Where are the Children?

< Thomas Moore, as he appeared when admitted to the Regina Industrial School

In the first of the two photographs, Moore wears tribal style clothing: cloth leggings, a shirt decorated with metal tacks, a long necklace, a breechcloth with a beaded floral design, and moccasins. His long hair is wrapped in fur and hangs down over his chest, and he holds a pistol in his right hand. Moore looks directly into the camera with a blank expression on his face, and the diffused lighting in the background provides no hint of time or place.

> Thomas Moore, after tuition at the Regina Industrial School

In the second photograph, Moore looks slightly older. He now wears a military style uniform, and has short hair. To the right of him is a potted plant, and to his left we can see his cap resting on an ornate railing. Once again, he looks directly into the camera, although this time he appears much more confident.

A side-by-side comparison of the two photographs reveals a similar pose: in each portrait, Moore's left arm and hand forms the same shape. However, in the first photo, one hand touches his braid, while the other hand touches the pistol; in the second, Moore leans against a railing, which allows him to place his right arm on his hip while his left hand hangs relaxed, and empty. The two photographs offer two different readings of the Aboriginal body: the first represents an uncivilized and potentially dangerous Indian. The second represents a civilized, unarmed, and therefore unthreatening Indian. In fact, "Scott admitted frankly that the provision of education to Indian Communities was indispensable, for without it and "with neglect" they "would produce an undesirable and often dangerous element in society." (Annual Report 1911, p. 273.)

Sessional Report 1897: The Regina Industrial School

The Regina Industrial School was supposed to create an environment where Indian children would be "civilized," and where they would learn the language and the skills necessary to enter the Canadian workforce as tradespeople. Did it succeed? That depended on who you asked. Some people celebrated the school as "one of the most successful in the Canadian west." Others, however, felt that maybe it was a little too successful > Debates soon raged in the House of Commons, as the opposition criticized government spending on industrial schools. The Minister of the Department of Indian Affairs attempted to defend the government's position, arguing that "It has never been the policy of the Department for the design of industrial schools to turn Indian pupils out to compete with whites." However, continued political pressure eventually brought about a change to the schools' original design: Industrial schools would now focus exclusively on agriculture. Aboriginal boys would become "handy all round farmers," and Aboriginal girls would learn the skills to become "excellent housekeepers." (Memo, Indian Affairs, 1904).

Lessons, however, did not just revolve around farming and housekeeping. In fact, some proved to be quite political. As part of their education at the Regina Industrial School, for example, Aboriginal students were taken to see the execution of Louis Riel. That day, children learned that the people who voiced support for Aboriginal rights put themselves in grave danger. The children would have to find acceptable heroes and role models from white culture.

By the turn of the twentieth century, 73 schools were in operation.

Despite an aggressive campaign to increase the number of students, the government was determined to keep the operating costs of the schools at a minimum. The lack of sufficient funds resulted in poorly constructed buildings, insufficient food and clothing for the students, and inadequate programming.