Natives Respond to Canadian Government's Apology

Natives Respond to Canadian Government's Apology

"Apologies may be recognized but they are not necessarily accompanied by
forgiveness as no nation or groups have ever been forgiven for their acts
of genocide."

[Response by Quebec Native Women in English]

Statement by
Quebec Native Women’s Association/Femmes Autochtones du Québec
Re : Government of Canada’s
Residential School Apology
June 11, 2008

Quebec Native Women recognizes the Prime Minister’s official apology
concerning the genocidal experience of Aboriginal people in the history of
the Residential School system. While the apology to Aboriginal peoples is
long overdue it is contradicted by the oppressive policies of the Indian
Act.

The heinous crimes committed against Aboriginal children who were victims
and survivors of the Residential School experience must be dealt with
beyond mere apologies and monetary compensation.

The damages to our languages, well-being, social and political structures,
and sexuality caused by Residential School, demands attention. The policy
of assimilation through the Residential Schools system constituted a war
against an identifiable group of people.

And while we commend the Canadian Government on the creation of a Truth
and Reconciliation Commission we cannot ignore the Auditor General’s
recent report substantiating that budgets for child welfare agencies in
Canada continue to focus the majority of their efforts on the placement of
Aboriginal children outside their communities and Nations. This type of
practice is reminiscent of the Residential School policy.

Consequently, the Canadian Government must acknowledge that Residential
School was an act of genocide; a crime against humanity. Apologies may be
recognized but they are not necessarily accompanied by forgiveness as no
nation or groups have ever been forgiven for their acts of genocide.

In order for this apology to be considered genuine, more efforts must be
undertaken to correct current oppressive measures under the Indian Act
that prevent Indigenous peoples from prospering socially, culturally,
politically and economically.

The actions of the Canadian Government in opposing the United Nations
Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples makes the apology feel
hollow. Their opposition to the UNDRIP perpetuates the insidious, archaic
Indian Act that continues to discriminate and deny Aboriginal nations
their rights. The facts and arguments reflecting the manner in which the
Canadian Government continues to undermine the rights of Indigenous
peoples, can be found in Amnesty International’s 2008 Annual Report.

We therefore urge the Government of Canada to adequately fund Indigenous
languages in a manner that is equivalent to the support given to the
French and English languages; to adequately consult Aboriginal peoples in
good faith on legislation that addresses issues such as matrimonial real
property, Bill C-21, Bill C-47; Bill C-30 and to eliminate the sexual
discrimination that exists under Section 6 of the Indian Act.

In order for Aboriginal communities to emerge from the negative impacts of
colonization they must have access to their lands and resources; they must
have the opportunities to build strong and healthy nations by taking to
task the social and economic problems whose roots are firmly based in
colonization.

Canada has established itself as a rich and prosperous country at the
expense and blood of Aboriginal peoples. And while we may recognize the
Government’s admission of guilt, the fact remains that many obstacles must
be removed in order to give meaning to the spirit and intent of their
apology.