Primary Source Scavenger Hunt
By Brittany McKay, Philip Godin, Sarah McChesney, Katryna Barone,
Tek Nath, Oliver O’Dell, Arlena Bateman
        We decided to examine a photo of nine Swampy Cree boys praying on their beds at the Bishop Horden Memorial School on Moose Factory Island, Ontario. This image shows the meaning of age as we see children who have been removed from their families, their culture, and their environment, making it easier for assimilation to take place as there were no parental or cultural figures present to maintain the Aboriginal culture. Power relationships are very present in this picture. Looking to the left of the picture, one can see that the teacher is looking very closely at the boys to make sure that they are praying. Looking closer at the boys hands, Aboriginal people traditionally don’t pray like this. The manner in which their hands are clasped is not traditional to aboriginal culture. We also notice that the young boys have had their hair trimmed short, removing their cultural appearance as well as making them conform to a European idea of “cleanliness,” as the long hair of Aboriginal people was considered to be unclean.

         Although we made these assumptions, there are many things that we are very unsure of. For example, their age, their ability to speak, write, and understand English. Their relationship with one another, how long they have been at the school? Why the picture was taken? Was the picture staged?

We chose this primary document because it provides a more tangible interpretation of the experience of the children in the residential schools. From the assumptions we create from observing this image, we are able to then go to other primary and secondary sources to gain a more accurate and in-depth perspective behind the historical context of the photo.

Link to photo: https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2015/06/

Image: White Petals, taken by Katryna Barone