By Jorge Barrera
Canada.com
June 10, 2009
http://www.canada.com/News/Aboriginal+truth+panel+relaunch+under+chair/1682921/story.html
A commission charged with gathering the stories of residential school survivors received a second start Wednesday when the Conservative government announced the names of the three people who will lead the journey into one of Canada's darkest chapters.
Manitoba's Justice Murray Sinclair was chosen to chair the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, which will also include Marie Wilson of the Northwest Territories and Wilton Littlechild of Alberta, said Indian Affairs Minister Chuck Strahl.
The announcement came the day before the one-year anniversary of Prime Minister Stephen Harper's apology to residential school survivors.
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| 'Aboriginal people across Canada have waited a long time for this venue in which they will be able to recount their experiences with Indian residential schools,' said Chuck Strahl, the Minister for Indian Affairs and Northern Development. 'All Canadians must open their hearts to forge a new relationship with aboriginal people.' Photo by Nathan Denette |
"Aboriginal people across Canada have waited a long time for this venue in which they will be able to recount their experiences with Indian residential schools," said Strahl. "All Canadians must open their hearts to forge a new relationship with aboriginal people."
Sinclair, who sits on Manitoba's Court of Queen's Bench, was the province's first native judge. He was also the co-commissioner of an inquiry into the treatment of native people by Manitoba's justice system after the death of native leader J.J. Harper.
Littlechild, a lawyer and former MP, was the first Treaty First Nations person to obtain a law degree from the University of Alberta. The Assembly of First Nations' regional chief for Alberta, Littlechild was also involved in the effort to get indigenous people consultation status with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations.
Wilson, a former CBC regional director and radio and television reporter, is currently a senior manager of the Workers' Safety and Compensation Commission of the Northwest Territories and Nunavut.
The announcement was welcomed by Assembly of First Nations national Chief Phil Fontaine.
"First Nations citizens and survivors across the country are eager to see the commission begin its work as soon as possible. It is important that survivors and all those involved in the schools have a chance to tell their stories," said Fontaine.
The five-year, $60-million commission is charged with collecting stories from victims of abuse in the residential school system and encouraging reconciliation within Canadian society over the dark chapter in the country's history. It is expected to complete a report at the end of its mandate that will include recommendations to the government on the issue.
The commission was established as part of a $2-billion class-action settlement stemming from the government-funded, church-run residential schools where many students were abused physically and emotionally.
It is also expected to host seven national events and create a public research centre on the residential school system and its impact.
The commission got off to a rocky start last year after Ontario Court of Appeal Justice Henry LaForme resigned as commission chair, complaining of meddling by the AFN and of a power struggle with the other two commissioners. His resignation was quickly followed by that of the other two commissioners.
About $3 million has been spent to set the groundwork for the commission's work, said Strahl.
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