Survivors of the Indian Residential Schools and their relatives have publicly rejected Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s “apology” for crimes against humanity.
On June 11, Harper publicly acknowledged Canada’s plan “to kill the Indian in the child,” which began in the 1870s. Aboriginal children were kidnapped and sent to live in residential schools run by churches. The children were murdered, sexually abused and beaten by priests and “teachers.”
The grassroots organization Friends and Relatives of the Disappeared held a rally and press conference on June 23 in Vancouver demanding that the government and churches go on trial.
A statement issued by FRD read, “Harper’s ‘apology’ changes nothing, and does not absolve his government or these churches from their liability and responsibility for residential school crimes. We consider them criminals under tribal and international law, and will seek their conviction in the months ahead.”
