Effects of Assimilation on Indigenous spirituality and rituals

The indigenous children were taught by the residential schools that their rituals, coming-of-age and seasonal ceremonies were inspired by the devil. They were reminded of the concept of hell, whenever they wanted to practice their rituals. Interestingly, when the Indigenous children returned to their homes, after leaving their schools, they did not want to associate with their culture and traditions.

When the Indigenous children were assimilated to lose their language, they also lost their spiritual teachings. The Indigenous ancestors used oral transmission and written language for spiritual teachings on rocks, song sticks, wood, birch bark, strings and belts. Specifically, the Ojibway language in its written and oral form is connected to spirituality and cultural rituals of the Ojibway Indigenous peoples.

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