Snapshots in History: June 11: Remembering the Apology to Former Students of Indian Residential Schools

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

On June 11 and beyond, take a moment to remember the Government of Canada’s statement of apology to former students of the Indian residential school system given by Prime Minister Stephen Harper in the House of Commons on June 11, 2008. This move by the Canadian government was similar to the apology issued by the Government of Australia to its indigenous peoples on February 13, 2008 by then-Prime Minister Kevin Rudd.

The residential school system is a cruel chapter in Canadian history in which governments and churches played a role in cultural assimilation of indigenous children that often resulted in harsh treatment and sometimes death. Full restitution is a long way off but Canadians from different backgrounds can learn more about the subject of residential schools to better understand the injustices that were committed against Canada’s indigenous peoples.

Consider the following titles for borrowing from Toronto Public Library collections:

Books:

 

Also try these books from Toronto Public Library collections:

The Indian Residential Schools Settlement Agreement's common experience payment and healing: a qualitative study exploring impacts on recipients / Gwen Reimer; Aboriginal Healing Foundation, 2010.

 

Response, responsibility, and renewal: Canada's truth and reconciliation journey / edited for the Aboriginal Healing Foundation by Gregory Younging, Jonathan Dewar, Mike DeGagné, 2009. For additional copies, please click here.

Moving beyond: understanding the impacts of residential school / Brent Stonefish; edited by Jody Kechego, 2007.

 

 

DVDs:

We were children Nous étions des enfants [1 videodisc] / Glen Anaquod and Lyna Hart; National Film Board of Canada, 2012. 83 minutes.