Residential School Apology
June 11, 2008, Matthew Good Today the Prime Minister offered an official apology on behalf of the Canadian government to the more than 100,000 First Nations victims of Residential Schools. During their operation, which lasted from the late 19th Century until the 1970’s, the state funded Christian run schools were home to frequent sexual and physical abuse. First Nations children were, for example, beaten for speaking in their native tongue.
One issue I will take with the Prime Minister’s apology is his choice to employ the word Indians rather than First Nations or First Peoples. Given the gravity and importance of the apology, it seems only right to me that the employment of the European colonial moniker not be used. But that’s just me.
The apology is a part of a deal reached between the government, churches, and Residential School survivors, which also includes $2 billion dollars in financial compensation.
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It’s definitely a step in the right direction. The residential school acts were atrocious, here in Saskatchewan there is a lot of discrimination between the Native Indians and the Whites because of what has happened to their heritage through the residential school acts, and I hope it is one of many apologies and future deals that will help to improve our racial differences.
Wow.
I didn’t see it…but that’s unbelieveable.
What the hell are those guys thinking? There had to have been people to help write the apology.
Another disgrace…
[quote comment="55253"]It’s definitely a step in the right direction. The residential school acts were atrocious, here in Saskatchewan there is a lot of discrimination between the Native Indians and the Whites because of what has happened to their heritage through the residential school acts, and I hope it is one of many apologies and future deals that will help to improve our racial differences.[/quote]
- I agree with you there…it is “something”.
The apology wasn’t a part of the deal. It’s something that the AFN, ITK, and MNC were asking for despite it not being included. Up until recently the government wasn’t going to apologize.
And point of respect, the last federally run residential school, the Gordon Residential School, closed in Saskatchewan in 1996!
This is very dear to me as my parents went to residential school. They were taken from their communities in northern British Columbia and shipped to an area that is now part of Edmonton, Alberta.
My Dad didn’t speak a word of English until he was taken to school. His hands were strapped for speaking his native tongue. Part of the legacy is they refused to teach us their rich language in case we may meet the same fate they did through punishment.
I was at the Joe Mathias Centre on the Squamish territory to listen with survivors, children and grand-children via CPAC. In attendance were the Premier, the leader of the opposition and other dignitaries.
It was quite emotional and quite profound to feel the energy amongst all in attendance. The place was packed - which shows how deeply this resonates to this day. This wasn’t centuries ago.
After it was over, I phoned my parents to see how they were doing. There were events being held in community centres across the country where survivors can get together and listen as a collective.
After discussions between my Mom and Dad they just wanted to spend the time home alone, watching on TV. They were crying when I called. My Mom was remembering when her 6 year old brother and 7 year old sister were taken away. How her brother had to get a blood transfusion after being whipped so severely for waving at his sister who was standing in another line. He lost so much blood they had to admit him to the hospital. They woke my aunt up later in the night to sit with him as they didn’t know if he would make it through the night.
It angers me so much that people who choose not to research this horrible black mark on this country’s history continue to believe First Nations sit around waiting for government handouts.
The legacy of residential schools abuses is something that we’re slowly recovering from. I work in an area where you see the damages everyday.
So, today, my heart is with my People. Who survived so much, who fought so hard, who were treated so badly. I hope, even if a little bit, this apology starts us focusing on healing and doing right by future generations.
Thanks, Matthew, for posting about this. It was a long time coming.
Yep, I didn’t see it either, but kudos to the government for doing this. I agree with you about the “Indian”moniker, it rubs me the wrong way as well.
$3 trillion is what some estimate to be the total cost of America’s Iraq invasion.
Perhaps that is a starting benchmark for First Peoples; Canada’s annual GDP is about $1 trillion.
How much is $3 trillion?
If we were to give someone $3 trillion and tell him that he had to spend $100 million each and every day, seven days a week, 365 days a year, and told him not to come back until every last penny was spent, he would not return for 82 years.
