LETTER TO THE QUEEN

Here is something I found in my surfing through some of the news links I've posted here on my site... a letter to her Majesty Queen Elizabeth from the Chairperson of the National Residential School Survivors Society.

Open letter to Queen from National Residential School Survivors Society

April 19, 2007

Greetings, Your Majesty:

On behalf of the National Residential School Survivors Society, we implore your awareness as our Head of State. There has been enormous development with regards to the relationship of Indigenous peoples in relation to mainstream Canada. However, we wish to convey our deep disappointment and regret for the refusal of the current Federal government to issue an apology to those Indigenous children of Canada who were subjected to the Indian Residential Schools (IRS) system in Canada.

Historically, Indian Residential Schools were created to educate the Indigenous Peoples of Canada, presumably the English language, law and commerce. However, in promoting the interests of the British Empire, Indian Residential Schools became a government funded and church operated establishment which advanced a severely exploitative and maltreating assimilation policy. The echo of this depraved policy lingers still throughout the halls of our parliament from the time when Indian Affairs Deputy Superintendent Duncan Campbell Scott declared:

I want to get rid of the Indian problem. …Our objective is to continue until there is not a single Indian in Canada that has not been absorbed into the body politic, and there is no Indian question.
Canada’s efforts to succeed the IRS system cultivated a policy which fostered insensitive, callous and ruthless means in the name of progression and civilization. Children were forcibly removed and displaced from their homes, disconnected from their family structure and made to attend Christian institutions, whereby they were forbidden to speak or practice their own noble languages, spirituality and culture.

The intergenerational-impacts of the IRS legacy have stanchioned the intentions of D.C. Scott and were the primordial buttresses for the crown of colonialism in Canada. These impacts also created a loss of dignity, respect, and identity amongst the children and their offspring of this ghastly legacy. These losses in turn created many of the underlying dysfunctions within the people who live with this everlasting burden, their families and communities.

Recently, legal action was engaged against the Government of Canada and the appropriate Church entities which operated the schools. Former students sought out compensation and redress for these ill-fated injustices committed in the Indian Residential Schools. After a number of supporting court decisions and the onslaught of a pending National Class Action Case, a negotiated out of court settlement was achieved by all parties involved. The Indian Residential School Settlement Agreement (IRSSA) will provide former students with individual financial compensation. More so, the IRSSA is set to impart Truth and Reconciliation and Commemoration as the world has seen with other colonial nations in the past.

Although, the most important and noticeable element absent from the Settlement Agreement is a sincere and unequivocal apology at the community, regional and national levels by Canada. In recent news, Minister of Indian and Northern Affairs has stated publicly that his government sees no reason why it should issue an apology to the former IRS students for the manner in which they were treated while attending these schools and that the governments motive was to provide these Indian children with an education. It would appear that the current Federal government of Canada refuses to accept the responsibility of the historic damage inflicted upon the children who had attended the Indian Residential Schools.

In order, to assert true reconciliation and redress within our communities, families and individuals the parties involved must predispose the foundations of these injustices. The impropriety of colonialisms imposition must be countered with a compassionate reparation and execute a genuine attempt to re-build trust and respect amongst the grassroots Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples of Canada. The beginning of this restoration must inhabit Canada and the Church entities’ unadulterated responsibility of educating mainstream Canada of this horrendous history.

To advance the veritable spirit and intent of Indian Residential School Settlement Agreement is to ensure a sincere sense of closure and reconciliation for all who had participated in these schools. This will require an elevated form of etiquette, ethical behaviours and spiritual intervention needed to provide the direction towards redemption and closure.

One of the central components of the Settlement Agreement is the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. It is within this forum where truth and honesty were to be the prevailing forces that would serve as the catalyst for an environment conducive to beginning the processes of well-being and bona fide reconciliation of the Indigenous people and mainstream Canada.

Further, we value the knowledge that the times which have created our present day societies were without the identification and knowledge of equality as is today. The single minded move towards progression of a century ago did not act with the same laws and behaviours as does today. As we wish to progress the well-being of our families and communities we have relinquished the need for an apology. Intrinsically our spirituality has always encumbered and correlates with the genuine teachings of Jesus Christ which transcends cultures and predates the arrival of the Europeans. In saying this and in the spirit of our people and the integrity of our collective compassion it would be prudent to offer forgiveness from the Survivors of Indian Residential Schools to Canada, the Church entities and their descendants.

The act of forgiveness is based upon and anchored in a spiritual realm no matter the denomination of religion or culture. While an apology can serve as an opening for reconciliation, we believe that true forgiveness is the spiritual connection that will provide a lasting bond for former students, their families and communities within the context of Canada. To quote Alexander Pope, “to err is human but to forgive is divine”
We truly believe the demonstration of this sentiment would bequeath the Indigenous peoples of Canada with renewal of spirit and vigour and offer a substantial pillar in re-claiming dignity and the rectifying of this ugly chapter in Canada’s history. The spiritual, social, political and economical benefit to forwarding this noble endeavour is immeasurable and will commence and perpetuate a positive future for our children, grandchildren and the generations to follow.

