the Indigenous peoples who have always called that land home. In Human Effects on Nature, you will see how human decisions including unjust ones can have lasting effects on the land and environment.

The skills and knowledge you build here will prepare you for Basic Rights and Freedoms, where you will learn about the rights that protect all people in Canada. You will then explore Standing Up for Rights, discovering how people have worked bravely to fight injustice. In Making Change, you will learn how communities and individuals can take action to create a fairer world. Finally, in Interaction Effects, you will explore how the actions of people and groups affect one another over time. You will also use skills from Analyzing Evidence in Innovation to think critically about historical events and their meaning today.