Mahsi cho colleagues. Mahsi cho, Mr. Speaker.
WHEREAS generations of aboriginal children suffered physical and emotional abuse, leading to a loss of language, culture and parenting skills, while attending federally funded residential schools;
AND WHEREAS the impact of this abuse will continue to have an ill effect on the health and wellbeing of aboriginal people for generations to come;
AND WHEREAS while paying compensation to aboriginal people who attended residential school is appropriate, it does not address reconciliation;
AND WHEREAS a public apology by the Government of Canada would go a long way to addressing issues rising out of the abuse suffered while attending residential schools that many aboriginal people are still struggling with on a daily basis;
AND WHEREAS precedence exists in Canada vis-à-vis apologies made by the Federal Government to Japanese-Canadians wrongly interned during the Second World War and Chinese-Canadians who were subjected to the discriminatory immigration practice known as the head-tax;
AND WHEREAS other national governments, notably last week’s apology on behalf of the Government of Australia by their Prime Minister, the Honourable Kevin Rudd to the Aborigine people of Australia acknowledging the damage done by past government practices;
AND WHEREAS it would be desirous for the Government of Canada to offer such an apology to the aboriginal people of Canada who where subject to abuse within the residential school system, in order to further reconciliation and forgiveness efforts;
NOW THEREFORE I move, seconded by the Honourable Member for Mackenzie Delta, that this Assembly urges the Prime Minister of Canada to make a public apology to the many aboriginal people that suffered abuse while attending federally funded residential schools;
AND FURTHER, that this Assembly strongly recommends the Premier of the Northwest Territories communicate this desire to the Prime Minister at the next opportunity.
Motion is on the floor. Motion is in order. To the motion.
I would like to thank all of the honourable colleagues and all here today for allowing me to put this motion forward through unanimous consent.
It is something that is affecting almost all of the people of the Northwest Territories, because I believe that over half of our population has been affected by the residential school system. It was something that was imposed upon our aboriginal people — and not only aboriginal people, Mr. Speaker, it was anybody that lived in the North through the laws of the eras of the ’40s, ’50s, ’60s. It was actually mandated law that children must be in school. Because of the vastness of the Northwest Territories, they were actually forcibly taken from their communities and forced into central school systems.
To me, I attended those schools, too, Mr. Speaker. I was forced to go to these schools. And I never did understand the reason why I had to be away from family life. And it was the same for many, many people that entered these systems as well. But today I understand that it was a mandated law. And both through school…. I went to the Lester B. Pearson College of the Pacific in B.C.
In some of my research, I was researching colonialism. And the policies of the day are exactly from the colonialist policies of the past that were instituted here in the Northwest Territories. I often tell people that the people in power, the government of the day, had 300 years experience in Africa before they came over to North America and instituted the same old colonial policies which, by and large, still exist today.
Just in terms of destroying a whole way of life, a whole people, I was really affected. And it’s only now that there’s been a resurgence of aboriginal rights and identity and wanting to show the world our culture — that it was once a vibrant, viable economy, culture and people. And we still are today. We’re an integral part of Canada.
I believe that the longer the Government of Canada takes to apologize to the aboriginal peoples of this country, it keeps the healing and reconciliation that has to happen on the back burner. It keeps us away a lot longer from the healing of the tragedy of our past, Mr. Speaker.
By and large, through the common experience payments and the residential school payments that have been happening over the last six months or so, that is recognition by the Government of Canada that there was a wrong and that they should apologize for it. I don’t see why they have to go through one more stage in order to do that.
I was really happy to see that in Australia, they had a huge ceremony at the opening of their House just two weeks ago. They had their Aborigines; they had their culture; they had their hand drumming; they had music. And there was great, great fanfare of finally recognizing a wrong by their government and working towards healing and closing the gap of their tragedy as well.
And indeed it’s a tragedy of ours. This chapter of our life should have some closure — not only to close the door but a closure in the sense of recognition that this type of incident, of activity that happened, of residential schools, of forcing people into the residential schools, should never, ever happen again. I believe that part of that apology should say that.
As well, as I travel about as an MLA for the past four years, people ask me about this residential school system and how it impacts us. People really didn’t understand what really happened. To me, that’s because it was such a sad chapter in our history that it wasn’t even in our history books. I don’t believe that even in our school systems, people are made aware of the impact and the things that they’ve done to our people to try to erase from us the memories of our proud and historic past.
Today we’re a proud nation. And we want to share that pride with all Canadians. This is one step in doing it. I believe the apology is important as well as to ensure that it never happens again and to ensure that everybody knows the story of what really happened.
So it really touches me to have this motion debated and spoken in this House. I look forward to full support when this vote comes for this motion, Mr. Speaker. Mahsi cho.
Mr. Speaker, it’s an honour to second this motion, knowing the threat of residential schools and also that First Nations people in Canada have suffered under these long-held policies of past governments.
Yet, it’s still originates in our communities, from the suicides that we see, the alcoholism, the physical abuse — it’s still there today.
