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	Opening Overdue Closure Packet & Times May 5, 2008 http://www.orilliapacket.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=1014096 CANADA — The appointment last week of Ontario Court of Appeal Justice Harry LaForme to head the national commission on residential schools marks the beginning of what is surely going to be a long and painful disclosure of abuse of aboriginal children over a decades-long policy of assimilation by the Canadian government. The commission, based on the model established in South Africa following the downfall of apartheid, will hear stories from aboriginals who were taken from their families and placed in residential schools run mainly by the Catholic and United churches, and funded by the federal government. The clear intent was to bring an end to native societies' way of life throughout Canada. But many children were subject to physical and sexual abuse at the schools. Eighteen years ago, Phil Fontaine, who is now the chief of the Assembly of First Nations, revealed how he had suffered in such a school. Said Fontaine in 1990: "In my Grade 3 class ... if there were 20 boys, every single one of them ... would have experienced what I experienced. They've experienced some aspect of sexual abuse." His disclosure fueled a process to speed up reconciliation. In 1998, Liberal MP Jane Stewart, a former Indian Affairs minister, issued a statement of reconciliation to all those who suffered in these schools, expressing "profound regret" for Canada's "paternalism and disrespect" toward native people." But a formal apology from a sitting prime minister never came. Many aboriginals say they need to hear a formal apology from the prime minister. That is expected to come later this year. There have been many lawsuits associated with the residential schools. Since those who wanted retribution were determined to pursue it, case by case, if necessary, it became clear a commission of this nature would be necessary to help the estimated 90,000 surviving former students redress their treatment. Compensation has been awarded outside of the court system, through a healing fund of almost $1.9 billion, but the money does not do the survivors justice. Students of former residential schools were awarded $10,000 for the first year they attended and $3,000 for each succeeding year. No one gets wealthy out of this fund. No one reclaims their childhood, or their culture. No one sheds the anguish of being taken from their parents, and the ensuing years of pain. Two more members of the commission have yet to be selected. They will be chosen from a list prepared by a committee of native, church and government advisers. Many stories are likely to be horrendous. Formal proceedings will begin June 1. LaForme said the commission will pursue truth, not seek blame. Said the justice: "(It is) not so we can punish, but so we can walk forward into the future." In her 1998 comments, Stewart offered the prospect of bringing a resolution to the years of abuse. Said Stewart: "We can't change everything overnight. But we can certainly get started." For aboriginals who suffered in residential schools, it has been a long wait.
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