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Residential schools called ‘cultural genocide’

First Published:

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A long-awaited report has been released on Canada’s residential school system. In a five year examination, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada says their findings point to a “cultural genocide”.

Board chair Murray Sinclair says Canada needs to move from apology to action. The study concludes that aboriginal children were removed from their homes, were subjected to substandard education, malnutrition, abuse, illness and death.

The commission says these schools were intended to bring an end to the aboriginal people. Sinclair revealed that over 6,000 students died while living in residential schools.

CHCH News spoke to Peter Ittinuar, the first Inuk MP in Canada. He was sent to a residential school in 1956. “I was being babysat because my dad was in the RCMP and on patrol all the time; my mom was at a (tuberculosis) sanitorium.”

“I think because my dad was in the rcmp I was left alone, but I know many of my peers were apparently not left alone. That is a sad, sad legacy and I hope there is reconciliation.”

The commission says survivors need Canadians to understand what happened in these schools and that they need to repair the damage before they leave this earth.

This morning during Question Period at Queen’s Park, Ontario aboriginal affairs minister David Zimmer spoke about the report. “We will continue to do our part to educate and raise awareness among Canadians of our shared history and the painful place aboriginal schools.”

“One of the most important steps we can make is the education and awareness of the non-aboriginal community. The ministry of First Nations has partnered with our ministry to develop resources that will assist educators in planning student learning.”

The key recommendations include the creation of a statatory holiday to honour survivors, their families and communities. The TRC also wants the government to introduce new aboriginal education legislation and to implement health care rights for First Nations people.

CHCH’s Melissa Raftis will have more from the report itself, while Lisa Hepfner is getting reaction from people on the Six Nations Reserve. That’s tonight on the Evening News at 6.

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