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	Statement: Eric Robinson Reacts to Apologies Winnipeg Free Press June 12, 2008 http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/breakingnews/story/4185717p-4775808c.html Thank you Mr. Speaker As a survivor of a Canadian policy designed to strip my people of our collective identity, it is with mixed emotion that I rise today to respond to the apology delivered by the Prime Minister yesterday in the House of Commons. I would like to first acknowledge our honoured guests in the gallery. Grand Chief Ron Evans, Treaty Commissioner Dennis Whitebird, Manitoba Metis Federation President David Chartrand, Keewatin Tribal Council Grand Chief Arnold Ouskan, respected elder and Order of Manitoba recipient Ed Wood, and all First Nations Chiefs in attendance. Most importantly, I want and convey my deepest and heartfelt respect to the elders and survivors who have joined us in the public gallery here today, and honour those who sadly never lived to see this day. Also I must acknowledge the children of survivors for their courage and commitment to a brighter future. I would like to also mention some old buddies whose friendship helped me survive my time at residential school, Elijah Joseph Harper, who is here today, also Robert Paynter and David Menow who still live in Norway House. I am humbled to put these words on the record on behalf of all those affected by the devastating legacy of residential schools in this province and across the country. I, like many of you joining us in the gallery today, was taken from my family as a five-year-old boy entering the formative years of my life, and placed in a world that taught me everything I knew was wrong. Of course at that age it's not hard to believe. It's difficult to remember many aspects of those early years, but I can still taste the lye soap placed in my mouth for speaking my language. As you can see, it didn't work. Other memories are more difficult to relive. Being molested at a young age by a priest has brought me a lifetime of pain and anguish. Being told it was my fault and later learning to blame everyone around me has taken a toll on my personal relationships. But I still consider myself one of the fortunate ones, because at a young age I was able to leave that institution aimed at de-Indianizing me. But I could not escape the pain inside. Alcohol and drugs may have provided temporary relief but only accelerated my feelings of despair. The same process had been inflicted on my parents a generation earlier. My mother's life was marred by dysfunction because of her upbringing at Cross Lake Residential School. Entering residential school as an orphan at the age of three, it was the only life she knew until she finished school at age 18. She died alone in Winnipeg at the age of 31 after giving birth to four children, never having had the ability to be a mother as my siblings and I were raised in different homes. Meanwhile my father attended the Brandon Residential School for seven years but never learned anything more than how to write his name. It is no wonder my generation and my parents generation had a difficult time being good parents, and living a life of dysfunction became the norm. Because I was led to believe a warrior suffers in silence, I never learned how to express my emotions in a constructive way. I've now come to understand that at some point you have to begin healing your mind, heart and spirit and I believe many people, including myself, will be doing that for the rest of our lives. With the kindness, strength and wisdom of our elders, and the traditional ceremonies and teachings we hold sacred, I was able to escape from that road of self-destruction. In the face of a systemic assault on my culture, I've come to understand that the one positive thing about my experience is a fire ignited within me that burns to this day. It's why I was able to find the strength to leave drugs and alcohol behind me in my early 20s to fight for what I believe in with clarity of mind, body and spirit. With the Prime Minister's apology, the most powerful political figure in Canada, it is my belief that we have crossed another obstacle in our trail of hurt. I'm proud to be part of a government that respects and recognizes Aboriginal Peoples inherent right to self-governance. A government that respects the spirit and intent of our treaties. A government that works meaningfully with First Nations to build government to government relationships based on mutual respect and trust. And a government that recognizes the rights and unique contributions of Metis and Inuit Manitobans. At the same time I fully realize a lot of work remains to be done. I do know we cannot allow our children be taken away from us again. Our children will never again be allowed to be adopted from our reserves, our province and even our country, nor be placed in tuberculosis sanatoriums and be used as guinea pigs. That is why I support our devolution initiative that allows our people to run our own Child and Family Services. Yesterday morning I heard a media personality here in Winnipeg question whether an apology was necessary. Excuse me, but it's the survivors who decide what's appropriate here and now, not those who believe they know what's best, because it's that kind of thinking that spawned the residential school system in the first place. I would like to acknowledge the contribution of National Chief Phil Fontaine in making yesterday's apology a reality. The Federal government's request for forgiveness proves our fight was not, and is not in vain. Progress is being made, but there is a long way to go. I do believe that collectively as Canadians we are at a crossroads. The goodwill displayed by our national government must be sustained if we are to take the necessary next steps in the healing process. Despite the pain from the physical, psychological and sexual abuse, despite the attempts to destroy our spirit, we as Indian people have persevered. I believe in my heart that the apologies from the Prime Minister and leaders of the opposition parties were heartfelt and sincere, and for that I am proud today to be a Canadian. But first and foremost, I am proud to be Cree, a pride that no amount of brainwashing could ever erase. Mr Speaker, I request you canvass the house to see if there is leave for a 15 minute recess of question period to allow our honoured guests time to exit and all members the opportunity to shake the hands of those brave women and men we know as survivors. Ekosani.
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