One of the most important things that I learned from the 1980s and 1990s was that Aboriginal peoples share a collective history of colonialism that continues to impact their lives today. The implementation of the Indian Act of 1875 was an attempt to assimilate the Aboriginal peoples into conforming to the westernized worldview. Also, in the 1980s this legislation would have caused Mary, and her daughter to lose their Aboriginal status and any claims to their ancestors land. Under the Indian Act, Mary was forced to be uprooted from her family to attend the residential school. These schools did not allow Aboriginal students to partake in their cultural traditions and practices. Mary’s life experiences within the residential school system acted
