Canada apologizes to Indians
- June
- 11
Canada’s prime minister has issued an apology for a longstanding policy of forcibly schooling Indian children in Christian residential schools where they were sexually and physically abused.
Stephen Harper made the apology in a speech today at the Parliament in Ottawa. Several survivors of the schools traveled across the nation to attend.
According to a report in Bloomberg News, Harper said: “The treatment of children in Indian residential schools is a sad chapter in our history.
“Far too often, these institutions gave rise to abuse or neglect and there were inadequate controls, and we apologize for failing to protect you.”
The government and churches that ran the schools settled a large class-action lawsuit on the matter two years ago.
The schools operated primarily from the late 1800s to the late in 1970s.
Students have recounted being beaten for speaking their language, and enduring painful separation from their parents.
The Australian government recently apologized for a similar policy.
Bloomberg says Canada has about 1 million people who consider themselves part of the First Nations, a term used to describe aboriginals in the country, according to a 2006 census.
For details on today’s apology and the history behind it, read an article in the BBC here.
Posted by Suzan Clarke on Wednesday, June 11th, 2008 at 4:21 pm | del.icio.us Digg Furl Reddit Help 
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