Beginning of the long healing journey for residential school survivors has begun
Healing to begin
Oct 17 2007
As a community leader and someone involved in the work towards healing and reconciliation of our First Nations people in this country, I am writing to highlight some promising aspects of an historical process already underway on the implementation of the Indian Residential Schools Settlement Agreement.
It strikes me that former residents of Indian Residential Schools, who are at long last applying for the first element of the Settlement Agreement called the Common Experience Payments (CEP) are doing so in large numbers, with a sense of hope and renewed optimism.
Some thought this day would never arrive - that the experience would never be recognized. Others courageously fought on, never giving up or admitting defeat, despite the odds. Today, generations of survivors are filling out CEP applications and encountering a warm and receptive response from government officials from a department called Service Canada. There are smiles, positive interactions and already the light at the end of the tunnel, called “reconciliation” is in the air.
The real “healing” will begin, once the Independent Assessment Process (IAP) gets underway. The IAP is the new out-of-court adjudication process that will hear and settle claims of serious physical abuse, sexual abuse and other wrongful acts committed against First Nations children who attended the Indian Residential Schools.
Survivors will need to be prepared to go through this process, will need to be ready to face their past - will need to be ready to heal. It is expected that 15,000 claims or more will go through the IAP. I can just imagine the impact this will have throughout the country - the countless family members and community people that will be impacted by this broad-based healing process.
Then, we will begin to hear more about the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC). Three highly esteemed commissioners will soon be appointed to hear the truth, not only from survivors but all of those involved in the Indian Residential school legacy. This legacy has been the history of our First Nations people. We knew of the stories as we grew up, we whispered about the abuses and as pain and the damage became more apparent, we came to understand that this was Canada’s history too. The TRC will facilitate the unveiling of our shared history in Canada and make us a better country.
Already, I am happy to see the beginnings of promise through the Settlement Agreement. I look forward to the next five years and pray we will see a day when the truth, healing, reconciliation allow us all to enjoy a more promising future together.
Mayor Donna Barnett,
100 Mile House