A National Crime: The Canadian Government and the Residential School System 1879 to 1986
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- Create Date：2021-06-26 10:52:46
- Update Date：2025-09-06
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- Author：John S. Milloy
- ISBN：0887557899
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Summary
With the conclusion of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission， more Canadians than ever are aware of the ugly history of Canada s residential schools。 Nearly twenty years before， UMP published John S。 Milloy s A National Crime， a groundbreaking history of the schools that exposed details of the system to thousands of readers。 This reissue includes a new foreword by a scholar in the vanguard of Indigenous historians in Canada， Mary Jane Logan McCallum， of the Munsee Delaware Nation。
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Reviews
Czarny Pies
，
John Milloy's "A National Crime: The Canadian Government and the Residential School System， 1879 to 1986" is as the title suggests a lurid， polemic and misleading work which nonetheless is probably right on most of the points that it raises。 It is not nearly as good as J。R。 Miller's more balanced "Shingwauk's Vision: A History of Native Residential Schools" but complements it very well as its focus is much different。 "Shingwauk's Vision" is about the schools， the students and the teachers。 Millo John Milloy's "A National Crime: The Canadian Government and the Residential School System， 1879 to 1986" is as the title suggests a lurid， polemic and misleading work which nonetheless is probably right on most of the points that it raises。 It is not nearly as good as J。R。 Miller's more balanced "Shingwauk's Vision: A History of Native Residential Schools" but complements it very well as its focus is much different。 "Shingwauk's Vision" is about the schools， the students and the teachers。 Milloy's "A National Crime" is about how the Department of Indian Affairs created the Residential School network for the wrong reasons， proceeded to mismanage it and then took too long to dismantle itMilloy's title comes an article that appeared in "Saturday Night" magazine in November 1922 by Dr。 P。H。 Bryce， a former "Medical Inspector of the Department of Indian Affairs" who blamed the high death rate from tuberculosis in the schools on the poor condition of the buildings， inadequate diet provided for the residents and lack of proper sanitation。 The problem with Milloy's book and Bryce's articles is that neither provide any statistics to show that the death rate from tuberculosis was higher in the schools than on the reserves。 However， one's instincts tell one that Bryce probably was right。 Un pasteurized milk was a major path through which tuberculosis spread。 Natives did not keep cows at that time and so the residents only began drinking milk when they entered the schools。 Bryce could well have been right to suggest that the next step was for the residents to take the bacteria with them when they returned to the reserves in the summer。 However reasonable this scenario is， it is still just speculation of which there is too much in Milloy's book。 Milloy argues that the underlying problems with the schools was underfunding。 He points out that the per capita subsidy paid to schools was roughly 40% less than the per capital subsidy paid to orphanages for white children and reform schools。 The buildings were in terrible shape。 The food was horrible and the clothing was disgraceful because there simply was not enough money being put into the system。 On this point， no one disagrees with Milloy。 Where I tend to agree with Miller （"Shingwauk's Vision"） and disagree with Milloy is where Milloy suggests that the students learned next to nothing while at the schools。 Miller argues that the students generally learned how to speak， read and write English。 In addition they learned basic arithmetic。 As a result the Residential Schools produced the first generation of literate band leaders。 The resident school graduates that I have met all knew their 3 Rs very well。 Milloy in my opinion clearly exaggerates the deficiencies in the teaching。Milloy is probably right however when he asserts that the vast majority of Residential School teachers were unqualified in that they had not attended "normal school" which was a one year program taken after high school graduation to qualify as a teacher。 Milloy is also right to point out that because of the lack of funds， the schools would not have been able to hire teachers with the "normal school" certificate。 The second reason for the academic deficiencies in the schools was that the residents spent only half their days in class。 They spend the other half of the day working in agricultural tasks and as they were responsible for growing their own food。 On this point as well， everyone who has written on the schools agrees with Milloy。The problem with "A National Crime" is that it is organized around the correspondence exchanged between the directors of the schools and the officials of the Department of Indian Affairs。 The school directors seem to be been constantly pleading for more funds to repair their decrepit funds， to procure better food and to buy proper clothing。 In addition there many letters exchanged over crises as tuberculosis epidemic of the early 20th century。 Milloy's book then wells on complaints and makes no attempt to assess how pervasive the problems were and ignores any of the successes of the school。 