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	Time for Natives to Look to Future Calgary Herald May 3, 2009 http://www.calgaryherald.com/news/Time+Natives+look+future/1558618/story.html T he circle is complete. Pope Benedict XVI last week expressed his sorrow over the sufferings of First Nations children at Catholic-run residential schools, a gesture that Assembly of First Nations national Chief Phil Fontaine said he was grateful for. It is significant that Fontaine indicated his satisfaction with the Pope's statement, as Fontaine himself was one of the victims of abuse during his 10 years at Manitoba's Fort Alexander Indian Residential School. In 1990, Fontaine became the first aboriginal leader to speak publicly about his experiences. The circle is complete be-cause all those who were party to the abuse have apologized, including the Anglican Church, the Presbyterian Church, the United Church and, last year, Prime Minister Stephen Harper apologized on behalf of the Canadian government in a moving ceremony in Parliament. These apologies, and the compensation paid to survivors by the federal government, were a necessary part of the healing process, which calls for an acknowledgment of wrongs done to the victims. The abusers' responsibility to be accountable and to make spiritual and moral restitution has been fulfilled. It is time for the survivors and their families to take on their own responsibility-- the healing process. Part of that process includes the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, whose launch was stalled after disagreements led to the resignations of Justice Harry LaForme and his fellow commissioners, Claudette Dumont-Smith and Jane Brewin Morley. Once new commissioners are appointed, the commission will be on the road for five years, listening to survivors' stories and compiling a history of the schools, which operated in Canada from 1870 to 1996,when Saskatchewan's Gordon Indian Residential School closed. The commission will deal with the past, but the survivors must look to the future. Never before have so many opportunities existed for aboriginal people, including business initiatives, job training and post-secondary education. As they go forward, they will carry with them the realization that evolved from the bitter years of forced assimilation and abuse--that they can achieve great things in the larger Canadian society without ceding anything of themselves or their culture.
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