Final answer:
Native residential schools contributed to the loss of authority of Aboriginal elders in families due to forced assimilation and cultural erasure.
Step-by-step explanation:
Native residential schools, also known as boarding schools, played a significant role in eroding the authority of Aboriginal elders in families. These schools were established by the US and Canadian governments with the aim of assimilating Indigenous children into mainstream society by stripping them of their culture and traditions.
Children were forcibly removed from their homes, separated from their families and communities, and subjected to physical and sexual abuse. They were prohibited from practicing their native language, clothing, and customs. Instead, they were taught to speak English, adopt Euro-American social practices, and practice Christianity.
The trauma and disruption caused by the residential schools led to the loss of intergenerational transmission of cultural knowledge and authority, weakening the position of Aboriginal elders in families.