Former Students Guests of Honour at Rideau Hall
Thursday, October 15, 2009 at 14:43
A special ceremony honouring residential school survivors took place today at the residence of Canada’s Governor General.
Michaelle Jean addressed a crowd which included residential school survivors and their families as well as Aboriginal leaders and church and government officials.
Jean says not only did residential schools destroy many Aboriginal people’s lives, they also dispossessed non-Aboriginal people of their opportunity to learn from vibrant Aboriginal cultures. She says, instead, walls of denial and ignorance were built — which perpetuated indifference.
Jean says it is time for all Canadians to write a history that includes reconciliation and moving forward together.
The Truth and Reconciliation Commission requested Jean be a witness to the ceremony. TRC Chair Justice Murray Sinclair says that gives their mandate that much more validity.
Sinclair also says for those who say ‘just get over the past’, Aboriginal people are not out of that past yet.
He says the stories people hear over the next five years will teach people how to deal with the past and move forward.
Sinclair says the first national TRC event will be held next spring in Manitoba.
He says there will also be events in Saskatchewan, Alberta, B.C., Quebec, the Martimes and northern Canada over the next five years.