From Queen Victoria to Residential Schools: How the Royal Legacy Impacted Indigenous Families
Did Queen Victoria ever visit British Columbia?
The answer is no — Queen Victoria never set foot in what is now Canada. Yet, her name is everywhere: British Columbia, Victoria (the capital city), schools, parks, and public buildings. She ruled during a period when the British Empire rapidly expanded, including deep into Indigenous lands across Turtle Island (North America).
But if she didn’t come here… who did? And how does her family tie into what happened to Indigenous children?
The Royal Web: How Queen Victoria’s Legacy Shaped Canada
Queen Victoria (1819–1901)
- Reigned during the establishment of colonial British Columbia (1858).
- Her government oversaw policies that enabled the dispossession of Indigenous lands, the Indian Act, and laid the groundwork for the residential school system.
- While she may not have signed every policy herself, the Crown’s authority under her name was used to enforce them.
Key Members of Her Family & Their Role in Canadian History
Prince Arthur (Duke of Connaught) — Her Son
- Governor General of Canada (1911–1916).
- Symbolized Crown authority; visited Indigenous communities ceremonially.
King Edward VII — Her Son
- Continued Victoria’s imperial legacy.
- His reign coincided with increasing enforcement of assimilation policies.
King George V — Her Grandson
- Oversaw the height of residential school expansion.
- Canadian policies under his reign continued to strip Indigenous rights and identities.
King George VI — Her Great-Grandson
- Visited Canada in 1939.
- His time saw Canada’s wartime unification but colonial policies remained intact.
Queen Elizabeth II — Her Great-Great-Granddaughter
- Longest-reigning monarch until 2022.
- Represented Canada’s head of state throughout decades of survivor testimony, hearings, and truths emerging around residential schools.
Why This Matters
This isn’t just history — the legacy of Queen Victoria and her descendants is deeply tied to how land was claimed and governed in Canada. The systems put in place under her reign and continued by her family caused real harm to Indigenous families — especially through the removal of children, their placement in residential schools, and the attempt to erase Indigenous languages and culture.
Take Time to Learn
If you live on this land — whether it’s called British Columbia, Turtle Island, or another name — take the time to learn about the real history of how it came to be under colonial rule.
Land Acknowledgment
We acknowledge that this post was written on the unceded, ancestral, and occupied territories of the Coast Salish peoples, including the Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh Nations. We honour the Indigenous peoples of these lands and their ongoing connection to land, culture, and community.
Learning history means listening to Indigenous voices — past and present.
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