What about all the other children who were abused by their own parents and caregivers? How many countless children have had the “child in the child” killed?

The difference is this was state sponsored. Entities – the government of Canada and provinces allowed it to happen. What you’re referring to is a different entity – the province of B.C. – should have had a child welfare system in place adequate enough to prevent child abuse within families.

There is no question F.N. people have suffered disproportionately to the general population, at the hands of government, church, and I dare say – their own leaders and relatives.

The problem as I see it, is no amount of apologies or money will ever fix it. As long as F.N. people are allowed to stay in the mindset of a victim, they will never recover. I have friends who were sexually abused by close relatives, they managed to go on, get married, have a home, a job a life.

And I believe the government of Canada had a genocidal intention. The amount F.N. were owed under the treaties was staggering, and no one wanted to pay the true cost. So, like every government, they punted the problem down the road, hoping the problem would shrink in size and hopefully die. And it didn’t. It survived, and now the bill has come due, and the people being asked to pay for it, weren’t even born when the decisions were made.

It would be a small comfort to me, if we could revoke the pensions of any politicians still alive who were involved in this debacle.

It was a hell of a thing that happened to these families, but it is time to get over it & start moving forward. Dwelling on the past every day will not heal those effected. AND where is the Catholic & Anglican churches & there help? They did the most damage & harm to the children.

Nice that the Truth and Reconciliation Commission has produced a report containing 94 recommendation that will help this country move forward in its relationship with our Aboriginal peoples. I am not surprised with the Harper government’s cool and indifferent response to the Commission’s report, given the “fact” that it was this government, that tried unsuccessfully in court, to stop the Truth and Reconciliation Commission from gaining access to the government national archives, to conduct important research on finding the “truth” about the nature and extent of residential school abuse on vulnerable Aboriginal children.

Again I say; these are Conservatives that we are dealing with, what care do they have, or value do they place, in something like the “truth”?

You can’t see the future if you are always looking back.

I am glad to see that the light of day has come to those who have suffered from political and religious beliefs. I am glad that Chief Teegee, wants his people to move forward and hang onto their culture as well as be emersed in the society around them today.

Really PVal? I think one can’t have perspective on the future unless one understands the past. This process is about understanding the past so we can all walk into a future together with an understanding of past wrongs that need to be accounted for and how we can accommodate a better future together.

I anticipate a lot of negative comments towards me for my opinion but so be it!

I do agree that the results of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission report into residential schools. I believe that the wrongs that were done were tragic. I believe that we should all be equal. I believe that the children and families that were torn apart should be compensated in any way shape or form that is necessary in order to right the wrongs that were perpetrated upon them.

But, and this where you might disagree, I am curious as to when we will see First Nations taking other First Nations to task over the wrongs that were perpetrated upon them.

History has shown that neighbouring First Nations weren’t always peaceful neighbours. Wars erupted between them! Brutal murders and brutal rapes happened. First Nations men were killed while the surviving women and children being taken in and assimilated into the victorious First Nation. Entire First Nations were wiped out!

Wrongs were perpetrated upon First Nation’s people by the “white” man, but also by other First Nation’s peoples!

So, if apologies, reparation and conciliation are to expected to take place between the “white” man and First Nation’s people, then shouldn’t the same be demanded and expected between different groups of First Nation’s peoples?

So far, I haven’t seen any evidence of this happening and that puzzles me!

We need to move forward in our efforts for reconciliation, but shouldn’t that included everyone?

Hart Guy, the difference is, those FN’s were at war with each other. In this case, the F.N. people were actually not only citizens of Canada, but wards of Canada in as much as the government of Canada held everything in trust. Really, the relationship was one of parent child and really that attitude only started to change in the sixties.

So, with a fiduciary duty, the government of Canada systematically sets up a system designed to wash out the “Indian” and make them “white like”. The government was not at war with them, they were citizens. Imagine if the government decided to take all the East Indian kids and put them in camps to learn “European” values. Imagine the poop storm.

But that said, I think I hear where you’re coming from. And I, like you, am asking the question – when will we have paid enough money to make this problem go away. If you hit me with your car, an apology is nice, but I want cash, and if the F.N. leaders are being honest, that’s the end game here. Cash, and lots of it. And the question those of us who have inherited this mess ask, is, will it ever be enough, or should we just all pack up and go back to Europe (which will be hard because I was born here) and the F.N. can go back to hunting Elk and warring with each other – at least until Russia invades.