Whole-heartedly,
Michael Cachagee
Chairperson
NRSSS

VOTE RESULTS

The House of Commons voted unanymously to extend an apology to Aboriginal students forced to attend residential schools. But don't hold your breath waiting for the Prime Minister to deliver that apology any time soon if ever. The Minister responsible for Aboriginal Affairs will instead initiate a multi-million dollar multi-year investigation into the 'real story' of what went on the schools. An exercise that is expected to take up to 5 years and may or may not result in a recommendation to apologize.

Will there be any survivors to hear that apology? Will there be enough survivors able in the course of the five year study to participate in the review? How many times are they going to be asked to relive the atrocities? That is the real injustice. The aging population of survivors are declining in health and numbers every day. Where is the compassion? How much more evidence do they need before they accept the stories of our Elders to be true?

Am I surprised. No. Disappointed. Yes. Ashamed of my country's leadership. Yes. Proud of my Elders and Aboriginal leaders who remain respectful and determined as they resolve to keep the issue alive. Yes. Proud of individual Canadians who recognize that the hurt of one is the hurt of all. Yes. Optimistic that our nation will be made stronger, gentler, more compassionate and tolerant for having found reconsiliation some day. Yes. Even if it takes another and another generation the day will come when we stand strong shoulder to shoulder as people who respect and value the truth about our national identity. That we respect and value our indigenous roots.

Here are some of the headlines that were reported after the vote in the house of commons.

House apologizes to residential school students

House apologizes to survivors of native residential schools

PM won’t say he’s sorry for abuses at native schools

House apologizes to residential school survivors

Tories betray natives again

Residential school apology is years away: Minister

Symbolic residential schools motion passes but PM won’t say he’s sorry

House of Commons Apologizes to Residential School Students

Conservative Defy House Decision to Apologize for Residential School Legacy

Tories hamstrung in residential schools apology

Tories support apology for native schools but PM won’t say he’s sorry

Ottawa apologizes for residential schools

Here is the link to the full articles that were reported. Have a read. The story doesn't change but its interesting to see the range of sources and the various twists each takes on the story that have been reported from the mainstream media. Check back again to see if I add some links to aboriginal media sources.

http://www.google.com/nwshp?client=internal-uds&oe=utf8&ie=utf8&safe=high&ip=205.250.191.166&hl=en&ncl=1115931894


Here is a link to the motion that was presented to the House of Commons by Liberal MP Gary Merasty.

http://www2.parl.gc.ca/HousePublications/Publication.aspx?Language=E&Mode=1&Parl=39&Pub=hansard&Ses=1&DocId=2890888&File=0#SOB-2042759

APOLOGY TO ABORIGINAL PEOPLE

Opposition Liberals put a motion before the House of Parliament today demanding the Harper government honour a commitment to apologize to Aboriginal Canadians for the injustices committed inside the walls of government established Indian Residential Schools.

During these dark days in our nations history children were torn from their homes and families, subjected to policies of cultural genocide, victimized by rampant sexual, physical and emotional abuses. As many as 60% of children who attended residential school died in those schools. Those who lived were void of their identity, humiliated and left to live a life of shame that perpetuated into the lives of their children and their children's children. Trauma and learned abusive practises are now multi-generational. The disproportionately high levels of alcoholism, substances abuses, violence, suicide and mental illnesses that continue to plague aboriginal communities are directly linked to the effects of residential school experiences. The cycle of abuse that began in the residential schools continues to impact every new generation. The impacts have magnified over time.

As Canadians we are all faced with what to do to stop the cycle and turn the tragedy around. This devastating chapter in the history of our country must not be forgotten. It will never be forgotten by the Aboriginal people. It must not be forgot by all Canadian. The mistakes of our ancestors need to be acknowledged, the victims need to be compensated and the Nation of Canada needs to apologize for the harm caused Aboriginal people by the despicable actions of our nation's past governments.

The survivors, once children and now Elders, the leaders working on behalf of the Elders and their children and children's children have negotiated an apology with the government. The government has yet to honour that agreement. Healing can not begin to take place without an apology. The courts of Canada have also called for a full and unequivocal apology by the government on behalf of Canada. The United Nations has passed resolutions in support of human rights questions calling for a public apology to the Aboriginal People of Canada. The Chinese people of Canada received an apology for the head count tax. Japanese for the interment camps. Harrar for being sent to a Syrian prison. Others for being wrongfully imprisoned in Canada. Why are Aboriginal people denied the same respect? Why are they denied this important beginning to a healing process that will benefit all Canadians?

On November 21, 2005, after decades of lobbying by Aboriginal leaders the former Liberal government signed a comprehensive reconciliation agreement with the Assembly of First Nations on behalf of the Aboriginal People of Canada. The agreement included a plan for financial compensating as well as an agreement for the Government of Canada to offer a formal apology to the Aboriginal People. The intention was to acknowledge a wrong doing, to compensate the survivors, to apologize and set a new direction for the whole of Canada. As of March 2007 the current government began to honour the financial compensation yet it continues to deny the public apology. Harper has maintained a position of his Conservative government not to apologize.

