Warning: this story contains outdated language and discusses physical and sexual abuse at residential schools.
It was March 1965, and Catholic educator Robert J. Carney had gone on CBC Radio to discuss his work as a federal day school principal in the Northwest Territories. Today, it’s an interview some may find jarring.
“Mr. Carney, at the teachers conference not long ago, you told about a program you have working at the Joseph B. Tyrrell (JBT) school in Fort Smith for culturally retarded children,” the host began. “First of all, would you define a culturally retarded child for me?”
The reply was unequivocal and direct.
“A culturally retarded child in the context of the Northwest Territories is a child from a Native background who for various reasons has not been in regular attendance in school,” said Carney.
“He’s from a language background other than English and who is behind in school, say three or four years. In …