Eagleone…. Best response for you is. No ***( Sherlock..but you have to let it go and move on… You can’t let it define you or be an excuse for losing culture.. It’s up to the people of that culture to keep the language, history continue. It costs no money..it just costs desire and time. It also needs young members to want to keep the culture..

Not every native was in the schools, yet the culture is fading away.. Who’s fault is that..

Edited for language.

Ottawa ordered to provide all residential schools documents

Truth and Reconciliation Commission took federal government to court over denial of millions of documents

“The government maintained it had no obligation to provide the records in Library and Archives Canada.”

(Remove the space between http and : and put into your computer’s address bar)

http ://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/ottawa-ordered-to-provide-all-residential-schools-documents-1.1345892

“We have the numbers in many ridings to deliver the margin of victory in an election. It’s just that First Nations people have never been organized in that sense before. Historically, First Nations people have a low voter turnout. so we’re working to change that,” he said.

Organization hopes to rally the First Nations vote

(Remove the space between http and : and put into your computer’s address bar)

http ://www.saultstar.com/2015/05/28/organization-hopes-to-rally-the-first-nations-vote

Ski51, the first part of your comment is both factual and correct, however, the last paragraph in your comment contains nothing but unsubstantiated opinion and speculation. “…but they want cash, and if the F.N. leaders are being honest, that’s the end game here. Cash, and lots of it. And the question those of us who have inherited this mess ask, is, will it ever be enough?”

The Lax Kw’alaams Band recently turned down a 1.15 Billion dollar LNG Company offer, equating to $319,000 (US$267,000) for each member, as compensation for building a natural gas export terminal on their ancestral lands. Now here is where ski51 needs to pay particular attention: the Lax Kw’alaams Band publicly stated, in their rejection of the offer; “This is not a money issue”. Quite clearly they are saying no amount of money will do, because this is NOT a money issue.

I know this is difficult to understand, especially those that espouse the “money rules all” capitalist system. Imagine, despite more than a century of residential school brain washing and reform, these people have still maintained their values for, and connection with, their ancestral land. These people, know you can’t eat money, and they will not allow the lands and the waters that have fed them, and kept them alive for centuries, to be harmed or disturbed. I know it is a bizarre way of thinking, but they are actually thinking about what is in the best interests of their nation’s future generations. Imagine if we applied their values, and their way of thinking, to global warming? What a beautiful and noble people, despite all that they have gone through, they continue to show us how much “bigger” they are than us.

The following is a link to the Lax Kw’alaams rejection of the 1.15 Billion LNG offer. Copy and paste it to your address bar, then delete the space between the : and the /

http: //tinyurl.com/oe4ccgc

To Hart Guy: were your ancestors Irish or Scottish or any of the other nationalities the English abused after occupying their lands? If so, are you still demanding an apology? After all, wouldn’t that be similar to your analogy that First Nations should be demanding an apology from each other if one Nation invaded the other?
To PVal: “You can’t see the future if you are always looking back” I would reply that “Those who ignore history are doomed to repeat it”.
To the Sage: Thanks for being the voice of reason.
To First Nations and the Truth and Reconciliation Report investigators, writers, and especially Justice Sinclair: Thank-you for doing this terrible, desperately necessary, incredibly hard job – as a nation, all of Canada will benefit from it. Let the healing begin.

Sophic Sage, as right as you seem to always think you are, sometimes like the rest of us, you are wrong!

Regarding your statement:

“I know this is difficult to understand, especially those that espouse the “money rules all” capitalist system. Imagine, despite more than a century of residential school brain washing and reform, these people have still maintained their values for, and connection with, their ancestral land. These people, know you can’t eat money, and they will not allow the lands and the waters that have fed them, and kept them alive for centuries, to be harmed or disturbed. I know it is a bizarre way of thinking, but they are actually thinking about what is in the best interests of their nation’s future generations. Imagine if we applied their values, and their way of thinking, to global warming? What a beautiful and noble people, despite all that they have gone through, they continue to show us how much “bigger” they are than us.”

…is just you blowing of self-righteous steam!

You need to go to northeaster BC and talk to people in the oil and gas industry. They will tell you that in order to get a permit to build a lease site or put in a road, all that is needed is payment of “MONEY” to the local band! They will tell you how in order to proceed with a project, they will have to put a number of First Nations people on the payroll, with the full knowledge that these people will NEVER show up for work.

