Exposed to serious abuse – indigenous families now receive one billion in compensation – NRK Sápmi

What happened in Canada from 1883 to 1996 is described as cultural genocide. The first inhabitants of the country were deprived of their children. They were sent to boarding schools.

There the children were abused, mistreated and malnourished. They were given a number instead of a name. They were refused to speak their mother tongue.

– The Catholic Church in Canada has a history of which it cannot be proud. Among other things, theological understandings helped to legitimize this colonial policy and the implementation of assimilation.

Tore Johnsen, associate professor at Kirkelig utdanningssenter north near VID Tromsø, told NRK.

$ 1 billion in compensation for Indigenous children

Johnsen explains that from the end of the 18th century, there was a widespread theological view in the West that Christianity and culture were closely linked.

Christianity was thought to be associated with a high civilization, a gradation that corresponded to notions of racial hierarchy.

– Indigenous cultures were seen as less valuable and lower in the hierarchy. Christians then believed that it was necessary to raise the indigenous peoples to their level. It was considered a good deed, explains Johnsen, explains Johnsen.

A federal court this week ordered Canadian authorities to pay compensation of 2 to 10 billion crowns to the country’s indigenous peoples, writes The Guardian.

Compensation will go to parents and children from Indigenous nations who were previously in the care of public services at Canadian residential schools, reports CNN.

Indigenous peoples calls the verdict a great victory.

This summer, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau asked to apologize for the incredibly devastating policy.

The authorities must pay compensation of up to NOK 270,000 to relatives and children.

We still do not know how many are affected. Indigenous peoples’ own organizations estimate that more than 50,000 indigenous peoples may be entitled to compensation.

Hundreds of anonymous graves have been found for children who died in residential schools for unknown reasons. The Catholic Church has run several residential schools and apologized this week.

Approximately 150,000 children have been affected by the policy of assimilation of the Canadian authorities towards indigenous peoples.

Decolonization

Johnsen has researched theology, anti-Sami racism, and the need for decolonization.

Decolonization in this context means discovering how certain mentalities legitimized and naturalized colonial oppression.

He sheds light on the subject in the article “Man first, then Christian”, which will soon be published.

– The understanding that the Christian faith was linked to a healthy civilization is part of the basis of the abuses against Indigenous peoples in Canada and the Nordic countries, explains Johnsen.

He says Our country that theological decolonization has only just begun.

– We need to discuss such decolonization both in majority society and in Sami society. Among other things, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission should examine the role of the church in Norwegianization, suggests Johnsen.

He has no opinion on whether the Commission should propose individual compensation. In any case, he thinks it is important to recognize that the policy of Norwegianization has not only affected the individuals who have been directly affected, but also the community as a whole.

Living conditions on as people was radically changed, which was the purpose of all politics. The assessment of appropriate remedial and remedial measures should therefore take into account both the individual and collective damage that the Sami community has suffered, he believes.

Norwegianization policy refers to the public policy pursued by the Norwegian authorities to assimilate the Sami into Norwegian society.

For about 100 years, starting around 1850, it was official Norwegian policy that the Sami were to become like other Norwegians.

Some believe that Norwegianization still exists to this day.