Residential School Students Worried about Apology, by Saira Peesker, CTV, June 8, 2008

Residential School Students Worried about Apology

By Saira Peesker
CTV
June 8, 2008

http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20080605/residential_schools_080607/20080608?hub=TopStories

Native groups are apprehensive this week, as they prepare for Prime Minister Stephen Harper's delivery of a long-awaited apology for abuse at residential schools. Some are wondering why the government hasn't discussed details about the apology — and what may or may not accompany it.

Indian Affairs Minister Chuck Strahl has promised Harper will deliver what "will be a very meaningful and respectful apology" in front of the House of Commons. But no drafts of the apology have been circulated.

According to the executive director of the National Residential School Survivors' Society, victims are looking for signs Harper plans to help improve their situation.

Residential school students appear in this undated file photo.

"When you're actually sorry, you have to do something about it," Ted Quewezance told CTV.ca in a telephone interview on Thursday. "Within seconds we'll know how sincere (his apology) is."

In an open letter to the prime minister last week, Quewezance said he hopes Harper knows his words "will have an intense impact on reconciliation."

"Most in the world would call what was done 'cultural genocide'," wrote the 55-year-old residential school survivor, who was taken from his grandparents at age five to live away from home for 11 years.

"Can you imagine someone coming into your yard and taking you away?" he told CTV.ca in an interview. "I was holding onto my grandfather's leg... If they didn't let us go they were told they would be put in jail."

The government will pay expenses for about 100 people who once attended the federally funded, church-run schools to attend the event in Ottawa on Wednesday, but it appears thousands would like be present for the historic moment.

The federal government started funding the schools — which were an extension of religious missionary work — in 1874. About 150,000 native children went through their programs, most of which were closed down by the 1970s.

The National Residential School Survivors' Society wants the government to:

— Accept "total" responsibility for what was done to school abuse victims

— Make a sincere public expression of sorrow

— Confess publicly what was done to each survivor

— Make restitution by rebuilding individuals, families and communities

— Ask forgiveness

"The impact on survivors and their families has... resulted in the destruction of our families and communities," wrote Quewezance.

"Children were beaten, humiliated, starved, introduced to contagious diseases like tuberculosis, sexually abused (and) some people died under questionable circumstances in an environment whose goal was to 'take the Indian out of the child.'"

The letter also demands that the government put an end to policies that "re-victimize" native peoples.

"It is Canada's responsibility to look after our people but it isn't happening," said Quewezance. "The conditions we are living in... nothing has changed. It's bad. The effect this legacy has had on our children — you can see it. The suicides, the drugs, where did this come from?"

'A tremendous gesture'

But not all residential school victims are insisting that Harper introduce sweeping policy changes in Wednesday's speech.

As far as Manitoba's Minister of Culture, Heritage, Tourism and Sport is concerned, the PM's decision to make a formal apology is "a tremendous gesture."

Eric Robinson, a residential school victim and a member of the provincial NDP government, says Harper's willingness to start a dialogue speaks much louder than the previous Liberal government's muted handling of events.

"I have to commend the national government — I never thought I would ever see the day," Robinson said in an interview last week. "I think (the apology) should have happened many years ago but it's a bold move all the same."

In 1998, then-Indian affairs minister Jane Stewart admitted that physical and sexual abuse in the once-mandatory schools was rampant. At the time, many of the 90,000 survivors said they wanted a more formal admission of guilt for what is seen as the government's attempt to obliterate aboriginal cultures, religions and languages.

"That didn't really touch anybody," said Robinson. "It didn't have the wide-reaching effect the government at the time hoped it would. This time, it's coming from the head of our national government and I think that makes all the difference in the world."

At the end of 2006, 80,000 members of a residential schools class action lawsuit settled with the government for $5 billion.

The settlement included individual payments of more than $10,000 as well as a $125 million aboriginal healing fund, $60 million for a five-year Truth and Reconciliation Commission, $20 million for commemorative projects and a controversial $100 million for legal fees.

On June 2, the government formally launched the Indian Residential Schools Truth and Reconciliation Commission, a panel led by Justice Harry LaForme. The panel has a five-year mandate to take public or private statements from anyone affected by the residential schools legacy.

UN rights declaration not signed

Despite this week's coming apology, aboriginal groups say the government has yet to put its money where its mouth is on a key aboriginal issue — the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

The document emphasizes "the rights of indigenous peoples to maintain and strengthen their own institutions, cultures and traditions, and to pursue their development in keeping with their own needs and aspirations."

It was adopted by the UN General Assembly in September 2007 without signatures from Canada, the United States, Australia and New Zealand — all countries with sizable native populations.

According to Ministry of Indian and Northern Affairs spokesperson Patricia Valladao, Canada did not sign onto the document due to issues with the wording.

"The declaration clearly did not balance rights of indigenous people with rights of other Canadians," she told CTV.ca on Thursday. "Canada will continue to take effective action at home and abroad to protect (native peoples). We did not agree with the way... the text was written."

Ever the politician, Robinson said he prefers to look forward instead of dwell on the past.

"I still hold out hope that Canada will embrace it at some point in the not too distant future," he said.

Harper's apology to victims of residential schools is scheduled for Wednesday, June 11 at 3 p.m. ET in the House of Commons.

In advance of Wednesday's event, The Assembly of First Nations has announced that it is providing support this week for residential school survivors who may need to talk:

— The 24 hour toll-free crisis line is available to provide immediate emotional assistance and can be reached 24-hours a day, seven days a week: 1-866-925-4419.

— Other support services and information for survivors is available on the AFN website.