Raphael Lemkin

Raphael Lemkin, a genocide scholar, and two others, authored the original May 1947 draft of the genocide convention for the UN Secretariat. This draft included cultural genocide as one of its three aspects of genocide and, arguably, should the UNGC be revised in future, aspects of the original draft merit consideration for inclusion (MacDonald and Hudson). The cultural form enumerated five methods of attempting to destroy the specific characteristics of the group: (a) forcible transfer of children to another human group; or (b) forced and systematic exile of individuals representing the culture of a group; or (c) prohibition of the use of the national language even in private intercourse; or (d) systematic destruction of books printed in the national language or of religious works or prohibition of new publications; or (e) systematic destruction of historical or religious monuments or their diversion to alien uses, destruction or dispersion of
These terms are often employed when mass death did not accompany colonization, but where we see active attempts to destroy culture, language, and religion while stealing land and outlawing customs. Ethnocide aims at the "intentional destruction of another people," but crucially "[does] not necessarily include destruction of actual lives." The residential schools were systematic and widespread acts of genocide because they were based on the forced removal and assimilation of children that consequently disintegrated the Indigenous family unit. Genocide includes the dissolution and destruction of ethnic and religious groups that deprives human civilization of an essential part of its cultural heritage and diversity. The children in residential schools were forbidden to practice their own language, customs, religion and