Residential School Apology Draws Loud Ovation
Wednesday, June 11, 2008 at 16:33
Prime Minister Stephen Harper stood in the House of Commons today and apologized to former students of Canada’s residential schools.
In the presence of several Aboriginal leaders and a packed gallery that included many First Nations and Metis people, Harper called the schools “a sad chapter in our history”.
Harper acknowledged that for several decades, the government removed and isolated children from the influence of their homes, families, traditions and cultures in order to “assimilate them into the dominant culture”.
He said the policy “was wrong, has caused great harm and has no place in our country” — a statement that drew thunderous applause in the Commons.
Prior to Harper’s address, leaders from all parties agreed to allow leaders from Canada’s major Aboriginal organizations to respond in the House of Commons to the apology.
Assembly of First Nations National Chief Phil Fontaine called today’s proceedings “the achievement of the impossible”.
Fontaine said it signifies a “new dawn” in the relationship between Canada’s Aboriginal peoples and the rest of the country.
Fontaine noted the “attempts to erase our identities hurt us deeply” — and his voice cracked with emotion when he stated: ” . . .this day will help us to put that pain behind us”.
Inuit leader Mary Simon praised Harper for his “great courage” in being the prime minister to offer the apology.
At a mass viewing of the apology in Saskatoon, former student Doreen Pooyak called today’s events “very, very emotional” and said she “forgave with kindness in my heart”.
In Regina, former student and long-time residential school survivor advocate Grant Severight accepted the apology, but added that most of the politicians’ remarks sounded scripted, with the exception of NDP Leader Jack Layton.
Severight noted there were things he wanted to hear in Harper’s address that weren’t there — the term “cultural genocide”, and a pledge for increased resources to address issues in the Aboriginal community.
Meanwhile, a former student at the boarding school in Ile-a-la-Crosse says he felt “left out” when the Prime Minister delivered his apology.
Don Favel represents boarding school survivors who are still fighting to be compensated — even though Stephen Harper himself promised they would receive compensation during the last election campaign.
Favel says the broken promise made today’s proceedings confusing for many former students.
A residential school survivor from the Mosquito First Nation says the apology won’t make much difference to her.
Ethel Stone, who went to residential schools for about three years, says she’s doing her own healing, with or without an apology.
Stone says she has been healing herself primarily by talking about her pain with elders.
Meanwhile, not everybody thinks the Prime Minister is the one who should have apologized to residential school survivors.
Tanya Delorme is a support worker for survivors in the Battlefords.
She says some of the clients she works with say the Queen should have given the apology.