Being part Mohawk myself, I can tell you that First Nations does not signify all those who were taken to residential schools. The First Nations moniker does not include metis or Inuit peoples, some of who also spent time in these schools. I agree that ‘Indian’ may be dated terminology… but First Nations is not an appropriate substitute. As I teach my students, I find ‘indigenous peoples’ or ‘natives’ somewhat more acceptable.
Secondly, though I agree that this apology was long overdue it is one that does not merely pertain to natives. My mother spent her formative years in an Catholic girls school. There she too was beaten and sexually assaulted. The prevalence of these instances is, too, well documented. Further, I have spoken with many who attended residential schools and claim that the years spent there were some of the best of their lives. They recall it being the only time they had regular meals or guardians that would read to them. For many aboriginal children, this was there only chance for an education.
Let us not be so naive as to believe that natives were always wronged by whites.
The use of “Indians” doesn’t surprise me much, considering the fact that the government department is called “Indian and Northern Affairs.” That should be changed, too.
Thanks for noting this, Matt. This has the potential to be one of the most important and historically significant days of the decade for our country.
Lots of talk about this in the Yukon obviously as a large percentage of our population in the Territory is First Nations peoples. Recently the Yukon Council of First Nations held prayer groups as a result of numerous deaths that are being associated with the sudden influx of compensation. It appears that just throwing money at the situation will not heal the wounds.
The term Aboriginal encompasses First Nations, Inuit and Metis.
Buffalo, I’m glad you found some people that attended residential school who enjoyed their time and enjoyed their stay. But if you ask them if they would have rather kept their culture, family unity and sense of belonging in tact, you might have heard a different response. Generations have been fragmented because of residential schools.
And yes, abuses happened in other areas. But these children were ordered to attend, parents were jailed if they didn’t allow their children to be taken and then the children were still taken. It wasn’t a choice.
So, a few people not bearing the scars of the multi-traumas suffered by Aboriginals in this country doesn’t make up for the thousands who carry the burden of physical, emotional, spiritual, sexual and cultural abuse.
In instances like this the term “Aboriginal” would have been more accurate, however I would have preferred if they said, “First Nations, Metis, and Inuit” so people who don’t know the terms, would at least know who attended.
Let us not be naive to believe that there are multiple generations who attended. Parents who attended and returned to their communities shells of their former shells. People who were ashamed based on something they had no control over: the colour of their skin. People who then became parents who did not know how to parent because during their formative years were beaten, abused and made to feel shame. Who had very little parenting skills and only knew the ways of the schools. People who passed on the only legacy they knew - that of abuse - onto their own children, who then also may have attended school and found the consistency of food and shelter “better” than the environment with which they were raised.
It is offensive to first take children away from their parents, teach them abuse, return them to their communities with little to no parenting skills and only a legacy of violence and then further punish them by saying their children preferred residential school because it provided a “comfort” that was never afforded their parents.
Sorry for stealing the thread but as a First Nations person whose parents, aunts, uncles, cousins, and their friends attended these residential schools, it’s something I’m quite passionate about.
Looks like Harper is 0 for 2 in the past little while in the area of sincere apologies. Not too surprising. I add lack of tact to my list of reasons to not vote for him when the time comes.
I don’t know if the Indian reference is such a big deal. My Canadian history professor, who also works as a research consultant specializing in First Nations history told me that “Indian” or “Native” is currently the preferred term by many First Nations peoples.
I live in southwestern Ontario very near the Six Nations Reserve, a place that has been given alot of media attention as of late because of unresolved land claim issues dating back 200 years, and the protests that are taking place to try to get action. A place that isn’t able to offer its residents clean drinking water, where funding for road work, housing, schools is slowly dwindling to nothing, a place where people go missing and its not taken seriously by police or reported on the news until after the sports highlights. A place that is so rich in culture and history and heartache. I have studied Native issues since I was little, all the way through into college, my best friend lives on the reserve with my nieces and nephew and I worry about them, they have to buy their water,imagine unsafe water in my neighbours back yard, sorry Im rambling ! There are so many issues that Native people on and off reserves face and its about time that their voices are heard, that people see what has been done, what sadly is still being done in our own backyard to our neighbours. Its good to bring light to human rights issues all around the world and the world gets smaller the more we learn about our neighbours struggles. So a small step in the right direction, hopefully we don’t go two steps back…
I’m not big Harper fan, but he was not at fault today in his use of the word “Indian”. He used this word only when refering to the Indian Residentian Schools. That is the title. It’s inappropriate, and it reflects the ignorance of the time, but that is the title. You can be offended by the logo of the Clevand Indians, but there it is.
