Making amends…

I wrote this last night but I'm just getting around to posting it now...

"The government now recognizes that the consequences of the Indian residential schools policy were profoundly negative and that this policy has had a lasting and damaging impact on Aboriginal culture, heritage and language." - Prime Minister Steven Harper

This afternoon, Prime Minister Steven Harper stood in the House of Commons and formally apologized to Aboriginal Canadians for the treatment of children in the Residential Schools Program.  Perhaps I'm being naïve, but I didn't think for a moment that there would be this much controversy over an apology.

From the opponents of the government (and by that I don't mean the Official Opposition), there were complaints that since it was in the House, there would be no opportunity for Aboriginal Peoples to respond, and therefore it would not be recorded and Hansard. Or, the more convenient, yet, tired explanation that Harper was only doing this because he has a minority government and should there come a day when he can form a majority he can further his "hidden agenda."  From the more conservative side, it was equally critical:  "We weren't here when it happened, so why should we apologize" (ah, ignorance is bliss). And a somewhat more credible argument that Canada should not make it an annual event to say they are sorry to every single ethnic or cultural group that might have been slighted by the state since 1867 and even earlier. 

Yes, to make a statement in the House of Commons, one has to have a seat.  Without a seat, one can't speak, and therefore responses would not be "officially" recorded, but I think that's a weak one.  For the government to make a statement they need to be in the House.  Furthermore, an unequivocal message of apology does not necessitate a response in that context.  What is important is that the apology is on the record and it does not preclude any further action with respect to the subject matter therein.  Meaning, if there are ongoing lawsuits, land-disputes and other such issues, they will be dealt with separately. 

Let's be clear.  Residential Schools were not just a "good-idea-gone-awry."  This was a systematic attempt to wipe out a race and culture.  Assimilation meant that the government of the day would eventually not have to worry about "the Indians" anymore.  They would just make them good English-speaking, Christian Canadians. The only trace of their history would be their skin colour.  Many of these kids were abused emotionally, sexually and physically.  And, it probably did happen in your lifetime since the last school to close was in 1997.

I don't agree that we should apologize for everything that we have done in our past, but this is not just a blip on the radar.  We, as a country can't look to Germany to apologize for the Holocaust, Russia to say the same for their actions against Ukrainians (which Canada did recently recognize) or South Africa, for their former Apartheid regime if we do not address this issue and right the wrongs of our history.