Most Saskatchewan Residential School Survivors Not Ready To Forgive

Monday, 14 June 2010 16:45

(Saskatoon, SK) FSIN Vice Chief Lyle Whitefish says First Nations in Saskatchewan do not support a statement issued this weekend forgiving the Federal Government for the atrocities and cultural genocide during and following the Indian Residential School era. A national coalition of First Nations, Inuit and Metis believers in the Creator, under the guiding principles of their Covenant issued the “Forgiven Statement” on Saturday in Ottawa at the National Forgiven Summit.

“We do not believe that we are ready to take a position and make the statement that we have reconciled with the government. Our First Nation communities still face despair and the social issues continue to worsen due the impacts from the residential school era,” says Vice Chief Whitefish. “We have lost most of our languages yet the Federal Government has cut $30 million from the languages fund. If they want forgiveness, they should be actively involved in assisting us with language revitalization.”

Since the settlement agreement in 2007, the Federation has been instrumental in providing outreach and communication to survivors in this province. We assist and educate survivors on all components of the agreement. Saskatchewan represents the highest number of survivors in the country at 23 per cent.

“This coalition that plans to issue this statement does not speak on behalf of all survivors. Based on our visits to the communities, there is still a lot of anger, bitterness and despair,” says Vice Chief Whitefish. “Funding was cut from the Aboriginal Healing Foundation which provided our communities with funding to assist in healing. We need to heal in order to forgive.”

The Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations represents 74 First Nations in Saskatchewan. The Federation is committed to honouring the spirit and intent of Treaty, as well as the promotion, protection and implementation of the Treaty promises that were made more than a century ago.

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