Good question. I was quite shocked when I discovered how bad this system was, and how little I knew about it.
If you're unfamiliar with the general history of residential schools, start by checking out the University of British Columbia's excellent summary of Canada's history of residential schools: http://indigenousfoundations.arts.ubc.ca/home/government-policy/the-residential-school-system.html
As well as their summary of the 60's scoop (if you haven't heard about this it will blow your mind. This was the forcible removal of Aboriginal children from their families). http://indigenousfoundations.arts.ubc.ca/home/government-policy/sixties-scoop.html
For a longer read, look at the Truth and Reconciliation Committee's "Survivors Speak" report. It's quite long, but will give you an excellent idea of the atrocities committed in the residential schools.http://www.trc.ca/websites/trcinstitution/File/2015/Findings/Survivors_Speak_2015_05_30_web_o.pdf. This is consistent with what I have studied at the Bora Laskin law faculty at Lakehead University, where I study, so I can attest to the accuracy of these sources.
In terms of how it harmed Attiwapiskat specifically, many children from this First Nation attended residential schools in the 30's and 40's. Wikipedia (famous for its reliability as a source :) actually has a good page on Attawapiskat's history.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Attawapiskat_First_Nation. Also, this paper, written by a Muskeg Cree author, talks about the effect of residential schools and colonization at length, and gives a good description of the ancestral methods of sustainability. http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/obj/s4/f2/dsk2/tape15/PQDD_0016/MQ30219.pdf.
I think it's difficult to see Canada's history of forcible involvement in the lives of First Peoples as anything but systematic colonization, with the total destruction of their traditional cultures and spirituality as its stated goal ("Kill the Indian, save the man"). Perhaps "genocide" is a strong word, but I think it's appropriately used here.
ID: 5087
NAME: first-nations-residential-schools
DESCRIPTION: ] background reading on Canada's Residential school system
AUTHOR: article.author/s
EDITOR: article.editor/s
PUBLISHER: article.publisher/s
STATUS: Write
PRIORITY: -5
OWNER ID: 75