Making amends for the past: Ottawa reaches out to aboriginals

OTTAWA – Canada’s new Indian Affairs minister made what Ottawa hopes will be the first halting steps this week toward a new relationship with Canada’s aboriginal peoples.

Jane Stewart, Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development, held an eagle feather in her hand as she asked for forgiveness from aboriginal leaders gathered in Ottawa, promising them action on several longstanding issues.

On Wednesday the Chrétien government finally responded to the report tabled by the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples (RCAP) in November 1996.

“The time has come to state formally that the days of paternalism and disrespect are behind us and that we are committed to changing the nature of the relationship between aboriginal and non-aboriginal people in Canada,” Stewart told native leaders.

Statement of reconciliation

The highlight of the minister’s address was what Ottawa is dubbing a “statement of reconciliation” and was followed by details of a new Aboriginal Action Plan, which will include the the creation of a $350 million “healing fund.”

This money will go toward community-based healing programs to deal with the legacy of physical and sexual abuse aborignal Canadians suffered in the residential school system.

Inuit, First Nations and Métis, along with health and social professionals, will decide how to distribute the money.

The statement of reconciliation acknowledges the role Ottawa played in the development and administration of residential schools, such as the Sir Joseph Bernier Federal School in Chesterfield Inlet.

“Particularly to those individuals who experienced the tragedy of sexual and physical abuse at residential schools and have carried this burden believing that in some way they must be responsible, we wish to emphasize that what you experienced was not your fault and should never have happened,” the statement reads in part. “To those of you who suffered this tragedy at residential schools, we are deeply sorry.”

Marius Tungilik, head of Human Resources for the Nunavut Interim Commission and a former student in Chesterfield Inlet, said he welcomed the apology.

“It’s been a long time coming,” Tungilik said. “I hope that the people who went to the schools will consider the spirit in which the statement was given.”

The apology also acknowledges the contributions that Inuit, First Nations and Métis have made to Canadian society.

It further recognizes past actions by the federal government eroded the political, economic and social systems of aboriginal people.

“The Government of Canada today formally expresses to all aboriginal people in Canada our profound regret for past actions of the federal government,” the statement reads.

New action plan

The new Aboriginal Action Plan, called “Gathering Strength,” aims to boost political, economic, cultural and social health in native communities.

Aboriginal language programs will benefit from the new plan. More money for social housing is also in store.

“Working with our partners at Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, we’ll speed up repairs to housing and build new houses according to community needs and priorities,” Stewart promised.

Reforms are also in store for the welfare system as money shifts to job creation and economic development.

Not everyone happy

The national chief of the Assembly of First Nations (AFN), Phil Fontaine, embraced the announcement as the beginning of a new partnership between Ottawa and native peoples.

But other native leaders weren’t as convinced.

The Métis, Native Women’s Assocation and the Congress for Aboriginal Peoples called the government’s apology “weak.” They said that the response to the RCAP report was narrow and that there hadn’t been enough consultation beforehand.

Okalik Eegeesiak, President of the Inuit Tapirisat of Canada ITC), noted there was no mention of Arctic relocations in the statement of reconciliation or any distinction made between Inuit and First Nations people.

“We are unique,” Eegeesiak said. “We hope actions will respect this distinctiveness.”

Just a beginning

Faced with these criticisms, Minister Stewart later said that the Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development would continue to work with Inuit and Métis on resolving specific issues.

This promise satisfied Mary Sillett, past ITC president and the only Inuk commissioner to sit on the Royal Commission.

She said that Ottawa’s repsonse to the Commission’s report should be lauded as a serious attempt to deal with many of the rreport’s recommendations.

“It’s a good way to begin a new year,” Sillett said.