Milloy constantly criticizes the bureaucrats of the Department of Indian Affairs for doing nothing when they knew that serious problems existed in the schools。 What Milloy ignores is that there was nothing for them to do。 The Indians lived on reserves that were too far from the towns where the white schools were located。 In an age with neither motor vehicles nor paved roads sending the reserve children to the white schools was simply not an option。 By 1948 however the road system had expanded to a point where most reserves were within easy busing distance from white schools。 Thus the Department of Indian Affairs decided that it would adopt a policy of "integration; that is to say， the Residential Schools would be closed and the reserve children would be bussed to white schools。 The last residential school however would be closed until 1996。 One reason was that there was still a large population of Indian children that were still living in remote locations were daily commuting was not an option。 Milloy， however， does an excellent job of arguing that another major reason for the prolonged schools was resistance from the churches that operated them as well as concerns by some bands that their children would not be well received in white schools。 "A National Crime" isa very informative but highly frustrating book。 Milloy is probably right on most issues but is logic is often very faulty and he ignores many pertinent issues。 。。。more
Lee Fehr
，
A must-read for non-Indigenous people。
Shabba
，
Good read， really in-depth account of the evil Canadian history that isn't taught in schools。 Only problem I had is the repetitiveness of certain facts but， for those of us that are 'woke' can still learn detailed facts。 Good read， really in-depth account of the evil Canadian history that isn't taught in schools。 Only problem I had is the repetitiveness of certain facts but， for those of us that are 'woke' can still learn detailed facts。 。。。more
Getfit Stayfit
，
Was interesting and educational。 Ending part was a bit less interesting
Bernie Charbonneau
，
This has been one of the most difficult books that I have ever completed。 It is sobering at the least。 Every Canadian， hell， for that matter， everyone should read this book。 With a recent decision by a supposedly indifferent police panel looking into a recent incident that happened regarding "the force" and a native of Nunavut， well， it shames me to say that our country still practices oppression。 If after reading just a chapter or two you still feel that policing in North America does not need This has been one of the most difficult books that I have ever completed。 It is sobering at the least。 Every Canadian， hell， for that matter， everyone should read this book。 With a recent decision by a supposedly indifferent police panel looking into a recent incident that happened regarding "the force" and a native of Nunavut， well， it shames me to say that our country still practices oppression。 If after reading just a chapter or two you still feel that policing in North America does not need change， I guess you are a cop or have some sort of tradition of family policing。 As mentioned， this was an extremely hard book to digest but I am thankful to continue my education on our governing system and what can be done to make it more favorable to all。 I am not a believer in the church and after reading now numerous books on our complicit actions over the last century， it is very hard for me to understand church philosophy or whatever you want to call it。 No child or human should have gone through what must have been horrific elements that were endured。 。。。more
Doug Griffin
，
Powerful and disturbing。 This was not the view of our history that I received in high school Canadian History。 The book is very well researched， and I honestly believe every Canadian should read this book。 Definitely not an easy read， but well worth the effort。
Michael Cushing
，
A horrific look at Canada's past。 This has to have been one of the most emotionally damaging Books that I've ever read。 I can't believe that we did this to people here。 If you are ever curious as to what Residential Schools were about then this is probably your best source for learning， but you will be leaving a piece of your soul behind。 A horrific look at Canada's past。 This has to have been one of the most emotionally damaging Books that I've ever read。 I can't believe that we did this to people here。 If you are ever curious as to what Residential Schools were about then this is probably your best source for learning， but you will be leaving a piece of your soul behind。 。。。more
Andrea Spagnuolo
，
This needs to be mandatory reading for ALL Canadians。 At the very least - part of the secondary school curriculum！
Cymric
，
This book， written in 1999， uses extensive references to historical documents and restrained language to recount the repugnant history of residential schools。 The problem is， that these schools were founded on a racist and profoundly flawed principle， that of a supposed racial superiority of whites， and it seems likely that the abusive nature of the schools， where children were physically and psychologically abused， flowed from this。 I felt vaguely nauseated as I read the parts about inadequate This book， written in 1999， uses extensive references to historical documents and restrained language to recount the repugnant history of residential schools。 The problem is， that these schools were founded on a racist and profoundly flawed principle， that of a supposed racial superiority of whites， and it seems likely that the abusive nature of the schools， where children were physically and psychologically abused， flowed from this。 I felt vaguely nauseated as I read the parts about inadequate and unhygienic food， various abuses from the school staff， people who were seemingly the dregs of society themselves， and on and on。 The Truth and Reconciliation commission was formed subsequent to the publication of this book， and more than twenty years later the wounds are still not healed。 https://www。cbc。ca/news/politics/resi。。。 。。。more
