Greetings readers.
It seems that in the last few years there has been a lot of talk about Residential Schools.
In June of 2008, Stephen Harper apologized to the First Nations on behalf of Canada. The audience included Aboriginal leaders and politicians, and the rest of Parliament.
Now, a couple of years later you may say, “wow a little late to be talking about this?” The truth is, though, that this was an historic event that has far-reaching implications. It could change the way we, as First Nations, live in this country. But it has only been a couple of years, and only time will tell with how things will change for us, good or bad.
Never before had Canada, at least on the federal level, expressed any concern or remorse over the assimilation and attempted genocide (you may correct me if I am wrong) that was a direct result of the residential school system. Never before had Native groups been so cautious and critical of the government, particularly the cold, robot-like Harper.
“For more than a century, Indian residential schools seperated over 150,000 Aboriginal children from their families and communities. Two primary objectives of the residential school system were to remove and isolate children from the influence of their home, families, traditions and cultures and to assimilate them into the dominant cutlure” – a small quote from Harper’s apology speech.
Phil Fontaine, the National Chief at the time, was on hand to accept Harper’s apology and deliver his own speech. I’ve spent some time listening to this second speech, and I feel that in some ways, Fontaine accepted the apology on behalf of himself and for himself.
I’m not entirely sold on Harper’s apology, and I know that many others are not either. Many survivors of residential schools were also not satisfied with the timing of Canada’s apology.
I’ve never come close to suffering anything like what the survivors and those who died suffered, but I feel that Fontaine short sold us for his own personal needs.
Any thoughts? I am always up for discussion. My email is [email protected], so feel free to email me your thoughts, questions, comments or complaints (put Native Issues in subject box) and I will get back to you as fast as I can.
