Truth commission assures residential school survivors

The Star.com
The Canadian Press
Woensdag Jun 16 2010

WINNIPEG—The head of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission on residential schools says the stories of survivors will no longer be relegated to the sidelines of Canadian history.
Manitoba Justice Murray Sinclair says the commission will allow aboriginals to talk about what happened to them at the schools and their stories will finally get the attention they deserve.
Sinclair was speaking Wednesday at the opening of the commission’s first public hearing in Winnipeg.

He said no one will be forced to speak of abuse suffered at the schools, but if survivors choose to come forward they will have the commission’s full attention.
“To all those who wish to share their experience with us, I promise you this: if you have something to tell, we will hear you. You will not be questioned. You will not be asked to prove anything. You do not have to share anything that you do not wish to share.
“You will be provided with supports to assist you. You will be treated with respect. You will be treated with dignity.”

Sinclair said Canadians will see, hear and feel things that they’ve never witnessed before, but in the end everyone will come out stronger.

“We are doing these things here today, and for the rest of this week, and for the term of the commission for one simple reason — the truth eventually will heal us all.”

He says it will also help to explain the great disparity that remains between aboriginals and the rest of the country.

“Our goal is to lay the groundwork that will help us to close the divide between aboriginal people and the rest of Canadians. We will do that through the sharing of truths and understandings so there is a role for each of us. We all have a responsibility while this is occurring to make it happen.”

The hearing’s opening ceremonies were held in a grassy area called the Oodena Celebration Circle at the junction of the Red and Assiniboine rivers. The spot is a traditional aboriginal meeting place and has been for thousands of years.

Aboriginal prayers and languages could be heard alongside Christian prayers in French and English.

Federal Indian Affairs Minister Chuck Strahl also spoke at the opening and said the government plans to repeal the section of the Indian Act that allowed aboriginal children to be removed from their homes and sent to residential schools in the first place.

A cheer arose from the crowd upon hearing Strahl’s announcement.
He said it’s important to make sure that First Nations education is reformed and strengthened so as to improve aboriginal high school graduation rates.

About 150,000 First Nations, Inuit and Métis children were forced to attend the government and church-run schools over much of the last century. The last closed outside Regina in 1996.

About 85,000 former students are still alive.
The $60 million commission, meant to expose and expiate the pain and suffering caused by residential schools, was part of a landmark deal reached with survivors who had filed a class-action lawsuit against Ottawa and the churches.