11 June 2008 On behalf of the Government of Canada and all
Canadians, Prime Minister Stephen Harper offered an historic
formal apology today to former students of Indian Residential
Schools and sought forgiveness for the students’ suffering and
for the damaging impact the schools had on Aboriginal culture,
heritage and language. "The treatment of children in Indian
Residential Schools is a sad chapter in our history," Prime
Minister Harper said. "Today, we recognize this policy of
assimilation was wrong, has caused great harm, and has no place
in our country. The Government of Canada sincerely apologizes
and asks the forgiveness of the Aboriginal peoples of this
country for failing them so profoundly." Today’s apology
reinforces numerous other government initiatives designed to
address the tragic legacy of Indian Residential Schools,
including the ongoing implementation of the historic Indian
Residential Schools Settlement Agreement which includes: a
Common Experience Payment; an Independent Assessment Proces