Camsell Symposium - Indian Hospitals and Residential Schools: Care & Consent - Laurie Meijer Drees

Summary

Lori Meer Drees speaks at an event marking the 20th anniversary of a hospital's closure, discussing the critical connections between Indian hospitals and residential schools in Canada. Drawing from her research for the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, she highlights the systemic movement of Indigenous children between these institutions, often without parental consent. Drees emphasizes the need for further investigation into the overlapping records of these facilities to understand their impact on families. She calls for a broader recognition of these institutional relationships to address the historical injustices faced by Indigenous communities.

Takeaways

• 🏥 The Charles Camel Indian Hospital was decommissioned on March 31, 1996, marking nearly 20 years since its closure.
• 👥 Lori Meer Drees emphasizes the importance of recognizing the connections between Indian hospitals and residential schools.
• 🔄 The Indian Hospital System, including the Camel Hospital, was part of a larger network of overlapping institutions.
• 📚 Children in Indian hospitals often received education from teachers within these facilities, akin to residential school settings.
• ✉️ Records show that children were frequently transferred between Indian hospitals and residential schools, indicating a complex system of movement.
• 🚸 There were instances of children being moved to hospitals for treatment and later sent to residential schools without parental knowledge.
• 🔗 The interconnectedness of these institutions contributed to the potential for children to go missing or become lost in the system.
• ⚠️ Issues surrounding consent became prominent after 1945, with a general agreement in Canadian society on the need for parental consent for medical treatment and education.
• 📜 Historical records reveal neglect or falsification of consent regarding the movement of children within these institutions.
• 🔍 The Truth and Reconciliation Commission's focus on Indian residential schools may overlook the broader systemic issues of movement and consent within the Indian Hospital System.

Q & A

What significant historical fact is mentioned regarding the Indian hospital system?

The Indian hospital system was decommissioned on March 31, 1996, nearly 20 years prior to the event discussed in the transcript.

Who is Lori Meer Drees, and what is her background?

Lori Meer Drees is a researcher who worked for the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, focusing on missing children and has conducted research on the Charles Cil Indian Hospital.

What is the primary goal of Lori Meer Drees's presentation?

Her primary goal is to broaden the understanding of the Indian Hospital System and to illustrate the connections between Indian hospitals and residential schools.

What examples does the speaker provide to illustrate the overlap between Indian hospitals and residential schools?

The speaker mentions instances where schools operated within hospitals and vice versa, including children receiving education while hospitalized and the presence of health facilities within residential schools.

How did children transition between residential schools and Indian hospitals?

Children were often transferred between institutions based on their health needs, sometimes without the knowledge or consent of their families.

What issues are raised regarding consent in medical treatment and education?

The speaker highlights a lack of consent from families regarding medical treatments and educational placements for Indigenous children, indicating a systemic disregard for family rights.

What does the speaker suggest about the movement of children between institutions?

The speaker suggests that the movement of children created a complex system where they could become lost or unaccounted for, complicating family connections.

Why does the speaker believe the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's focus is limited?

The speaker believes the Commission's focus on Indian residential schools as isolated units misses the larger systemic connections with Indian hospitals and other institutions that affected Indigenous children.

What does the speaker call for in terms of further investigation?

The speaker calls for deeper investigation into the interconnectedness of the Indian Hospital System and residential schools, emphasizing the need to trace the histories of affected individuals.

What broader message does the speaker convey regarding the Indian hospital and school systems?

The broader message is that these institutions were part of a larger network that sanctioned the movement of Indigenous children often without their consent, highlighting systemic injustices that need to be addressed.