Takács, A: Audiatur et Altera Pars

The main idea of this paper could be summarized by the Latin proverb: Audiatur et altera pars - literally, hear the other side. One of my greatest concerns is that history is studied from only one perspective; as the well known saying goes history is written by the winners. This paper will be controversial because I explore the positive side of the Canadian Indian residential schools. I am fully aware of the fact that residential schools were about suffering, pain and often about sexual abuse. I do not intend to question the survivals‘ account of horror or call in doubt their validity. On the other hand, in order to do justice to all former students of residential schools I consider it essential to show the other side of the coin. We were taught by history books which were written from one perspective and it was said that if we want to understand residential schools we will have to read more about them to have a clear view. But books are often edited from one perspective. Whose perspective is it? Are we entitled to neglect the other side? Do we have the right to decide even if the the other side is not known...