I think he might have refered to the Indian Act as well, but it’s a legal document. you have to call it that.
When referring to the actual victims he stayed with the term “Aboriginal Peoples”. You can argue that he was generalizing too much here but I thought for the sake of a speech the term was appropriate. Don’t be fooled. Harpers speech writers chose his words meticulously.
The man’s speech was nice. The thing to be cheesed about is how his actions don’t match his rhetoric. He has had an embarrassing record on Native affairs up to today. And if you are familiar with the teutonic little rascal, you know he is doing this for some self-serving reason other than to clear his conscience.
I am currently teaching on a reserve in Northern Ontario. The apology means a lot to a lot of people that were there or had family there, but from what I’ve seen today the best result is that it has young kids asking their family members about it. A lot of these kids have heard about the schools but never had anything explained to them. And from my perspective, the culture up here is definitely on its deathbed and most of the issues stem back to the residential schools. More of them stem from incompetent management, and incompetent government. Seriously, it’s 2008 in Canada and it’s been years since the water up here has been drinkable. I had 3 kids come to school high today because drugs are so prevalent and the cops do nothing because there is no punishment. As a little aside, I’m as white as it comes, but have always used the term Indian, if only because I know many people from over a dozen first nation communities, and they all call themselves Indians and told me to call them Indians.
I find it sad that when I mentioned this to my friends, not a single person knew anything about it.
No one knew what these schools were, or what happened in them.
I don’t know if maybe they just skipped those days in History class, or if this just isn’t being taught or public knowledge?
I mean how could something like that go unheard of these days?
It’s sad, it really is.
Personally in the region of Canada that I currently reside in most of the “aboriginal” people that I’m friends with don’t have issues with terminology. Quite frankly they’re more appalled by how they’re treated in mainstream society, maybe they’ll focus on terminology once those issues are addressed.
I am not Native by any means, however I’ve been blessed to learn about their culture and spiritual values. In fact, I find their spirituality to be more realistic and humble than any of our organized religions and yet these residential schools were put in place to remove their beautiful heritage. A lot of which is becoming garbled with the younger generations. I can only hope they will be able to teach their youth before it becomes lost.
I don’t think throwing money at the past will alleviate the issues that are currently affecting the “aboriginal” community, but I do think owning up to our mistakes and making a public apology will shed some light on these affairs and in that regard, like Tania said, help to heal and focus on the future generations, going forward.
This is important for our country. I also hate how people turn a blind eye and stereotype aboriginals into certain categories. (Drunks, single moms, welfare bums, street bums, yada, yada) It’s disgusting. I also cringe at aboriginal jokes. It is mean and hateful behaviour. This system of thinking needs to change and like I said I hope this is the beginning of a new dawn.
Well, ain’t that a gaff.
*cough* minority parliament pseudo-legacy posturing *cough*
I watched it on CPAC. Did anyone else notice the looks on Stephen Harper’s and Chuck Strahl’s faces when they entered the House and were met with an enormous reception that seemed to convey relief and gratitude for what was about to take place? It was as if they understood that what they were about to do was real in a way that a lot of things that go on in a country’s political life are not.
I’m naive, I know. But I felt like I saw the heart of my country today.
Appropriate terms vary by personal preference and region. I prefer not to use ‘Indian’ myself. Indigenous and Aboriginal is what I am more comfortable using. However, some do not like ‘Aboriginal’ as well. Cannot please them all.
I enjoyed watching ‘the apology’. I felt a sense of relief. It’s about time!
Here’s the most interesting part of that speech: From : http://timestranscript.canadaeast.com/newstoday/article/323427
Bloc Quebecois Leader Gilles Duceppe drew cheers from the galleries when he challenged Harper to back up the apology with action by signing the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples — something the Conservative government has refused to do.
