|
By Frank Stirk
CHURCH leaders who took part in negotiating the $1.9-billion residential
schools class action settlement that came into effect last month cannot
understand why the federal government will not now apologize for its role
in this dark chapter in Canadian history.
"You kind of assume from the implementation of the agreement, . . . that
an apology acknowledging that reality shouldn't be that difficult," said
James Scott, the United Church of
Canada's General Council officer for residential schools.
Last year, the United Church, the Anglican Church of
Canada (ACC), the Presbyterian
Church of Canada, and about 50 Roman Catholic "entities" accepted the
settlement-the largest of its kind in the nation's history. Over about a
100-year period, they had all at one time or another operated residential
schools.
(Unlike its Protestant counterparts which have Canadian head offices and
leaders, the Roman Catholic Church is comprised of legally and canonically
autonomous dioceses, religious orders and institutions. As a result,
CC.com could not find anyone who could speak on behalf of the Church, even
though its "entities" ran about 60 per cent of the residential schools.)
The federal government became involved in the schools in 1874. In 1969, it
took them over completely. Over the next two decades, they were gradually
shut down.
All four denominations have apologized at least once for the schools,
which sought to convert the indigenous "savages" to Christianity by
forcibly separating children from their families, heritage, culture and
language. Over 12,000 former students have alleged they also suffered
physical and sexual abuse at the hands of people who ran the schools.
The churches have paid out millions of dollars to settle individual claims
with money raised in part from the sale of property, cancelled programs
and staff lay-offs. Under the May 2006 agreement, which limits their
future liability, they must contribute a further $100 million to a
settlement fund.
With only 201 of the 80,000 or so victims still alive rejecting the
settlement, the government has announced the payouts will begin in
November. Most Aboriginal leaders appear to welcome the fact there is
finally a settlement, but others are skeptical.
"This is trying to placate a problem . . . an effort to cut things short,
to tie a bow on it and make it go away," said Ray Aldred, chair of the
Evangelical Fellowship of Canada's Aboriginal
Ministries Council and a member of the Swan River Cree Nation in
Alberta.
But beyond financial compensation, the settlement also calls for a
five-year, $60 million Truth and Reconciliation Commission. Its work can
also now begin, likely by early 2008.
One of its purposes, said interim executive director Bob Watts, is through
the personal stories of those involved "to be able to write the history of
the residential schools era, to document the legacy of residential schools
and make recommendations."
And it is only when the commission finishes its work -- five years from
now -- that the government will probably issue its own apology.
In May, MPs voted 257-0 to pass a Liberal motion of apology to the
survivors of residential schools. But in a speech in the House of Commons,
then-Indian Affairs Minister Jim Prentice said his government's support of
the motion did not constitute a formal apology, and that none would be
forthcoming until the TRC fulfills its mandate.
"To be fair, only at that time, once the full facts are known, can the
full response from the Government of Canada, at the executive branch, be
offered," he told MPs.
But Scott worried the healing that the commission is meant to foster could
be jeopardized if anyone implicated in causing harm testifies without
first issuing an apology. "If people withhold an apology, then there's a
sense that Aboriginal people, former students particularly, are still
having to make their case," he said.
Ellie Johnson, the ACC's lead staff person for residential schools, said
she believes the government ought to make two apologies.
Continue article >>
|
"It would show good faith and sincerity," she said, "for the Prime
Minister to offer an apology at the beginning of the work of the
commission. And then after having heard the many truths that will come . .
. it would likely be appropriate for a deeper apology to be made."
Johnson added they have urged Stephen Harper several times to issue an
apology. "The last time we wrote, I think, was in June, and we haven't
even had an acknowledgement of that letter, never mind an actual
response," she said. "I find that quite discouraging."
The TRC is modeled on the
South African body of the same name that was set up to try to address
the deep wounds caused by apartheid -- but seemingly without the same
clout.
Unlike its South African predecessor, according to Aldred, there is no
mechanism for people to confess their sins and for others to offer
forgiveness. "If that doesn't happen, then you haven't got
reconciliation," he said.
Johnson also pointed out that the commission cannot subpoena witnesses nor
grant them immunity from prosecution.
Regardless of what the TRC may or may not accomplish, the churches agree
they have an ongoing responsibility to tackle not just the residential
schools tragedy, but also the systemic racism that Aboriginals have
suffered for centuries.
"We have several funds that people can apply for around local programs
that bring people together. . . . We will be helping people in
congregations prepare for and participate in the truth and reconciliation
process," said Scott. "And we will be looking at other ways to build
relationships with Aboriginal people around . . . a broader justice agenda
. . . land claims and treaties and that kind of thing."
