How did boarding and residential schools attempt to assimilate Indigenous children?

Boarding and residential schools were established by governments and religious institutions to systematically erase Indigenous cultures and assimilate children into dominant white society. This strategy was rooted in the belief that isolating children from their families, communities, and lands would facilitate the acquisition of Indigenous territory and eliminate Indigenous identity.12

To achieve these goals, administrators employed several coercive techniques:

• Cultural Erasure: Upon arrival, children were forced to abandon their traditional clothing for uniforms, adopt Euro-American hairstyles, and accept English names. They were strictly forbidden from speaking their native languages or practicing their traditional religions, songs, dances, and customs.34
• Forced Labor and Education: Schools often operated like military camps, with students subjected to strict discipline and drills. A significant portion of the day was dedicated to manual labor—such as farming, laundry, or trade work—which was essential for the schools' operation.4
• Abuse and Neglect: Discipline was enforced through severe physical and emotional abuse, including beatings, solitary confinement, and sexual assault. Poor living conditions, malnutrition, and disease led to the deaths of thousands of children.234

These systems caused profound, lasting trauma that continues to affect Indigenous communities today.3