Robin
，
Dry at points; tough to read （emotionally） at others。 But also so， so necessary。
Jodi Funk
，
Honestly， every Canadian should read this book。 I wish I was educated on this topic in school and I certainly hope they are， to some capacity， now。 It is so very important to know why our Indigenous neighbours deserve nothing but respect， understanding， and support。 They are so resilient and it is important to stand beside them as they find their voices。 This book is only the tip of the iceberg， but it’s a start。
Ethan
，
Well written and researched but with no discussion of why the information is relevant or impactful， which I found to limit the text's usefulness in comparison to other similar books。 Well written and researched but with no discussion of why the information is relevant or impactful， which I found to limit the text's usefulness in comparison to other similar books。 。。。more
Emma Giles （byo。book）
，
Dense， but so so so worth the read。
Jess
，
This is a chilling report of what happened at Residential Schools in Canada。 Clearly a lot of research went into this over several years。 It's heartbreaking to realize what exactly took place for so many years。 As my first eread， I appreciated getting to read this for free through my school library's website。 That said， I missed reading off of paper。 So， paper books it is for me！ This is a chilling report of what happened at Residential Schools in Canada。 Clearly a lot of research went into this over several years。 It's heartbreaking to realize what exactly took place for so many years。 As my first eread， I appreciated getting to read this for free through my school library's website。 That said， I missed reading off of paper。 So， paper books it is for me！ 。。。more
Natasha
，
This is such a large part of Canadian history and we never learn about it in schools。 It is shameful that it started， continued even after criticism， and lasted well beyond when it should have and that needs to be better acknowledged。
Quinn Strange
，
Very wordy and repetitive， but those are pretty minor gripes。 Everybody should read this book。 And keep in mind there's more to the story。 This is only the side of government， and the voices of the victims still need to be heard。 I guess that's for another book。 Very wordy and repetitive， but those are pretty minor gripes。 Everybody should read this book。 And keep in mind there's more to the story。 This is only the side of government， and the voices of the victims still need to be heard。 I guess that's for another book。 。。。more
Melissa
，
Milloy's is a detailed history based largely on the archives of the Department of Indian Affairs。 His central argument emerges clearly from the evidence: the Canadian government had the knowledge and the ability to enforce （or at the very least， incentivize） better management of the residential school system and better treatment of the students， but they did not。 The colossal failures of the southern system were even brought to the Northwest Territories in the 1950s to be repeated in a wholly ne Milloy's is a detailed history based largely on the archives of the Department of Indian Affairs。 His central argument emerges clearly from the evidence: the Canadian government had the knowledge and the ability to enforce （or at the very least， incentivize） better management of the residential school system and better treatment of the students， but they did not。 The colossal failures of the southern system were even brought to the Northwest Territories in the 1950s to be repeated in a wholly new context。 Milloy's critique of the system is bracing and certainly needed， but his choice of source material means that few Aboriginal voices make it into the book （with the exception of a handful of quotations from interviews with survivors of the system）。 For that reason， I'll be supplementing my own reading with interviews and some Indigenous-authored texts。 。。。more
Robin
，
A National Crime by John S。 Milloy is one of the most difficult books I've ever read。 Exceptional research and respect for the subject matter， which is deeply disturbing as it centers on Canada's First Nations people suffering all manner of abuse at residential schools sanctioned by the government and run in large part by churches。 That Milloy gives us the definition of genocide at the outset and shows how First Nation and Inuit Canadians were subject to that very atrocity with both care for tho A National Crime by John S。 Milloy is one of the most difficult books I've ever read。 Exceptional research and respect for the subject matter， which is deeply disturbing as it centers on Canada's First Nations people suffering all manner of abuse at residential schools sanctioned by the government and run in large part by churches。 That Milloy gives us the definition of genocide at the outset and shows how First Nation and Inuit Canadians were subject to that very atrocity with both care for those citizens and an honest assessment of accountability for white Canadians and their institutions of power。 The difficulty of this text's subject matter is why I was not able to give it 4 or 5 stars but it certainly is a well-written and well-researched volume。 。。。more