I find it interesting that, as Gilles Duceppe pointed out, Harper has refused to sign the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
sure the apology may be a step in the right direction, but, that doesnt help the hundred thousand First Nations people that were denied their own cultural upbringing. Im appalled that not only the schools, but also the churches abused these first nation kids who were removed from their homes and placed in residential schools. Last night on the news here in New Brunswick they interviewed a gentleman who was affected by this and he said it was all fine and dandy that the prime minister was apologizing, but, he also wanted an apology from the school and the roman catholic church.
I know sure as hell that if someone denied me my culture, language, and history i’d want more than just an “im sorry” from someone who wasnt even involved with the situation.
The worst part about all this is the thousands of First Nations people were not only denied their language and culture, but, also their kids and grandkids have suffered from this.
The thought of children being forcibly removed from their families as part of a government program… it’s completely inconceivable to me. Even if there had been no physical or sexual abuse taking place at the schools, it’s hideously racist and heartbreaking. How was it ever allowed to happen?
Obviously, there’s no way mere words can make up for what happened, and I don’t think that’s the intent. But, hopefully it will give some people at least a bit of peace of mind, that what happened was incredibly, staggeringly wrong and that it’s recognized as such.
As for the term “Indian”– Harper exclusively used it in conjunction with “residential schools” (i.e. he never referred to “Indians” as a group), which makes me wonder if he did that because that was the ‘official’ name of the schools (and even their accepted name now– the commission formed as part of the settlement is the Indian Residential Schools Truth and Reconciliation Commission).
As a non-native, I found The Apology a first step in making up for the crimes the colonizers of Canada committed, and continue to commit, against its indigenous people. I picked up on a few “weasel words” in Harper’s statement. The opposition leaders’ statements seemed more heart felt. Of course hearing Harper speak, I couldn’t forget that the Conservatives have refused to endorse the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People - despite the fact that the majority of MPs in Parliament voted in favour of such an endorsement.
The residential schools were a relatively inexpensive way to assimilate the indigenous people. Peter Edwards’ book “One Dead Indian” includes a quote from a Methodist missionary in 1864 who determined it would cost “$25,000 to dispose of an Indian by war” … “$2,000 to kill an Indian by whiskey” … “$200 to Christianize and civilize an Indian…”
The important thing for me is to see REAL action taken to return to the “nation to nation” relationship that originally immediately after contact.
Even as the apology was being made for residential schools, government is allowing a mining exploration company to perform core drilling in search of uranium on Algonquin land in Eastern Ontario without the consent of the local Algonquin communities. When Algonquins and settlers blockaded the site and demanded REAL consultation, with the option of saying “no”, the courts sentenced Robert Lovelace, an Algonquin leader dedicated to non violence, to 6 months in a maximum security prison plus heavy fines for contempt of court. The judge derided Robert Lovelace’s defense that he was upholding Algonquin Law to protect the land. The sentence was handed down after the Ontario crown prosecutor urged a judge in a similar case involving the “KI-6″ to impose “a financial penalty that hurts”. Somewhat like the abuse in the schools. Interestingly, this prosecutor is now a senior counsel to the fledgling Residential Schools Truth and Reconciliation Commission. Also of interest, Robert and the KI-6 were recently released following an Ontario Court of Appeal hearing in which the judges questioned the draconian sentences.
I have never been a conservative, however, how can Harpers’ gov. be scrutinized for this. No other government in the past 30 years has stepped up and did the right thing.
Good on him.
Yeah, I also found the use of the word “Indians” very strange in this situation. And I doubt by it slipped by the First Nations representatives unnoticed either. However, I do agree that it was no easy task to go up there and do what he did, and to me he didn’t look like he was just going through the motions, so my respect to him on this one.
