3.4.4 Responding to the Legacy of Residential Schools

How should contemporary society respond to the legacies of historical globalization?


How should Canada respond to the legacy of residential schools?

The Residential Schools Settlement Act: In 2005, an agreement in principle was struck between the Assembly of First Nations, a government negotiator, survivors, lawyers, and churches. It included

  • a lump sum payment for all survivors with a fast-track program for the elderly
  • a new process to deal with serious claims of abuse
  • a commission to bring greater understanding and awareness of this issue

The final Indian Residential Schools Settlement Agreement was signed in 2006. It included

  • payment of $10,000 for each former student plus an additional $3,000 for each year of residence past the first year

  • a Truth and Reconciliation Commission
    Truth and Reconciliation Commission
    a commission whose mandate is to discover and reveal historical wrongdoing by a government in the hope of resolving conflict remaining from the past

    Such commissions are established by states emerging from periods of internal unrest, civil war, dictatorship, or other forms of injustice.
    mandated to promote public education and awareness about the Indian Residential School system and its legacy, as well as to provide former students, their families, and communities opportunity to share their Indian Residential School experiences

  • additional funding for events and memorials to commemorate the legacy of Indian Residential Schools

  • funding to the Aboriginal Healing Foundation to support its healing programs (Note that the Federal government ended funding to healing foundation in 2010 and it ceased operation in September 2014.)

These payments will cost 1.9 billion dollars.

Click to view Prime Minister Stephen Harper delivering the official government apology.

Reflect


Can money make up for wrongs of the past?

The government of Canada is compensating the victims of residential schools for past injustices with both money, mental health services, and other healing initiatives. Is that enough? Are other and better ways available to deal with this problem? You will discuss this issue in the unit critical challenge. Think carefully!