Allysa Khan
，
An excellent legal-historical recounting of the documents and institutions that enabled and continue to enable colonization in Canada against Aboriginal Canadians。 Milloy does an excellent job of tracing the complicity of the church and government via the Indian act in allowing colonization。 Only complaint is that racism as a tool of colonization is not discussed or addressed in Milloy's work。 An excellent legal-historical recounting of the documents and institutions that enabled and continue to enable colonization in Canada against Aboriginal Canadians。 Milloy does an excellent job of tracing the complicity of the church and government via the Indian act in allowing colonization。 Only complaint is that racism as a tool of colonization is not discussed or addressed in Milloy's work。 。。。more
A。J。
，
'Really liked it' seems an odd way of rating a book about a system of national child abuse， but this book definitely deserves four stars。 It's a scholarly， yet accessible， thoroughly-researched history of the evolution and implementation of residential schools in Canada。 Another book that should be required reading for all Canadians， even though some of the stories of maltreatment are hard to bear。The book wasn't available in any of the libraries near here: I had to get it on interlibrary loan。 'Really liked it' seems an odd way of rating a book about a system of national child abuse， but this book definitely deserves four stars。 It's a scholarly， yet accessible， thoroughly-researched history of the evolution and implementation of residential schools in Canada。 Another book that should be required reading for all Canadians， even though some of the stories of maltreatment are hard to bear。The book wasn't available in any of the libraries near here: I had to get it on interlibrary loan。 This possibly says something uncomplimentary about the lack of significance accorded by the general Canadian public to this policy and its consequences to the people and communities who were affected。And one minor gripe - the quality of editing was pretty poor - not what I'd hope for from a university press！ 。。。more
Paul Burrows
，
If you've never read a book about residential schools in Canada before， this is a good place to start -- and helps explain to people why kidnapping the children of a targeted people and forced assimilation constitutes a form of genocide。 If you've never read a book about residential schools in Canada before， this is a good place to start -- and helps explain to people why kidnapping the children of a targeted people and forced assimilation constitutes a form of genocide。 。。。more
Chris
，
Extremely comprehensive thanks to the access to archival documents given the author and his team。 This book should be mandatory high school reading - though it's not an easy read by any means。 There is a lot of repetition， the result of the book's structure and commitment to thoroughness。 Well worth the effort; a history we should all be familiar with， remember， and take action to eliminate in ourselves - the dominant culture - the arrogance that allowed residential schools， and their continued Extremely comprehensive thanks to the access to archival documents given the author and his team。 This book should be mandatory high school reading - though it's not an easy read by any means。 There is a lot of repetition， the result of the book's structure and commitment to thoroughness。 Well worth the effort; a history we should all be familiar with， remember， and take action to eliminate in ourselves - the dominant culture - the arrogance that allowed residential schools， and their continued horrible impact， to happen。 。。。more
Jeffrey
，
A fantastic harrowing account of the Canadian government's horrific treatment of Aboriginal peoples - I think everyone in Canada should have to read this book。 A fantastic harrowing account of the Canadian government's horrific treatment of Aboriginal peoples - I think everyone in Canada should have to read this book。 。。。more
Jen Winter
，
Canada's shameful history of Residential Schools。 Everyone needs to understand what happened so that we can work together to heal our Native communities。 Canada's shameful history of Residential Schools。 Everyone needs to understand what happened so that we can work together to heal our Native communities。 。。。more
Zalina
，
All Canadians should read this book！
Malcolm
，
Currently reading this book and finding it highly disturbing to think how deliberate government policy was designed to destroy native culture in Canada using residential schools to "civilize" aborignal children。 This makes me feel ashamed to be a Canadian。 This book is a quality piece of scholarship and is also quite readable， albeit the depressing nature of the topic。 This is a book that needed to be written and ought to be read by many。 Malcolm Watts Currently reading this book and finding it highly disturbing to think how deliberate government policy was designed to destroy native culture in Canada using residential schools to "civilize" aborignal children。 This makes me feel ashamed to be a Canadian。 This book is a quality piece of scholarship and is also quite readable， albeit the depressing nature of the topic。 This is a book that needed to be written and ought to be read by many。 Malcolm Watts 。。。more
Alison
，
Warning: this one gave me nightmares！
Kristin
，
so glad I read it - think it should be mandatory reading for all canadians。 And given the subject matter， the book was surprisingly readable。 But heartbreaking。
Linda
，