All it takes is some MONEY!

If you don’t think that First Nations people are as interested in MONEY as the rest of us, you should go up to Fort McMurray to see how many First Nations people are willing to give up their values, their way of thinking, their concern for global warming, etc, all for a high paying job at the Oil Sands!

Also Sophic Sage, if First Nations are as concerned about the environment as you think they are, perhaps you can explain why they don’t seem to follow the same environmental standards on reserve land as the rest of the population is required to follow on private or crown land??

So round and round it goes.

I don’t have all the details at hand, however some First Nation tribes on the West Coast, and I believe some interior tribes had slaves. Furthermore it was not unusual for them to kill these slaves when they thought the situation warranted it.

Not that this makes a hell of a lot of difference one way or the other, however the History of the First Nations is Canada is far from being perfect.

I am not sure how this situation will be resolved, however I suspect it will be around for a long long time.

Does anyone else see the fault in Hart Guy’s logic?

Of course it’s a free country; “individuals” have the freedom and right to choose; where they want to live, where they want to work, even be who they want to be. Is it possible that one or two Lax Kw’alaams Band members could be working in the Alberta oil and gas industry? It is quite possible, but my comment was about a people, a whole community, an entire First Nation, standing up, and with one collective voice, telling a multi-national LNG Company (and the world); that our values, our ancestral land, and the well-being of our future generations, is NOT for sale, and will NOT be bought for any amount of money. “This is not a money issue”.

Truth and Reconciliation Report fact; Aboriginal children attending residential schools were just as likely to die as Canadian soldiers serving in WW2.

www. cbc.ca/news/aboriginal/truth-and-reconciliation-commission-by-the-numbers-1.3096185

Copy and paste to your address bar, then delete the space between the www. and the c

Sophic Sage, as I said an earlier post, as right as you seem to always think you are, sometimes like the rest of us, you are wrong! But thanks for pointing out the fault in my logic!

Now, regarding your logic, perhaps you can tell me how many First Nations have signed development agreements? And why would you think that the Lax Kw’alaams speak or act for all First Nations? You speak of the Lax Kw’alaams as a people, as if they are a distinct race when I would suggest that they are not a distinct race but rather are a group of aboriginal people, just like other aboriginal peoples.

Are you suggesting that Caucasians are one race, Asians are another race, Blacks are yet another race, but with First Nations, each and every separate band is a separate race?

Lastly, where is the logic in some First Nations seeming lack of concern for the environment by their failure or choice to follow or abide by the same environmental standards on reserve land as the rest of the population is required to follow on private or crown land?? You kinda sorta ignored that question!!

Hart Guy, I think you are right on the money, and it is all about money. The shaking of the tree is almost done.
That is why most of the upstream and midstream bands have signed off with TransCanada. Just a few stragglers now, The rest will fall into line when they realize there is no more money offered.
Hart Guy, as to your 6:53 post, I most definitely agree, and so would anyone that travels BC.
I have an iPad file of images taken the last few years during my travels in BC.
“Caretakers of the land ” they are not, despite having substantial resourses.
The Chiefs and councillors refuse to respond to my email queries.
Hart Guy and many many others like him know what really is going on behind the current FN facade

Sophic Sage, here’s some news, hot off the press. Perhaps you missed it??

Treaty 8 First Nations sign deals on pipeline projects

Both the province and TransCanada announced Monday deals had been struck with Doig River and Halfway River First Nations on both the Prince Rupert Gas Transmission (PRGT) and Coastal GasLink pipelines. The deal will see payments flow to the bands if construction of the pipelines start and become operational.

In the deal reached with with the province, Doig River will see a total of $1.29 million in payments if three construction milestones for the PRGT pipeline are reached — $168,000 upon the agreement coming into effect, $560,000 when construction begins, and $560,000 once the pipeline is operating — according to the Ministry of Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation Communications.

Halfway River will see a total of $2 million as milestones are reached, receiving $336,000, $840,000, and $840,000 respectively, the ministry said.

As well, the province will give Doig River First Nation $1.35 million and Halfway River $2.4 million as construction milestones for the Coastal GasLink project are reached. Doig River will receive $175,500 upon the agreement coming into effect, $585,000 when construction begins, and $585,000 once the pipeline is operating. Halfway River will receive $406,000 upon the agreement coming into effect, $1.02 million when construction begins, and $1.02 million once the pipeline is operating.

