PM Apologizes for Residential Schools " the Treatment of Children in Indian Residential Schools Is a Sad Chapter in Our History," Harper Said., Global TV, June 11, 2008

PM Apologizes for Residential Schools
" the Treatment of Children in Indian Residential Schools Is a Sad Chapter in Our History," Harper Said.

Global TV
June 11, 2008

http://www.canada.com/globaltv/bc/story.html?id=19eb94bf-090c-485f-9451-811cdee31be6

OTTAWA - Prime Minister Stephen Harper apologized Wednesday for the tens of thousands of aboriginal men and women who were wrenched from their parents and forced to live in residential schools, where many were abused.

He was accompanied into the House of Commons by key native leaders, including Assembly of First Nations national chief Phil Fontaine.

Assembly of First Nations National Chief Phil Fontaine waits in the foyer of the House of Commons on Parliament Hill in Ottawa June 11. Canada, seeking to close one of the darkest chapters in its history, formally apologized on Wednesday for forcing 150,000 aboriginal children into grim residential schools, where many say they were abused.
Photo by Chris Wattie

"I stand before you today to offer an apology to former students of Indian residential schools. The treatment of children in Indian residential schools is a sad chapter in our history, " Harper said.

"For more than century, Indian residential schools separated more than 150,000 children from their families and communities."

The prime minister said the government's policy of assimilation was wrong and "caused great harm."

"Many were inadequately fed and housed," Harper continued. "Tragically some of these children died while attending residential schools and others never returned home."

Nora Greenway, a First Nations elder and retired teacher, awoke Wednesday morning at 3 a.m., unable to sleep because of what was to come later in the day. She tried to distract herself by scrubbing the shower and washing her bedding but that didn't help.

At 5 a.m., she turned on the TV news, heard again about the impending apology and started to cry.

"Today really is a very special day," she said in an interview from her home in Blind Bay, B.C. "The government is finally opening the curtains, unwrapping the shroud, removing the blanket to expose the truth of residential schools.

"That has allowed me to remove the shroud, too."

Greenway said she will never forget her experiences during 12 years at a Mission residential school, but the apology will help her deal with the memory. "I can put that aside now and really get on. I know that sounds airy-fairy, but we've been watiing for this government apology a long time."