The federal government apology to aboriginal peoples for Canada’s residential schools before Parliament broke for summer is all about hope for the future.

The special session held in the House of Commons was an emotional day for all of us in attendance. Our ancestors did us no favours when they elected to build residential schools to educate aboriginal children and youth. The concept really came off the rails when abuse against these innocents occurred in many of the schools. Residential schools are a black mark on the Canadian historical landscape, and this admission was needed to begin the healing process.

This open sore on the Canadian psyche has been haunting native and non-native culture for more than a century, and I am proud to be a member of the government that wants to begin the healing. The residential schools separated more than 150,000 aboriginal children from their families starting in the 1870s. Federal governments of yesteryear wanted to educate these children and assimilate them into white society. While assimilation was wrong-headed and paternalistic, there were numerous dedicated educators in the system who did ultimately help to launch many aboriginal children into successful careers.

It took many years to see the error of our ways and longer still to try to atone for it, but here we are in 2008 – we admit the folly of our forefathers and intend to turn this page of history forever. As Prime Minister Stephen Harper said in his historic address, “Today, we recognize that this policy of assimilation was wrong, has caused great harm, and has no place in our country… 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. While some former students have spoken positively about their experiences at residential schools, these stories are far overshadowed by tragic accounts of the emotional, physical and sexual abuse and neglect of helpless children, and their separation from powerless families and communities. The legacy of Indian Residential Schools has contributed to social problems that continue to exist in many communities today.”

There appears to be an appetite to get past this historic wrong. Our apology reinforces the government commitment to the Indian Residential Schools Settlement Agreement and its components, a Commons Experience Payment, an Independent Assessment Process, Commemoration Activities, measures to support healing, and the Indian Residential School Truth and Reconciliation Commission.

An apology is not enough – we will do our best to use this bleak past as a stepping stone to build a brighter future.

-30-

The audio version of Garry's July 14, 2008 op-ed column can be heard by clicking here