The Apology today was our political leaders, both the House of Commons partisan and the national aboriginal leadership, at their very finest. I want to specifically thank Prime Minister Stephen Harper for the authenticity and sincerity he personally conveyed in articulating the depth of our national shame and in detailing the sad and sorrowful reasons for which we need to apologize.
Canada was proud to be recognized as the best place in the world to live by the United Nations Human Development Index for about 6 straight years. We were quickly relegated to 6th place once the lives and plight of our aboriginal peoples were included in the UN evaluation. That re-evaluation underscores the consequences of our collective shame and for our failings of aboriginal peoples as exemplified by the Residential School tragedy.
Grand Chief Phil Fontaine said this day is "...a testimony to the achievment of the impossible." Mary Simon of the Inuit said that today this is the “dawning of a new day.” There is a need for us to find a new way to go forward and to commit ourselves to develop more mutual trust and respect. That is going to be so necessary before we can overcome that part of our shared history and the abject injury that has been wrought upon so many aboriginal people.
This day will be iconic in the history of this country. The struggle for truth and reconciliation starts today but we have an auspicious start. Well done and thank you to all those who made "the impossible" happen and all those political and aboriginal leaders who spoke today and made it so meaningful.
Didn't the Government of Canada apologize on behalf of the people of Canada ten years ago?
ReplyDeleteHarper has continued to demonstrate great leadership on numerous issues. Who would have thought a minority could last this long? It must be because liberals agree that he is doing a decent job.
ReplyDeleteAndy,
ReplyDeleteLike many liberal announcements in the past (read Kyoto announcement), it was mere rhetoric that was not backed up with any concrete action.
Like many liberal announcements in the past (read Kyoto announcement), it was mere rhetoric that was not backed up with any concrete action.
ReplyDeleteOh, and I here I thought an apology was just that, words meant to admit guilt and request forgiveness. But what you are saying is that an apology isn't an apology unless it is actually a reparation. Good to know. I'm also glad that the $350 million that the Liberals gave over in 1989 was "mere rhetoric." The taxpayers will be relieved to know there wasn't a cost to that apology.
Andy, concrete action need not be money. The Liberals did not change any legislation or policies that would better the plight of Native Canadians. Are you arguing the liberals adequately addressed the situation? It is a damn shame that the liberals have ignored the issue for so long without bettering the living standards in those downtroddan communities. It will take a conservative government to take action rather than merely talking.
ReplyDelete