Yesterday (1996) a major event occurred when the last residential school was closed. They eventually closed residential schools that the Canadian government believed would be useful for educating Aboriginal children in Canada. Approximately 150,000 First Nations, Inuit and Métis children were taken from their communities and forced to attend schools. The Government of Canada has developed a policy under which Aboriginal children are educated in government-funded industrial schools, called residential schools. The government thought that children were easier to mold than adults, so boarding school was the best way to help them with life in mainstream society. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay Attendance at residential schools was reserved for children in communities that did not have day schools. The agents were paid by the government for each Native child who attended school. Initially, approximately 1,100 students attended 69 schools across Canada. There were a total of approximately 130 schools in each territory and province, but Newfoundland, Prince Edward Island and New Brunswick did not approve the schools. Residential schools were created on the assumption that Aboriginal people were unable to adapt to a modernizing society. It was once said that Native children could succeed if they became part of mainstream Canadian society by adopting Christianity and speaking English and French. Over the years, students have lived in unhealthy conditions and have been exposed to physical and emotional abuse. Some children had also been victims of sexual abuse. Students who stayed in residential schools did not have the opportunity to see examples of normal family life. Most remained at school for 10 or 12 months, away from their parents. When students returned to their reservation, they often felt like they didn't belong. They lacked the skills to help their parents and began to feel ashamed of their Native heritage. Assimilation was devastating for all the people who were subjected to years of abuse. we therefore hope in the near future that the government and prime minister do not repeat the past and can move on to the present.