I believe the use of the term “Indian” is contextual. It was the state-imposed identity of the day and therefore referring to the students as “Indians” isn’t offensive. Today’s state-imposed identity of the day is “Aboriginal” and I personally do not use the term when referring to myself or other Indigenous peoples. I acknowledge my friends’ nations because the state has no right to determine how they should be identified or who we are. For myself, only my family/clan/nation have that right.
Quote A.J. Rowley: *cough* minority parliament pseudo-legacy posturing *cough*
Hehehe… yeah. I was impressed by the apology. It was more than I expected, but how is it that the Conservatives refer to Quebec a “Nation” but in the apology, the Nations of Indigenous peoples are called “communities”. This may spark some debate, but it is something I am currently trying to understand. Stupid liberal academic influence!
“…$2 billion dollars in financial compensation…”
Is that the going Rate
for Rape….Battery….and Humiliation…?
How do you compensate for Abuse
with a Words and Money…?
Wouldn’t that be like raping Someone
throwing a Stack of dirty Money at them
and saying…
” Here….buy Yourself Something nice…”
I don’t know….
the whole Idea of it
just bothers the Hell out of Me
I think what’s more important
than Money and an Apology…
is taking in this Horror in all it’s Totality
We need to listen to…appreciate…and support
Natives as they find their Power
and their Way back…
to Native Pride and Native Identity
Agreed on the employment of “indian” versus First Nations or First Peoples. I face the same thing working with the disabled. It’s an awareness thing for the most part, not something intended but more borne of ignorance than anything else…. so I guess you could expect it from a conservative government trying to soak up praise for this apology act while also quell all talk about its burial of the Kelowna Accord at the same time.
This is just me but I didn’t even notice that he used the term Indian and not Anishinaabe/Ojibwa/Chippewa/First Nation/Indigenous/Aboriginal or whatever. That may be a statement to the word’s depth, it’s ingrained - it even says on my treaty card
“This is to certify that (R.R.) is a registered Indian under the Indian Act of Canada”
The only time it bugged me was when I was on the phone with an East Indian and trying to explain that there wasn’t a chance I was paying taxes on what I was buying because I was an Indian and he got all indignant and yelled in that Hindu accent “AND WHAT-PART OF INDIA ARE YOU-FROM SIR!”
I laughed and thought ok this is gonna be tough to explain.
As per the Kelowna Accord, I have a true story for that. Paul Martin knew he was on his way out and had been on tours of Ontario and Manitoba reserves. Up north, one of the Chiefs of the Bands told him, “Great Leader of Canada, you have come to our lands and promised us great things and now we will honour you with an Indian name. From now on, you will be known to us Anishinaabe of the North as “Walking Eagle”.
So PM Paul Martin goes back to Ottawa and he’s proud and is telling everyone he’s now known as Walking Eagle. Back up North, someone asks the Chief: Why did you name him “Walking Eagle”?
“Because he’s so full of shit that he can’t fly.”
And it’s true, the Kelowna Accord was as much the fault of the lame-duck Liberals as it was the Conservatives but it’s generally regarded as fodder against the Conservatives. The Liberals, from the standpoint of a First Nation, were cruel to offer that before an election when they had all those years to do it when they could actually execute a plan like that.
From a personal standpoint, my great-grandpa pulled a gun on an Indian Agent to keep his kids from a residential school and now my grandpa still knows the language. My last name is now three letters long because an Indian Agent couldn’t pronounce a name 18 letters long. Apology’s accepted but looking forward, the thing to remember is that all that genocide (or sorry: aggressive assimilation) happened mostly under Liberals and partially under ancient Conservatives.
There’s this perception that Conservatives are worse for Indians than Liberals are and it’s true but only incrementally true - amazingly racist quotes re: “The Indian Problem” can be attributed to Pierre Trudeau himself.
When Indians vote, they’re voting NDP - remember that.
r-r, I am well aware that it was a Liberal parting gift never truly intended to be honored, but the Conservatives could have surprised everyone and done so. As for monikers, I prefer ‘First Nations’ because it a) was what I was told by my aboriginal friends as appropriate, and b) it reminds those saying it who the foreigners really are.
using the term “indian” is strongly discouraged in school and the communtity… Not that he would know that, but why not use a more sensitive and accurate term such as First Nations? THat’s outrageouly ignorant.!
