Below is a series of articles taken from the Young Worker (the name of Rebel Youth – Jeunesse Militante in its earliest days) from 1934. These articles were previously republished in 2009.
In light of the discovery of 215 children’s bodies on the former site of the Kamloops Indian Residential School, RY-JM would like to republish a series of older articles for our readers. These articles, detailing the inhuman maltreatment and violence perpetrated against Indigenous people in the colonial residential school system, date back to 87 years ago — but they prove that this recent discovery was not an isolated incident, nor was it simply evidence of a so-called “dark chapter in Canadian history”. One cannot claim that the brutality of the residential school system was “unknown” in previous decades, as we originally published these articles in 1934.
It is necessary to note that some of the wording present below is outdated and paternalistic. We also warn that the second article may be particularly difficult for some readers, as it deals with physical abuse against Indigenous children. However, RY-JM publishes them unedited and in full for archival purposes and as evidence of Indigenous resistance against colonial violence.
We must also emphasize that for nearly a century, the YCL-LJC been calling for support of Indigenous resistance, and for self-determination and sovereignty — and that Indigenous people have been actively resisting throughout the entire colonial period up to today. It is shameful that, still, 87 years later, we are forced to continue our demands for justice, real reconciliation, an end to colonial policy, and self-determination for all Indigenous peoples.
FIGHT FOR THE RIGHTS OF INDIAN PEOPLE! (April 30, 1934)
The inhuman flogging of nineteen boys at the Indian Home at Shubenacadie, Nova Scotia brings sharply before the whole toiling youth the misery of the young Indians. Segregated in reservations, denied the simplest democratic rights, considered as wards of the government, discriminated against, the young Indians are brutally oppressed and exploited by the ruling class. The few schools which exist for them are controlled by the catholic church. Indian youths who become educated in one way or another are refused the chance to teach as was shown recently at a school. The Indian people have nearly no say as to their children’s education.
This case also exposes the role of the church and brings out sharply the need for struggle for secular education and against religious instruction in schools.
The young workers and farmers of Canada should protest against the oppression of Indians; we must fight for equal rights for them; for the right to vote; for unemployment relief; for special governmental aid to the starving Indian farmers, hunters and fishermen. We should begin to fight for the right of the Indian people to control their own schools, assign their own teachers and have these schools in their own languages.
The fight for Indian rights is part and parcel of the struggle for the RIGHT TO SELF DETERMINATION FOR THE INDIAN PEOPLES, which means the right for them to establish their own governments, the right to separate from Canada if they wish.
While the Indian youth does not form the most decisive section of the Canadian young workers and farmers, the fight for Indian rights will help develop proletarian internationalism and will help combat national chauvinism and patriotism. The Canadian toiling youth will never be freed from oppression.
This brutal assault must call forth protests which should be sent to the government. We should demand a thorough investigation and punishment of the school principal, Father Mackey. We should support the financial drive carried on by the Indians of the Shubenacadie and other reservations for the purpose of asserting their rights in this case.
As against this case of brutal assault which is but one example of oppression of the Indian people, we have the example of the Soviet Union which freed all peoples formerly oppressed under the Czar’s government and where all nations live in fraternal equality. Intensified struggle can wrest better conditions and equality for the Indians and they will lead to decisive battles for the right to self determination. However it will be a SOVIET CANADA which will finally solve this problem for the benefit of the oppressed Indian masses.
Nineteen Indian Boys Flogged with Strap Soaked in Vinegar (April 30, 1934)
Truro, Nova Scotia, April 25 — Nineteen Indian boys were stripped naked to the waist and lashed with vinegar-soaked strap in an Indian home at Shubenacadie by Rev. Father Mackey, principal of the institution, and Edward MacLeod, caretaker. The flogging was done in the presence of a Royal Canadian Mounted Police officer.
Stripped to the Waist
According to report of Allison MacDonald, the Indian agent, on March 2, nineteen boys of the Indian school were stripped to the waist and given punishment on the bare back. From ten to twenty strokes of the lash were given to the boys, ranging from 6 to 20 years old. After the whipping the boys’ hair was shaved close to the scalp and they were placed on bread and water for two days and no food for the third day.
Ten of the boys escaped from the school a few days ago and went to the agend in Shubenacadie, where they revealed the most inhuman treatment received at the hands of school officials.
The flogging of the boys was caused by the disappearance of $53 — allegedly belonging to one of the Sisters of Charity.
Indian People Demand Punishment of Those Responsible
The Indian people of Shubenacadie and the people of Truro are very indignant about the brutal treatment of the boys and demand removal of Father Mackey. More than $25 was raised by the Indian people from the local reservation to launch a campaign for a full investigation. They are appealing to all Indian reservations for aid.
Government Responsible
Somebody must be held responsible for this horrible deed. The working class youth must first of all lay the whole responsibility on the government which has placed in charge of the Indian school such men like Mackey. The brutal treatment of the Indian children must be viewed in no other way than by the policy of oppression of the Indian people, who are denied certain democratic rights, their youth are denied the opportunity to a real education, the land given to them is of the worst kind, they are discriminated against everywhere, denied sufficient relief, and considered as an “inferior” race.
Young Communist League Acts
The National Committee of the Young Communist League immediately acted on the situation and sent a protest wire, reprinted in this paper, and a resolution to the Bennett Government. The resolution reads in part:
“We demand that an immediate investigation be made of the case at Shubenacadie and that the investigation committee be composed in the majority of representatives of the Indian people themselves and of the boys in the school. We demand the immediate removal and imprisonment of Father Mackey and his substitution by an Indian principal under the control of a school committee elected by the Indian population of Shubenacadie.
We demand that this investigation be broadened out to delve into the whole situation of Indian education with the aim of exposing the discriminating practices against the Indian youth which condemn them to life-long ignorance in many cases…
The National Committee of the Young Communist League pledges itself to rally the youth for the struggle against such practices. It will itself assist financially to the campaign being carried on by the Indians at Truro for the purpose of contesting their claims.”
The Young Worker appeals to all its readers, to all working-class youth and adult organizations to immediately launch a wide protest movement around this issue. Mass youth meetings, where protest wires and resolutions should be adopted, are to be organized everywhere.