What was the purpose of boarding schools for Indian children?

The stated purpose of boarding schools for Indigenous children in Canada, the United States, and Australia (and to a lesser extent other countries) was to assimilate Indigenous children into the dominant culture. This was a policy of cultural genocide, aiming to eradicate Indigenous languages, traditions, spiritual beliefs, and family structures.

In practice, this meant:

* Severing children from their families and communities: Children were forcibly removed from their homes, often at a very young age, and forbidden from speaking their native languages or practicing their traditions.

* Imposing a new cultural identity: Children were taught the dominant culture's language, values, and customs, often through harsh discipline and punishment. They were often given new names and forbidden from practicing their religious beliefs.

* Providing (often inadequate) vocational training: Some schools offered vocational training, supposedly to prepare Indigenous children for life in the dominant society. However, the training was frequently limited and designed to fit into low-paying jobs.

* Suppression of Indigenous identity: The overall goal was to erase Indigenous identities and integrate Indigenous people into the settler society as subservient laborers.

It's crucial to understand that the stated educational aims were a mere cover for a brutal system of cultural destruction and forced assimilation. The lasting trauma inflicted upon Indigenous communities and individuals through these schools is undeniable and continues to have devastating effects today.