A National Crime by John S. Millloy
“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