Canadian Apology Hit the Right Chord

Relief and a bit of ongoing distrust followed a nationally broadcast apology for the past attempts of Canadian governments to destroy aboriginal culture, partly with residential schools that tore children from their families.

The prime minister’s language was clear and direct. Unlike the last federal attempt to express regret for the mistreatment of generations of aboriginal children, this apology avoided indirect sentences that don’t place blame.

“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,” Stephen Harper said in the House of Commons.

The speech was well received by politicians, media editorial boards and pundits.

But more importantly, it contained enough humility, honesty and remorse to meet the expectations of many aboriginal people in Canada. There are many for whom one speech after more than a century of officially sanctioned oppression could never be enough.

But PM Stephen Harper met the standard for a sincere apology, and that was seen as a necessary beginning step toward national reconciliation with the ancestors of the country’s original inhabitants.

From the front page article in the Globe and Mail:

In full native headdress, Assembly of First Nations National Chief Phil Fontaine went first. A victim of residential school abuse himself, he pulled no punches.

“Brave survivors, through the telling of their painful stories, have stripped white supremacy of its authority and legitimacy,” he said. “The memories of residential schools sometimes cut like merciless knives at our souls. This day will help us to put that pain behind us.”

When Inuit Tapiriit leader Mary Simon spoke, she turned to face the Prime Minister directly.

“I wanted to demonstrate to you that our language and culture is still strong,” she said in Inuktitut, thanking Mr. Harper for having the courage to apologize. “There have been times in this long journey when I despaired that this would never happen. But after listening to the Prime Minister and the leaders of the political parties, I’m filled with hope and compassion for my fellow aboriginal Canadians.”

Hearing the words, and seeing the reaction, you have to wonder what was so difficult that it took so long.

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