Both nations will also receive a share of $10 million in annual provincial payments to First Nations that sign agreements along the route of the pipelines. They will also have access to a $30 million shared pot for skills training.

For the full story:

http://energeticcity.ca/article/news/2015/06/01/treaty-8-first-nations-sign-deals-on-pipeline-projects

One statistic speaks volumes.

You were more likely to die in a residential school (1 in 25) than if you were a soldier in WWII (1 in 26).

Whatever we do or think about residential schools you have to have this statistic in mind. They are all survivors of a system that killed a greater percentage of them than a Canadian soldier in the greatest war the world has ever seen.

We can’t fix this. We can only hope to move on and hope to find another solution than beating the red out of them.

Sophic, it appears that it may be more about the money than you are willing to admit!

Perhaps we should get back to the topic of this thread, which is the Residential Schools Report!

Good post Palopu. It’s easy to romanticize a culture when the filter of history is so obscured. Every single culture & people that have lived have some ugly skeletons in their collective closets. The atrocities done to the natives in Canada will always be a blight on our history but when do we say “Enough, I can no longer be ruled by & with the guilt of a bygone era”?
All of us need to remember & learn from the past & move on. And yes Krusty, I come from both Scottish & Irish heritage where my Clan was almost entirely decimated. Do I hold a grudge against anyone with the Campbell surname? Not a chance… Well maybe Colin for some of his incongruent rulings… ;)

Hart Guy……….it IS so easy for us with varied opinions to derail off the topic

Posting facts, statistical or otherwise, is why I comment on here apoliticalgeek. Yes, Aboriginal children were more likely to die at residential schools than our soldiers were in World War 2. Shocking!!!

I don’t know how the Harper government is going to implement recommendation 43. Their Bill C-51 already violates the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and Canada’s Chart of Rights and Freedoms. In light of all these violations, achieving recommendation 43 seems highly unlikely.

“43. We call upon federal, provincial, territorial, and municipal governments to fully adopt and implement the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of
Indigenous Peoples as the framework for reconciliation.

Sophic read my post again We’re talking about residential schools and genocide My car accident analogy should clue you in The FN aren’t happy with an apology End of day they want lots of cash for what was done Where you got resource issues from that I have no idea. I just wonder if there’s any amount of money that will make this go away. What is ironic is people who weren’t born when this happened are likely going to be required to make payment to the decedent’s of the abused who also weren’t born when it happened So the FN philosophy is the sins of the father’s should be paid for by their children? If true the Japanese and Germans owe me a ton of cash for what they did to my grandfather’s in POW camps.

Thanks for the positive comment Krusty.

ski51, sorry, I read through your comment twice and could not make sense of it. If you could rephrase, or if someone else can clarify it for me, please do.

Sophic, you claim it’s not about the money!

I posted a news release about two more bands reaching a financial agreement to resource development and your response is to ignore it.

Guess you only like facts and truths when they support your position.

Funny thing is, sometimes the facts and truths supports something other than your position. Kinda sucks, eh, haha!

Nite Peeps!

Ski51 comment at 9:25 p.m. is not so hard to understand.
The questions are;
When is the matter going to end?
How much money will it cost to get this resolved once and for all?
How many more generations will have to fund the apologies?

My (cynical, I admit) suspicion is that these issues will be kept alive for as long as possible by Chiefs and lawyers because they want the money to continue to flow. Someone (federal gov’t) has to eventually.

I too long for a Canada where all citizens stand on equal footing and sincerely hope that the findings and recommendations of the T & R Commission lead to a series of FINAL settlements.
Then, let us all move on, remember the past, but work for the future.
metalman.

So the best way to get over this is for all involved to get professional help. Since we all get “free” medical it’s up to the victims to seek that help. Giving money won’t help..it’s actually the worst thing to do as you can buy self worth.

Irony or twisted reality ? I spent twelve years in school and then college . I never met one native or Inuit . Never thought about them . I can remember being marched off , on mass , to watch the Hollywood movie Anne Frank . At this very same time my government was doing medical experiments on little children . Starving them to see how little they could survive on . The government is at fault but so are the churchs that carried out cultural genocide . The churchs should be made to give back the blood money they earned for over a hundred years .

If the churchs had any conscience at all they would not have taken the money in the first place .