Yup

Clifton & Rubenstein: Debunking the half-truths and exaggerations in the Truth and Reconciliation report

"As expected from the pre-release sound bites, the Final Report of the Indian Residential Schools Truth and Reconciliation Commission reinforces the many half-truths, exaggerations, and selective reporting about the schools and their mission.

The most incendiary and least credible of these is the assertion by the Commission’s chair, Judge Murray Sinclair, that the 150,000 children who attended these mainly Church-run schools between 1849 and 1996 were considered “sub-human,” a claim belied by their very raison-d’être: to give aboriginal children the chance to acquire the knowledge and skills needed to fully benefit from membership in the new country of Canada."

RTWT

This Is Why Atleo...

...was so unpopular with the Chiefs and other parts of The Industry:

Addressing the legacy of residential schools means supporting native families, not necessarily their band leaders

"...Mr. Atleo decisively stated: “We must not burden another generation with anger and pain.” The message of his op-ed seems clear: As much pain as Residential Schools caused many First Nations people, we should not encourage young aboriginals to dwell incessantly on the injustices of the past. The whole point of the truth and reconciliation process has been to help these communities gain a sense of closure. If that project is to be a success, their members also must stop thinking of themselves primarily as victims.

Testimony at the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, like most journalistic coverage of the issue, has focused on the worst examples of abuse. But the truth is that the system was run by a patchwork of religious and government officials, and there was no universal residential-school experience for native students. Some schools were infamous. Others were humane.

In fact, some First Nations communities, when given the choice in the mid-20th century, voted to keep their local residential schools open, because they wanted their children to learn the math and language skills that would permit them gain a livelihood. Many children at residential schools also received life-saving medical treatment — including medication for tuberculosis — that was unavailable to First Nations people still living in the bush or in remote settlements." (Emphasis mine, throughout.)

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"...in some ways, the emphasis on treaty rights has actually retarded the healing of First Nations families — because the cash bounty has encouraged the transformation of reserves into miniature low-employment welfare states. No matter what one’s skin colour, dependency and idleness always encourage substance abuse, a lack of respect for education, local political corruption and other pathologies that prevent the creation of healthy communities."

Finally someone tells the truth!!! Well done Mr. Kay and Mr. Atleo.

Don Sandburg Speaks the Truth

It's Time for Focus on Healing

Speaking of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, which recently held it's first round (of several meetings to come) in Winnipeg, he says:

"When will we stop focusing on past horrors and instead help our aboriginal residential school victims to put their energy into healing and joyful living?"

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"The reconciliation acknowledges that tragic negligence and affirms that such things should never happen again. But its value has been questioned in some quarters. Enough is enough already. Those who have suffered already are being re-victimized. This reflects the view of mental health counsellors who say constantly revisiting incidents of abuse is like repeatedly picking a scab until scar tissue forms. It reignites anger slowly and distorts the healing process.

Others say the 'Indian industry' has concentrated on the negative and ignored the positive aspects of the schools. Why? Was it because there is no compensation money for positive stories?"

You got it!

"It's true Canada failed its aboriginal children by sending them to residential schools, but I have seen critics, often in the media, misinterpret events to push a distorted and imbalanced view, failing to understand that many of the actions were ordinary at the time and represent the same treatment given to other Canadians."

Bingo!!

This outraged statement -- which suggests racism -- is an example: "They shaved their heads as they arrived at these schools."

Why? Well, this is because head-lice infestation was common years ago, and that has never been restricted to any culture.

Yes indeed. I even had an infestation, once. It's not that difficult to pick up. And it's easy to treat today, with medicinal shampoo. Not so, in the olden days. Shaving was the only way.

"A lot of the children arrived infested. The quickest way to get rid of head lice and prevent infection of others is head-shaving."

Still true today. Quickest and cheapest!  And in case you haven't noticed. Hair grows back.

"Sending police to take the children to residential schools was not a terror tactic, as some critics have hinted. It was merely done because at that time there were no First Nations truant officers. That left police responsible for enforcing the legislation that requires children to attend school.

Again, this was not something only done to a specific group or culture. The Doukhobors who originated from Russia to settle in Canada and build their own communities did not want their children educated in public schools. RCMP officers of the day were ordered to retrieve these children and force them into schools.

Promotion of the negative through the past 20-some years has led many aboriginals to blame the residential schools for all of life's hardships and miseries.

Many other aboriginals believe our background and circumstances may have influenced who we are, but we are responsible for who we ultimately become. That's a lesson that needs to be reinforced as well when we think about Canada's Indian residential schools experience."

Much easier to do if we keep The Industry's rapacious fangs out of it.