Atleo Challenges Harper To Remember Apology

Atleo Challenges Harper To Remember Apology

Tuesday, March 09, 2010 at 13:10

A lack of funding for the Aboriginal Healing Foundation is a cause for worry, according to a national First Nations leader.

Assembly of First Nations National Chief Shawn Atleo says a lot of good work was being done through the foundation, which is designed to help address the damage caused by residential schools.

This year’s federal budget committed $199 million towards survivors and the compensation process open to them.

However, it’s vague about exactly where the money will go — and there’s no mention of money for the AHF, which doesn’t have funding committed to it past the end of the month.

Atleo says the government needs to live up to the spirit of the apology Prime Minister Stephen Harper made to former students two years ago.

He says it’s clear most survivors won’t truly be healed from their experience if the foundation is forced to abandon its work right now.