Canada's native people get a formal apology

Hawk Henries

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Canada's native people get a formal apology



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Tom Hanson / Associated Press
Assembly of First Nations Chief Phil Fontaine shakes hands with Prime Minister Stephen Harper. Fontaine was one of the first to come forward with his story of abuse and push for an apology. "Finally, we heard Canada say it is sorry," he remarked on the floor of the House of Commons following Harper's plea for forgiveness.


[COLOR=#333333! important]Prime Minister Stephen Harper makes a declaration of national regret for forced assimilations that 'caused great harm.'[/COLOR]
[COLOR=#999999! important]By Christopher Guly and Maggie Farley, Special to The Times
June 12, 2008 [/COLOR]
OTTAWA -- Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper apologized Wednesday to the nation's native people for "a sad chapter in our history," acknowledging the physical abuses and cultural damage they suffered during a century of forced assimilation at residential schools.

"Today, we recognize that this policy of assimilation was wrong, has caused great harm, and has no place in our country," he said to applause.




A group of 11 aboriginal leaders and former residential school students sat before Harper in a circle in the House of Commons, some weeping as the prime minister delivered the government's first formal apology to them.

In the crowded, expectant chamber, Harper bowed his head as he read a carefully crafted speech, asking for forgiveness for separating children from their families and cultures, exposing the students to abuse, and sowing the seeds for generations of problems.

Over more than a century, about 150,000 native Canadian children were sent to boarding schools run by churches and the government to "civilize and Christianize" them.

Expressions of native heritage were outlawed. Many children suffered sexual and psychological abuse and grew up with neither traditional roots nor mainstream footing, their ties to family and community unraveled.

"The government now recognizes that the consequences of the Indian residential schools policy were profoundly negative and that this policy has had a lasting and damaging impact on aboriginal culture, heritage and language," Harper said.

The apology was billed by the government as a chance to redress a dark chapter in Canadian history and to move forward in reconciliation.

But the hours before the landmark statement were marked by wrangling over whether native leaders were adequately consulted about the content, and anger that they would not be allowed to respond in the House of Commons. Just before Harper's speech, opposition leaders led a successful motion to allow aboriginal representatives to reply in the chamber.

Assembly of First Nations National Chief Phil Fontaine, wearing a feather headdress, took the floor to declare that the occasion "testifies nothing less than the accomplishment of the impossible." In 1990, he was one of the first to come forward with his story of abuse and push for an apology.

"For the generation that will follow us, we bear witness today. . . . Never again will this House consider us the Indian problem just for being who we are," he said, as tribal members cheered and beat a drum in the gallery. "Finally, we heard Canada say it is sorry."

Some survivors, as the former schoolchildren are widely called, said the apology came only grudgingly under intense pressure from native groups, and must be matched by action. But it is widely recognized as a significant step for a government that had previously sought to limit its responsibility for the harm caused by its assimilation policy.

Several churches offered apologies in the late 1980s and 1990s, and the government's head of Indian and Northern Affairs made a statement of reconciliation in 1998. A lawsuit settled in 2006 created a $1.9-billion compensation fund, and an independent Truth and Reconciliation Commission was launched June 1.

But Wednesday's statement is the government's first formal expression of responsibility and remorse for the forced assimilation program.

Elijah Harper, 49, a Cree leader from Manitoba, said the prime minister's speech allowed his people to embark on the road of reconciliation.

"From a spiritual point of view, what he has done is release the bonds that have held us from being able to forgive," Harper said.

Analysts say that the next step for the government is to settle outstanding land claims with aboriginal groups, and to refocus policies to alleviate poverty and improve education among First Nations.

"Even if you solved this, there are a number of issues still facing aboriginal people," said James Miller, a University of Saskatchewan expert on the residential schools.

An editorial in Toronto's National Post newspaper offered one of the few voices defending any part of the residential school system.

"Being honest with history also means acknowledging that the residential schools did provide the education and training that opened new horizons to their graduates," it said. "Many students were saved from serious childhood illnesses, or even death, because of their access to health care. To recognize what was wrong does not require ignoring what was right."

But for most of the former residential school students, the focus will be on fixing those wrongs.

Many former students gathered across the country, and at Ottawa's House of Commons, where television screens were set up on the lawn for the crowds.

Counselors were mobilized to help people deal with emotional memories triggered by the event.

Geraldine Maness-Robertson, 72, a Chippewa from Aamjiwnaang First Nation, said her six years at an Anglican school were a "horrific experience," and her hands were often whipped with a razor strap to break her spirit.

"When I left, I was so full of rage and anger and hatred," she said. "Today's apology was so helpful, it hit all the areas of hurt. I have spent my whole life reconciling, and I turned a page today."

Canada got it right, said Sammy Toineeta, a founder of the Boarding School Healing Project, a national coalition seeking justice for similar abuses and loss of culture in Native American boarding schools in the United States.

"An apology does not carry much weight unless there is something behind it. In Canada, they got a certain amount of land and money, and then the apology," said Toineeta, a Lakota who attended a boarding school in Rosebud, S.D. "That's the way to do it. Action first and then words."

[email protected]

Special correspondent Guly reported from Ottawa and Times staff writer Farley from New York.
 

methodistgirl

New member
I don't know much about Canada, but I do know how the USA used to
do to the Native American and my nation is still doing it even with the
Mexican people because most of them are also Native American like
the Aztec to the Mayan people. I would wish either President Bush
or the next one would do that. This would make me happy. It is
enough what the European Spanish did. After the Civil war we kicked
the kuesters of the Europeans and what was left of the Aztec and
Mayan were grateful which began a holiday for them Cinco De Maya.
But our own Native Americans still struggle and the Mexican Natives.
I just hope they someday will have a just as good of future as
their history before some of my ancestors came over here.
My grand dad was full Cherokee. I'm mixed with English too.
I know that we need to watch out for terrorist that might come
from the two borders. Whether some are legal or not as for the
real Mexican people, we shouldn't really be so hard on them.
This minute man stuff is for the chickens.
I have the pale skin and blue eyes but don't let that fool you.
I think like my Grand dad. He when I met him had the high cheek
bones full head of snow white hair. It must have been black
because daddy's was short black with natural curl like mine.

judy tooley
 
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Hawk Henries

New member
I think it is so important for we as Human Beings to have knowledge of the injustices perpetrated against other Human Beings...
With knowledge comes understanding and compassion-these are tools with which I think we can make a healthier World with...
 

marval

New member
Hi Hawk,

That was a good article, we do need to know, so we can understand. And so we can ensure all people are treated fairly.


Margaret
 

Contratrombone64

Admiral of Fugues
Judy - do you have to change the thread each time you post??

Hawk - that's a great thing, especially considering the current Prime Minister of Canada is conservative. It's been on the news here, too.
 
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