Residential Schools
Meaning ❉ Residential Schools systematically suppressed Indigenous identity and hair heritage through forced assimilation and cultural violence.
Meaning ❉ The enduring legacy of Residential Schools, within the gentle scope of textured hair understanding, describes the significant historical rupture that interrupted the ancestral transmission of knowledge, rituals, and the deep cultural connection to Black and mixed-race hair. This impact extends beyond individual experience, subtly influencing the generational continuity of practical hair care systems and the inherent value placed upon diverse hair textures. It speaks to a period where indigenous hair practices were suppressed, leading to a disconnection from traditional ways of caring for one’s strands, and the subsequent need for intentional reclamation in contemporary routines. Understanding this historical context offers a grounding perspective for systematizing modern hair care, helping individuals to consciously build routines that honor heritage and promote practices of restoration, moving towards a future where each coil and curl is celebrated with informed care and self-acceptance.