I really think that people focusing on the politically correct terminology for everything under the sun has no bearing on the actual issues that some of these groups face. You can’t please everyone.
I’d rather see the issues heading towards positive change than worrying about pleasing everyone with basic human jargon.
Apropos of nothing really, as this post has little (direct) bearing on me, being a European, but I am proud to be wearing a silver engraved bangle created by a North American (continental) First Nations artist, created many years ago. I will never know him (except by his name on a card). But, through this one-off piece of jewellery I can – I hope – realise a little of his understanding of life. Every day I marvel at its beauty, yet agonise over the sights this guy (Duane Koinva) must have seen.
I have found many of the comments to Matt’s post fascinating: thanks guys – from “across the pond” these stories are certainly eye-openers.
Glad to see,
that the First Nations people have “finnally” been publicly appologized to. Hearing the words “We now know, it was wrong to take children away from thier families…” has the word “Duh” forever stuck in my head.
Dale, yeah it would have been good of them to give the same quality of life to First Nations people. We should keep the pressure on and let the issues be known. Socially I prefer Native but legally I understand “Indian”, how it’s said is a big factor. There used to be a road around here called Squaw Valley Road, it’s just Valley Road now because of the tone that so many people use when they use the Algonquin word for “woman”.
I read a book (Ken Kesey) where in Alaska they took to calling the natives DEAPs - Descendants of Early Aboriginal Peoples, just to avoid the confusion. I’ll accept most any word as long as it isn’t being said like it’s said to a disobedient dog. First Nations is too new, it confuses me cause it was introduced and because there are so many First Nations it’d be like everyone on this messageboard was named B.C. or Nation or Canada or America or whatever.
I like “anishinaabe” too it means “person” or “original man”.
I read about those schools in History and I’m glad that the gov’t is at least doing something, even if it is a little late. Nothing has the healing powers that money has.
It’s my understanding personally, as well as with family and peers that it’s completely fine to refer to one another as ‘indian’ but it offensive (for whateve reason) to be referred to as Indian by someone who is not.
Also, I don’t know if I would prefer to be referred to as Anishnaabe, even though that is the Ojibway word that would be correct in defining what I am as in my ‘tribe’. However, there are many, many other tribes of First Nations out there that have no clue what Anishnaabe means.
My older sister and I watched the apology on Cpac. While it was nice to have an apology, I am one that believes the time for words has passed and it’s time for action. Meaningful, appropriate action.
I am no native I am entirely pink, but I find that most pink-skins can’t grasp or relate to what we Canadians(iens) really did. I have spent my -so far brief- life trying to explain it to people but they just don’t get it.
Then I really critically thought about it, I mean really thought about it…
Generations of children taken from their parents at the age of 5 or so, actually abducted at gun point in some cases by our beloved RCMP, that is where it started, but we started getting them even younger. We literally had law enforcement plucking babes from their mother’s breast.
This is pretty much known, and openly denied, but that isn’t what hit me.
Picture your village, town or city. No children, not a single one.
No laughter, no giggles, no one on the playgrounds, swings gathering dust,
no one gossiping, no one playing around, not a single smile.
Then the adults started drinking, what else can you do to numb the silence?
What else can you do?
You can’t fool around… who would be subject to giving birth? to losing another child?
And when the kids came back, there was no joy… only more silence, there was no common ground nor language.
Every time I see my friends smile I am amazed, that they are alive, let alone enjoying life shows how amazing their native spirit is and their powers in community healing confounding. I have my doubts that any individualized western group could ever survive what they have survived.
Sure the apology starts, but I know of people that’ll be dead long before the fact that when they tried to bring up the plight of the local band got them stripped of earned title, had their degrees blocked and discredited and lost everything trying to bring knowledge to the passive pinks-skins, but no ire from them in spite of that, this apology, more than anything is a victory beyond anything that could have been dreamed of in this life time.
Hopefully that things are looking up for our brothers and sisters is a good indicator that we as a whole are learning and improving. I hope it keeps improving, still. . .
