Monday, July 06, 2015
Majority Of Manitobans Believe Residential Schools Were "Cultural Genocide"
Winnipeg – The Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) contends
that Canada committed “cultural genocide” by forcibly placing thousands of
First Nations children in residential schools in an attempt to erase their
culture and identity.
A new Probe Research survey
conducted for the Winnipeg Free Press
shows that nearly two-in-three Manitoba adults (64%) agree with the notion that
Canada committed cultural genocide through the residential school system. This
includes 33 percent of Manitoba adults who strongly agree and 31 percent who
moderately agree that Canada is guilty of committing genocide with respect to
First Nations children. One-quarter, meanwhile, disagreed with this notion
(27%, including 12% who strongly disagree and 15% who moderately disagree). Ten
percent were unsure or did not respond.
Manitobans were also asked to
weigh in on whether or not the federal government has done enough already to
address the negative legacy of residential schools. Citizens were split on this issue. While
nearly one-half of those surveyed feel the federal government has done enough
in this regard (45%, including 20% who strongly agree), a similar proportion shared
the view that Ottawa needs to go further to right the wrongs caused by the
residential school experience (47%, including 27% who strongly disagreed with
the idea that the federal government has already done enough).
View full results
