30 June to 7 July
Truth and Reconciliation in Canada
On 11th June, Canada apologised to Inuit, Métis and First Nations people for the horrors of more than a century of residential schools. Joining Prime Minister Stephen Harper in the House of Commons were Aboriginal leaders and 104-year old survivor Marguerite Wabano. Assembly of First Nations Chief Phil Fontaine called it a 'new dawn'. A truth and reconciliation commission will follow. The event was preceded by Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd's apology to Aboriginal people. Like Australia, Canada's 'stolen generation' were wrenched from parents and communities. The goal expressed by government, church and school officials was to 'kill the Indian in the child'. Beaten for speaking their languages; taught to reject their 'savage' families, communities and cultures, children suffered emotional, physical and sexual abuse. In his essay, Dark Legacy, my friend and colleague Bud Whiteye describes the daily humiliation and brutal rapes he experienced. He is one of the 'lucky' survivors. One school had only a 50% survival rate. Many who died were buried in unmarked graves.
At home in British Columbia, my husband Pete and I watched the events on the Aboriginal People's Television Network. The world's only national indigenous network, APTN has fostered projects in numerous other countries.
Valerie Alia was formerly Professor of Ethics and Identity at Leeds Met, and is now Visiting Professor, Centre for Research into Diversity in the Professions. Her new book The New Media Nation will be published next year by Berghahn