*my fingers are crossed*
I hope the government has a plan for this 2 billion. Throwing money at this problem won’t make it go away.
Being half mohawk and proud to be, I was relieved that the government has finally admitted to trying to assimulate natives and apologized for what happened to them in the residential schools. To be honest, I never expected them to ever say sorry for what has been done, but always hoped for an apology.
Residential schools have not only affected the natives who were forced to going to them, but also the generations after them. Kids growing up not having the love and hugs that they should have because their parents dont know how to give them that. Physical and sexual abuse and neglect end up being passed down to their kids. I have seen it im my community and I have also experienced it for myself.
I’m happy to finally have the apology so many natives have longed for and for most of the people from my rez, an apology was all they have ever wanted. To get the acknowledgement that what has happened to them was wrong and that the government is sorry.
On the issue with terminology, I think Natives, Aboriginals, and First Nations are approriate terms to call us. I know for many people hearing the term Indian is insulting as they are not from India, they are the first people of North America. Alot of my friends get very passionate about this, but to me im not offended as much. I think alot of what has to do with it is the ignorance of most people in canada when it comes to natives. I get more offended when people call natives freeloaders and bums. These people dont know much about the history of natives and their own history when they dont know why natives get the rights they do.
As a news shooter I’ve experienced some powerful moments. I interviewed a survivor of the Alert Bay Res. school; the dignity and pain with which this gentleman spoke was truly humbling. After he eloquently recounted the atrocities he and his family experienced, I stood in a room with First Nations youth and elders. We watch the PM delivered the apology, and it felt weak. I had just listen to a man in his sixties recount the sexual, physical, and cultural abuse he endured; listen to him tell me that, “he still hasn’t dealt with ‘it’”; and all he gets is a “we’re sorry.” It just didn’t seem to me like it was enough.
I’m with you, Kdog. I’m going to take your thoughts a step further, if you’ll allow me.
I’m loving the energy here, ha ha. Here’s a thought…
My friend, Dion, and I were talking late the other night. We live in Red Deer, AB (beautiful city, so far). It was about 1:00 am, and we were outside near a local park. Dion asked me what I thought about this whole ‘apology’ thing with the first nation people. We were standing on high ground, looking over the city. He asked, “Josh, how do we end this? What do we do? What’s going to truly compensate for breaking our treaties, taking their land, then stealing away their culture?”
I thought for a moment, then gave the only right answer to that question, “Dion, we give them their land back, is what we do”.
And I’m white!! Ha ha. This would suck for me!!
Think about it. I mean, I’m not naive. I know there’s next to no chance that nothing short of a civil war would produce these results. Do we keep paying them off?? THAT’s really showing value, eh? Nothing like giving someone money as a form of apology. If you owned something valuable even priceless, something that was irreplaceable and I stole it from you… I could give you $2 billion dollars in compensation, but that’s not going to cut it, is it?! Cause I still haven’t given back what I stole. I’ve only further exercised my tyrannical fist, my self-given absolute sovereignty and power over you. And you’ll take my money, cause you need my money. I’ve made damn sure you would…
What does repentance look like…. I don’t know, guys… To me, it looks like giving them their land back and ‘asking’ them to share it again with our poisoned culture and people.
Of the 195(~) nations in the world, Canada’s voted the number one nation to live in. I wonder if our native brothers and sisters would agree…
Josh
Josh, you’ve taken it right where I was - give the land back was my response to all this nonsense. What will 2 billion dollars do for the struggling communities? While an enormous sum, it is divided among the people who survived long enough to receive it, but some of them do not have a residential address. Is this the best way to treat persistent wounds? You cannot give back the childhood, but the cultures (despite what most keep saying) were not destroyed, languages are still alive and it would have been best if the government (provincial and that of separate bands/nations) was able to work together to build up on what is left resurrecting back the pride of the people instead of discussing politically correct terminology and selling reserve land for development.
p.s. it is too bad that Columbus screwed-up calling First Nations people Indians - it is confusing (see r-r entry) with East and West - I wonder what other name it could have been?