"The sin against Aboriginal people is the foundational sin that we live
with in this country and in this church," Johnson added. "We are trying to
change attitudes, change behaviour, and get people to acknowledge the
systemic nature of racism in Canada."
But despite the enormous amount of damage the system caused so many people
-- not to mention the lingering effects still felt generations later --
Watts said most Canadians know almost nothing about the schools. It is a
gap in their knowledge he hopes the commission can help fill.
Watts recalled being told that "one of the things the TRC can do through .
. . engaging Canadians broadly is to [create] understanding. There's a lot
of wisdom in that."
Related stories:
Residential
school cash out this week; money fulfils dreams, causes
headaches
Wood is one of an estimated 80,000 people who will be
eligible to apply for compensation starting Wednesday. The cheques are
part of a $2.9-billion package from Ottawa to former students who suffered
abuse, cultural losses and even death at the church-run institutions,
which operated from the 1870s through the 1970s.
Canadian Press,
September 15
Native
compensation package a mixed blessing
Nearly $2-billion in
native residential schools compensation will be a mixed blessing, say
frontline workers who fear major spikes in alcohol and drug use, family
violence and exploitation.
Canadian Press, September 17
Residential
school survivors can now seek cash
Applications are in the mail
for survivors of aboriginal residential schools to apply for cash under a
previously announced $2-billion compensation package. "Some people may
have already received them," Indian Affairs Minister Chuck Strahl said
Winnipeg at a news conference with aboriginal leaders, including Assembly
of First Nations national Chief Phil Fontaine.
Canadian Press,
September 19
Racist
overtones surround residential school payments: National
Chief
Survivors of abuse at Indian residential schools are
still facing racism even as they start to apply for compensation promised
by the government, Canada's top aboriginal leader said Wednesday. Phil
Fontaine, national chief of the Assembly of First Nations, said he has
sensed a "tune of racism" in some of the speculation about how survivors
will spend their settlements.
Canadian Press, September 19
September 27/2007
|
http://www.nexusmagazine.com/articles/canada.html
NB: some church archives being closed, just prior to the official launch of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission investigation... www.savethearchives.ca.
http://video.google.ca/videoplay?docid=-6637396204037343133&q=unrepentant&total=124&start=0&num=10&so=0&type=search&plindex=0
Rev. Kevin Annett
Nanaimo, BC
The murderer is still alive and he is being protected by the church and the mounties.
There are pedophiles still at work in the church and he is one of them.
Wake up people, know that your churches are wolves in sheeps' clothing. Leave them.
"Harold Ambrose"
What I said was:
Not so many years ago, before the advent of mass communication strategies such as television and the Internet, the providence of 'charity' fell predominantly to the mainline churches and their so-called missionary societies. These mega-churches were still powerful entities even a half-century ago, and hand-in-hand with colonial governments, they set out to help the world's 'savages' conform to the socio-religious norms of the day. A fair and honest example of the churches charitable activities took place right here in Canada. The big players were the federal government's Department of Indian Affairs, the Roman Catholic Church [RCC], the Anglican Church of Canada [ACC], the Presbyterian Church of Canada [PCC] and its schismatic offspring the United Church of Canada [UCC].
These five organizations, one governmental and four mainline churches conspired to take the taxpayers money to run what became known by the deceptively benign title of 'The Indian Residential Schools'. By the way, similar schools were operated in the United States of America [under the name Indian Boarding Schools] and in Australia where the genocide is now known as 'The Lost Generation.'
The Residential Schools in Canada operated under the Indian Act and a governmental oxymoron known as the Gradual Civilization Act and, like Hitler's concentration camps that might well have been [at least in part] modeled upon them, mandated the final solution of a racial problem. Here, it was the First Nations and Metis people of Canada who were the target, not the Jews. This was a government and church sponsored attempt to wipe out the native cultures, which was directed at innocent children and was at least partially successful in many cases. Essentially, these children were kidnapped and relocated in residences on school premises, which were often walled or fortified in some manner, and located deliberately to ensure a "proper distance" from the reserves to eliminate all parental contact. Often students had no contact with their families for years at a time. They were prohibited from speaking their native languages, robbed of their culture, abused sexually and physically, even murdered [50,000 died from disease or acts of violence] and the survivors were left to contemplate their devastated lives through the hopelessly clouded lens of alcohol, street drugs and suicide.
Unlike the holocaust's evildoers [Hitler's SS] the perpetrators of this horrendous crime were the Primate of Canada, cardinals, bishops, priests and both religious and lay appointees of the aforementioned mega-churches, operating under the benign eye of the Government of the Dominium of Canada and the Royal House of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha [aka Windsor].
This is the reality of genocide in Canada: it is the truth, it is fair comment.