Peter Harrison - Speaking My Truth

Dispelling Ignorance of Residential SchoolsIn the late summer of 2007, the conversation among a group of senior federalofficials turned to the question of immigration. The discussion was widerangingand covered both the challenges and the opportunities that Canada,as a country dependent on immigration, continues to face. At one point, acomparison was made between Canada’s experience and that of Europeancountries such as France, Germany, the United Kingdom, and other membersof the European Union. The question was raised as to why the integrationof immigrant populations into Canadian society has seemingly been moresuccessful than elsewhere. One hypothesis raised was that, unlike manyEuropean nations, Canada has never been a colonial power. The argumentwas that since Canada has never had overseas dependencies—such as theBelgians in the Congo, the French in Algeria, or the British in Hong Kong orIndia—entitlements to residence in the colonizing jurisdiction had not beencreated. Furthermore, it was also argued that some of the current tensions inEuropean societies may well be an ongoing result of previous colonial policiesand attitudes.As a participant in this conversation, I must admit to taking great exceptionto the statement that Canada has never been a colonial power, whatever thecomparison with experience elsewhere. While Canada has not extended itshegemony to other lands and continents, national objectives have historicallybeen heavy with domestic colonial policies and attitudes regarding FirstNations, Inuit, and Métis peoples. And, as I noted at the time, this is nowheremore evident than in the legacy of the residential school system and theimpact these schools have had on individuals, families, and communitiesand will have on future generations. Taking children away from their familiesand communities, often forcibly, and attempting to eradicate all vestigesof their language, culture, and spirituality in order to assimilate them intomainstream society can only be described as a colonial objective. Add to thisthe psychological, physical, and sexual abuse that many of these children weresubjected to in institutions that should have had the duty to protect them, andthe only conclusion to be reached is that Canada, despite its virtues, has beenas much a colonizer of its own people as other countries have been in theiroverseas dependencies.What this and other conversations have convinced me of is the enormouschallenge of educating the Canadian public about this dark chapter ofour history so that informed debate can take place and reconciliation canResponse, Responsibility, and Renewal | 137