Historian A: Professor Jane Williams – Socio-economic Perspective

"Professor Williams argues that Residential Schools were primarily a tool of cultural assimilation driven by economic and political motives. She emphasizes that these institutions aimed to suppress Indigenous identities to facilitate land acquisition and resource control. Her analysis highlights government policies that prioritized economic gain over the well-being of Indigenous children, leading to long-term social and cultural damage. Williams advocates understanding Residential Schools as a deliberate strategy within broader colonial economic expansion."

Historian B: Dr. Michael Lee – Social Perspective

"Dr. Lee contends that Residential Schools inflicted profound social trauma on Indigenous communities, emphasizing the lasting emotional and cultural harm. He focuses on the personal experiences of survivors, illustrating how these schools attempted to erase Indigenous languages and traditions, causing generational trauma. Lee argues that the primary impact was social and cultural dislocation, with lasting effects on identity and community cohesion, and stresses the importance of acknowledging the human suffering involved.**