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“Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” - George Santayana,The Life of Reason, Volume 1, 1905

The above quotation came to mind as I recently finished reading A National Crime by John S. Milloy.  I have attended sessions where persons who attended the local Residential School related their personal experiences.  But not until I had read this book did I get such a fuller picture of official government response.

No one in my opinion can or should be be particularly proud of our governement response to First Nation’s People.  One duty that we owe to those who continue to suffer as a result of such history is to be educated to what that history was. Lack of awareness and respect to our common humanity is as more to blame for the our nation’s treatment of its First Nation’s People than outright evil intention to harm or neglect. BY any standards, both then as now, certain neglect and abuse was simply criminal and should be regarded as such.

Before we can move on to the future we must review and become aware of our past.  I would recommend this book as one source for becoming aware of it

There are many dimensions to poverty and one of the largest is the absence of education.  The Residential School Truth and Reconcilation Commission (TRC), website http://www.trc-cvr.ca/historicalintroen.html.  was created as a result of the court-approved negotiated Indian Residential Schools Settlement Agreement (IRSSA) reached in September 2007.  

Established on June 1, 2008 It had been hoped that the work of the commission would be completed in five years. The aim of the commission was to educate canadians abouit a significant part of Canadian history unknown to most Canadians by sharing the experience of the Residential School. The TRC will provide former students and anyone affected by the Indian Residential Schools (IRS) experience with an opportunity to come forward and share their personal experiences in a safe, respectful, and culturally appropriate manner. This education and experience hopefully will assist in being a building of better relationships between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal peoples.