Truth Commission’s Work Underway
Monday, June 02, 2008 at 22:38
The long-awaited Truth and Reconciliation Commission officially began its five-year mandate today.
The commission will attempt to learn and understand the truth of the Indian Residential Schools legacy, as well as examine the process of reconciliation.
The TRC is made up of chair Justice Harry S. LaForme, and Commissioners Claudette Dumont-Smith and Jane Brewin Morley.
The commission is part of the court-approved Indian Residential Schools Settlement Agreement negotiated between former students, the churches, the federal government, and Aboriginal organizations.
The commissioners are promising that anyone who has been affected by the Indian Residential Schools legacy will have the opportunity to share their experiences in a safe and culturally appropriate manner — and that individual statements can be private or public.
Details for commission events will be confirmed in the near future.
The executive director for the National Residential School Survivors Society says he is looking forward to the commission’s work — but he says the upcoming apology from Canada’s Prime Minister will be the most important aspect.
Ted Quewezance is a survivor himself who suffered sexual abuse for seven years during his years at residential schools.
He says the apology from the federal government must be sincere — meaning Ottawa must stop the legacy of residential schools.
Quewezance notes many elders in Aboriginal communities who are survivors do not all have proper homecare.
Quewezance says people can only begin healing and reconcile what has happened if the apology is genuine and the federal government gives Aboriginal people the capacity to rebuild themselves.
Prime Minister Stephen Harper is expected to apologize on June 11th.