Mr. Speaker, I was amazed to find out that in my home community, Fort McPherson, there was a residential school operated by the church in 1895. That’s how far back you can go to recognize how this was implemented in Canada. We’ve had residential schools in Hay River, Fort Providence, most of the regional centres, Fort Simpson, Fort Smith. Along with my colleague, I went to a few of these places.
And yet the thing that stands out the most is to talk to your elders and hear of the experiences they went through. They were taken away from their parents at the age of five. They were taken to Hay River, and they were kept there till they were 12 years old, before they were let back home. Seven years you were put into that institution. Seven years you did not get to see your siblings, your parents, your grandparents, your relatives in your home community.
They send you back to your community after you’ve been gone for seven years, and you try to reunite with your family, not able to speak your aboriginal language to your parents, your grandparents, your siblings. Not being able to have the skills to sustain yourself in the harsh environment of a trapping community or a community that has to sustain itself through hunting, trapping and fishing. Not having those skills because you were put into a system that they were trying to brainwash you from having those abilities to carry out those skills.
Yet today we look around and see the problems that still originate in our communities. You can trace an individual’s family tree to where a lot of this stuff started from. It will take you all the way back to your grandparents, who were put in those institutions for seven years. And that’s why we’re burdened with problems we still see in our communities.
Mr. Speaker, as with anything else that happens around us, I think you get a lot more out of having an argument with somebody than simply saying, “Here’s a bunch of cash; we’ll take care of the problem,” rather than approaching an individual, confronting them and saying you’re sorry and honestly meaning that you’re sorry. It goes a lot more till you feel it in your heart. Money isn’t solving your problems. I think an apology from the Government of Canada will go a long way, like it did in Australia from the Prime Minister there, to make that public announcement and to basically have the reaction of the indigenous people of Australia. The same thing should happen here in Canada.
With that, I look forward to the support of all the colleagues in this House in directing the Prime Minister of Canada to seriously apologize to all the aboriginal people of Canada. Thank you.
Applause.
Mr. Speaker, I won’t be long, but I do want to emphasize a particular point. A lot of homes were broken up and challenged by this policy of the government. But the fact that they actually decided to make payment as compensation to recognize the mistake demonstrates the courage we need to have to take the next step to do the right thing, which is to formalize that through an apology. With that note, I hope our Premier will deliver that message. That one little step further may mean not just a little but a lot to a lot of people who have suffered through this.
Mr. Speaker, as we’ve come through a convention and as we’re being directed, and especially as the Premier is being directed to deliver this message, we would, on the cabinet side, be abstaining from this vote. Thank you.
I will allow closing debate to the Member who moved the motion. Mr. Menicoche.
Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.
Indeed, for me, it is a great honour for this House to direct our interest in telling Canada that yes, we as the political body of the Northwest Territories are representing the majority of the population of aboriginals and the majority of the population that suffered in the residential school system that indeed a public apology accompanying that should be on the forefront of the national agenda. I know that federally they are waiting for the Truth and Reconciliation Commission to finish their report, but some time it’s coming. I believe this apology can start the healing a lot sooner than that. There’s talk of a federal election now that further delays cause inaction on this file.
Once again, the file is about destroying a once proud people through government-instituted policies and indeed, an apology should be forthcoming and not be relegated to a bureaucratic jungle. This should be something that, to me, strikes when the iron is hot. I believe the federal government can take this opportunity to tell all Canadians that yes, we erred as well. We did it to the Chinese and the Japanese, but we did it to our aboriginal people first and for the longest, too. I don’t know why they’re waffling and waiting, but it’s something they’ve already recognized and they’re already doing, so I believe an apology should happen sooner than later.
Just to further reiterate the pain and suffering that happened, my honourable colleague from Mackenzie Delta speaks about being five years old. That’s a very small child to be taken away from families and put into institutions. That indeed is a sad chapter, as well as what that had created, especially if they are there for seven and, in some cases, twelve years in the system.
You’ve taken them away from home, family and cultural values, and you’ve created a whole cultural gap, as well as the age gap that happens because you’re away from home for so long. Your normal interactions with your grandparents, the elders in your community, all that is gone. Any knowledge lost from our elders about our way of life is a huge, huge loss. Today we look to the elders to learn from them because we missed out a big gap in our life.
With that, Mr. Speaker, once again I urge all my colleagues to vote in favour of this motion, and to Mr. Premier, to take our direction seriously and speak with the Prime Minister at the earliest opportunity and convey the desire of this House.
I would like to request we go to a recorded vote. Mahsi.
The Member is asking for a recorded vote on the motion. All those in favour of the motion, please stand.
Mr. Menicoche, Mr. Ramsay, Mrs. Groenewegen, Mr. R. McLeod, Mr. Hawkins, Mr. Jacobson, Mr. Beaulieu, Ms. Bisaro, Mr. Krutko, Mr. Bromley, Mr. Abernethy.
All those opposed to the motion, please stand. All those abstaining from the motion, please stand.
