I was interested in finding the apologies that were offered by the denominations who were involved in creating and running the residential schools. The Catholic Church offered many apologies as many different aspects of the church were involved in different schools.
The apology that was offered by the Oblates of Mary Immaculate stated that they now knew the extent of the damage they had caused. "Anthropological and sociological insights of the late 20th century have shown how deep, unchallenged, and damaging was the naive cultural, ethnic, linguistic, and religious superiority complex of Christian Europe when its peoples met and interrelated with the aboriginal peoples of North America" (Oblates, 1991). I like this statement as it does acknowledge that there is concrete proof of these things, but I am astonished that it took until the end of the 20th century to acknowledge this damage. The Oblates also acknowledge that many of the problems present in First Nations communities have stemmed from European ethnocentrism and the destruction of First Nations culture that came with that. The main points of their apology were the very existence of the residential schools, the physical and sexual abuse that occurred in these schools and the destruction of scared ritual and practices because of the inability of the missionaries to see the divinity in First Nations practices.
The qualification that they offer to their apology was to acknowledge the men and women, both Native and white who spent their lives in a dedication towards these schools that was sincere and heroic. Although the outcomes of these schools were horrific, there were good and sincere people involved in them who were simply unaware of the negative consequences that would occur through this process.
The apology is complete as the Oblates have promised to implement a conversion in their actions towards First Nations communities in order to ensure that a better relationship can be made. One of the goals is to ensure that First Nations families retain their natural rights to stay together and never again will an authority forcibly remove their children (Oblates, 1991). This unfortunately is not entirely being upheld, as is evidenced in the practices of child welfare, which have claimed three times as many children as were ever in residential schools. They do also pledge a mutuality in reconciliation through which both parties can speak of what occurred in the past in order to positively shape the future. I don't know if this is truly occurring in the present, but I hope it is. Mutuality in expression is the only way true reconciliation may every occur.
The Statement from the National Meeting on Indian Residential Schools that occurred in 1991 as well began with sharing of stories. This example should have been followed by Harper when he offered the apology in the House of Commons. Stories remain an integral part of First Nations healing and creating the space in which to share stories and to have those stories accepted is necessary in order for reconciliation to occur. This apology also related the present circumstances of First Nations communities to past injustices. The focus on this allows for blame to be taken from individuals to be placed on systemic injustices, where the blame rightly belongs. Although this is important in assisting in restoring some of the self-esteem that was taken from First Nations communities, more must be done in order to ensure that more than lip service is paid to the reality of systemic injustices. Systemic change must be created in order to truly heal the damage that has been done to First Nations communities. This statement also stated that creating local dialogues was more important than creating a federal public inquiry into the past of the residential schools. This does work a level more suited to creating reconciliation within communities. I am not certain if it would be possible for the federal government to do the same thing, but more focus on local efforts may create a greater impact.
I am not sure where to find the information of ongoing efforts within the Catholic church in Canada, but it my hope that these goals are being met in the effected communities all across Canada.
References
The Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate. (1991). An Apology to the First Nations of Canada by the Oblate conference of Canada. Retrieved June 10th, 2011 from http://www.cccb.ca/site/eng/media-room/files/2630-apology-on-residential-schools-by-the-catholic-church
National Meeting. (1991). Statement by the national meeting on Indian residential schools. Retrieved June 10th, 2011, from http://www.cccb.ca/site/eng/media-room/files/2630-apology-on-residential-schools-by-the-catholic-church
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