Final answer:
Métis and other Native American children were sent to residential schools to forcibly assimilate them into Euro-American culture, teach them manual labor skills, and eradicate their indigenous traditions and languages.
Step-by-step explanation:
Métis were often sent to residential schools as part of a larger effort to assimilate Native American children into Euro-American culture. These boarding schools were established by government officials, clergymen, and social workers with the goal of eradicating Indigenous customs, traditions, and languages. They enforced military-like discipline and primarily provided vocational training meant to prepare the children for low-paying manual labor jobs, thereby suppressing their potential to become professionals and leaders within their communities.
While the residential school system also aimed at cultural imperialism, it similarly posed dire health risks as children were exposed to diseases to which they were not immune. This exposure was exacerbated by the policy of mixing children from different tribes and regions, leading to widespread illness. Furthermore, children were forcibly removed from their homes if their parents resisted sending them to these institutions, where they were subjected to harsh conditions and often abuse.