Mr. Lafferty, Ms. Lee, Mr. Miltenberger, Mr. Roland, Mr. M. McLeod, Mr. Yakeleya, Mr. B. McLeod.
Results of the vote: 11 for, zero against, seven abstaining.
Motion carried.
Applause.
Item 18, first reading of bills. Item 19, second reading of bills. Item 20, consideration in Committee of the Whole of bills and other matters. Item 21, report of Committee of the Whole. Item 22, third reading of bills.
Colleagues, before the Commissioner enters the Chamber to assent to bills, I would like to draw the attention of all Members to the presence of Mr. Myles Moreside in the Visitors’ Gallery. He’s easy to spot up there.
Applause.
He is surrounded by his many friends and colleagues here in the Assembly. I understand there are also some exchange students in the gallery as well.
As Members know, Mr. Moreside will retire from public service at the end of this month after 25 years of loyal and dedicated service. Today marks the last sitting day of his long and distinguished career. I think it is appropriate that we take just a moment, for the record, to express our gratitude to Mr. Moreside.
I should begin by saying that I have a vested interest in interrupting the House proceedings today for this important occasion. I’ve heard that Mr. Moreside intends to write a book about his many unique experiences within the halls of this institution.
I hope that any kind words I have for him today will be met with similar kindness to me as he puts pen to paper in the weeks and months ahead.
Laughter.
Myles joined the public service of the Northwest Territories in 1983 as a revenue and taxation analyst with the Department of Finance. He finally saw the light and accepted a position with the Legislative Assembly in 1987. Back in those days, the House staff was much smaller than it is now, and they were located in the Yellowknife Inn. Myles’s first job title with the House was Chief of Finance and Administration. That title didn’t last long, as some of the aboriginal Members took offence to having to refer to a member of their staff as “Chief.”
Laughter.
I have had the good fortune to know Myles since my election as a Member in 1999, and the even better fortune to have had him as my Director of Corporate Services during my two terms as Speaker and Chair of the Board of Management.
As Members know, the board often has to fit its meetings around the busy schedules of the House and its committees. Often our meetings take place at the rise of the House and run through the dinner hour. For years I have been curious as to why Myles never ate a meal with the rest of the board and the staff when we were working. It wasn’t until a few days ago that I learned the reason why.
Years ago, while appearing before a committee, a Member asked a question that was, let’s say, not overly intelligent. Myles was just about to swallow a mouthful of food when the question was asked, and it caused him to nearly choke in the middle of the meeting. Ever since he has refrained from eating at meetings, just in case a similar intelligent question was asked.
Laughter.
Colleagues, in all seriousness, it is a great privilege for me to express the gratitude of all Members and, indeed, this entire institution for Mr. Moreside’s many years of dedicated and fine service. I know that many of you have known Myles and worked with him for far longer than I have.
It is interesting to note that he has selected February 29 as his last day of work here. This is indeed a leap year, and we don’t often get to enjoy an additional day in February. However, just as leap years are rare occasions, so are employees with the dedication and commitment of Mr. Myles Moreside.
Myles, on behalf of the Members and staff of the Legislative Assembly and, indeed, the people of the Northwest Territories, I thank you for your service and wish you and Kim and your children and grandson all the enjoyment you deserve in the next exciting stage of your life.
Applause.
I would like to ask all Members and staff to join me in the Members’ Lounge for an informal reception to celebrate both the completion of this sitting and the celebration of an outstanding career.
Myles, just in case you’re thinking about not attending, just remember who signs your record of employment.
Laughter.
Mr. Clerk, would you ascertain if the Commissioner of the Northwest Territories, the Hon. Anthony J. Whitford, is prepared to enter the House to assent to bills?
Monsieur le président, monsieur le premier ministre, messieurs et mesdames les députés, mesdames et messieurs et mes amis.
Once again it is my privilege and my pleasure to be back among you again.
I would like to join the Speaker, the honourable Members of this House and the staff of the Legislative Assembly, past and present, and the Department of the Executive in extending my personal best wishes to Myles Moreside on the occasion of his retirement from the public service.
I have known Myles for many years in my terms as a Member of this House and as your Speaker. I wish to extend best wishes to Myles and his wife, Kim, for a very happy and long retirement together. I would add that I had received a couple of phone calls from persons in the Okanagan wishing Myles the best in his retirement from his former staff.
With the return to Yellowknife of the Arctic Winter Games in March, I look forward to joining many of you at some of the competitions and those special events that have been set out. As many of you know, Stuart Hodgson, the ninth Commissioner of the Northwest Territories, will be attending the opening ceremonies of the Games, along with his son and grandson. It will be a personal honour to welcome Mr. Hodgson back to the Northwest Territories for what I am sure is to be a most enjoyable week.
A personal honour, because when I graduated from the University of Calgary in 1977, Mr. Hodgson was there giving the keynote speech. And in his address he said to the Northern students, “Now that you’ve completed your education here, I hope that some of you will come back to the Northwest Territories and help develop what is the future of Canada and the future of the North.” And some of us did.