Harper and other key Conservative ministers were not siting in the house today when the resolution was read and the subsequent presentations were made. Those Conservative MP's that were in attendance sang the party line. Recognition is enough to move the process forward. No apology is required and none will be given. Those MP's who did speak talked about the good work of the current government in supporting Aboriginal economic development. Job creation and skills training programs were sited as the answers to improving the lives of Aboriginal people and First Nations communities.

It is the position of the Harper government that an agreement to compensation is recognition that atrocities were committed. Regrets are implicit in the recognition. Apologies are not needed. Instead the MP's who spoke focused on advancing economic development support and enhancing government programs to improve access to business opportunities for Aboriginal people. The current government's approach is to implement policies that will serve to remove obstacles for Aboriginal people to be more active participants in the Canadian economy. To look forward without looking back now that compensation has been facilitated. To bypass healing and expect the survivors to 'get over it and move on'.

Will the House of Parliament vote to force the Harper government to deliver a formal apology to Aboriginal people? Will the Government of Canada honour the requests of the survivor's and set the long awaited healing process into motion? Time will tell. I can't help but be heart sick about this whole affair. I find it inhumane of the government to continue to deny Aboriginal people the long over due apology that they have bravely and humbly requested.

I have worked long enough in Aboriginal community and in social service organizations to know about the effects of the residential school spectrum. I have ancestors of my own who were survivors of the residential school system and I've heard and seen the multi-generational affects of my ancestors experiences there. I've worked in the fields of education, health and addictions long enough to know the impact of unresolved suffering and denied healings. I am a human being and I know how I am impacted if denied an apology when an injustice has been imposed upon me. The pain of the injustice takes much longer to heal if left unacknowledged.

How about you? How easy is it for you to get past a wrong done to you if you don't receive an apology? Even the smallest wrong left hanging can cause one to harbour feelings of resentment for a time. Image standing in line for a movie. The person in front of you steps back onto your foot. He apologizes... (If you are Canadian you might beat him with an apology of your own for having your foot in his way). The apology restores harmony. If there is no apology or exchange of apologies it is likely that one or the other of you will harbour a negative feeling about the other person. Image coming out of the theatre you see the person who stepped on your foot and didn't apologize to you. It is very likely that you would have at least a flash of a negative emotion. You might even send him a glare. Had he apologized you would likely have a more positive emotional reaction. You might even flash him a smile. Without the apology he's a 'jerk'... with the apology he's a 'decent guy'.

What about a bigger offense. What if your sister was raped and murdered. The man responsible is given a maximum sentence for his crime. He offers a truly heartfelt apology to you and your family. He was truly repentant. Two years later your brother is shot and murdered. The man responsible is given a minimum sentence and he walks away without saying a word. You can see that the only think he regrets is having been caught. Would you feel differently towards these two men? I would. The actions of the first man would in fact help me heal. It would put me on a journey towards forgiveness. It would put me on a journey towards spiritual freedom. I would be no less sad for the loose of my sister but I would be ready to move forward towards healing. The actions of the second man would cause me to fester more hate and anger. I might see his face in my dreams for years or even the rest of my life. I might think about how much I hated him every day. I might plot my own revenge. I might start to medicate myself to try to forget. I might become a very angry and bitter person. I might never heal. I might die broken.

If, as human beings, as families, as peoples we don't feel as though justice is served we have a much more difficult time moving passed the injustice. That is what has happened for Aboriginal people. Horrible injustices have mounted over time. The Residential school system, the Indian Act and its oppressive policies have been imposed upon Aboriginal people and never has anyone publicly apologized for the injustices that have ensued. Financial compensations, special programs and all sorts of other handouts have been offered as 'pay-offs' but never apologies. The effect is the perpetuation of unhealthy and destructive victimization and continued horrors. It has crossed centuries of time, generations of people.

Today our government has an opportunity to right past wrongs. All they need to do is say, "We are sorry. We apologize for the pain that has been caused to you." That short statement would turn everything around. It would totally change the dynamics of Canada's relationship with Aboriginal people. It would begin the healing process and allow all of us to move forward.

'Hand-outs' would become 'hand-ups'. The victims of past abuses along with all Canadians would be strengthened by the subsequent healing process. Our nation has been 'frozen in time' by the effects of healing being denied. Healing brings with it the power to move forward.

The 2005 agreement that is the subject of the day is about both reconciliation and healing. As of today Canada has made steps to honour their negotiated agreement to make reconciliation but the current government of Canada is denying the commitment to facilitating healing. The Elders, the survivors, the Churches of Canada and healing professionals have from each of their perspectives stated the importance of an apology in the healing process. Yet those who have the power to honour their wishes, take their advice and start the healing seem determined to continue to choose oppression over liberation. They refuse to resolve the past so that we can all move into a better future.

It boggles the mind and shames our nation.