Four years ago, 45 per cent of Canadians who attended elementary school and/or high school in Canada said they did not learn anything about residential schools as part of their curriculum.

The generational divide was clear—openly discussing this painful chapter in Canadian history is a fairly recent occurrence. While only 26 per cent of those aged 18 to 34 had not heard about residential schools as students, the proportions rose to 51 per cent among those 35 to 54, and 58 per cent among those aged 55 and over.

Looking at this issue once again in 2024, the results are similar. About half of those who attended elementary school and/or high school in this country did not hear about “residential schools” at all. Again, young adults are more likely to have learned something about this issue than their older counterparts.

When respondents are asked to look back at their experience in school, 41 per cent say what they heard about residential schools was positive, while 36 per cent say it was negative. Their current opinions are decidedly different. Just over a third (34 per cent) maintain a positive assessment of residential........

© BIV