National Day of Reconciliation for Indian Residential School Survivors - June 11, 2009

By Jorge Barrera, Canwest News Service June 11, 2009

OTTAWA — Assembly of First Nations National Chief Phil Fontaine walked
beside Indian Affairs Minister Chuck Strahl on Thursday as they led a
procession of about 1,000 aboriginals, students, union workers and church
officials to the steps of Parliament Hill to mark the first anniversary of
Prime Minister Stephen Harper's apology for residential schools.

On the steps, Fontaine held an eagle feather and a drawing of a man and a
woman given to him by a seven-year-old.

"This day is what this person is saying to us, this National Day of
Reconciliation. Say sorry, say sorry, be nice," said Fontaine. "This is
from a seven-year-old person, but obviously a very wise seven-year-old."

Fontaine said that while the National Day of Reconciliation was about
forgiveness and facing the dark moments of the country's history with the
original residents of the land, it was also about showing Canadians that
they need First Nations people.

"It is about reminding Canadians how very important we are to them and how
they need us if we are to build a beautiful future for this country," he
said.

Strahl opened his speech by repeating Harper's words from June 11, 2008.

"On behalf of the Government of Canada and all Canadians I stand before you
in this chamber so central to our life as a country to apologize to
aboriginal peoples for Canada's role in the Indian residential school
system," said Strahl, quoting parts of Harper's speech. "The burden has
been on your shoulders for far too long. The burden is properly ours as a
government and as a country. The Government of Canada sincerely apologizes
and asks the forgiveness of the aboriginal peoples for failing them so
profoundly."

....

Elmer Courchene, 73, spent 10 years in residential schools in Manitoba and
Saskatchewan. He said his time there was one filled with fear.

"You were always walking around with fear. Fear whether you would be hit or
slapped," he said. "I don't ever want to happen, what happened; to be taken
away from your family."

Meagan Commanda, 25, said the day was also about her generation that still
feels the impact of residential schools.

"I think this day is important because aboriginal people are still
suffering from what happened at residential schools and we still feel it,
even if we weren't there," said Commanda, from Kitigan Zibi First Nation,
near Maniwaki, Ont.

About 150,000 First Nation, Inuit and Metis children were removed from
their families and placed in residential schools across Canada.