CANADA
CBC News
By Tim Fontaine, CBC News
A new national survey found three-quarters of non-Aboriginal Canadians believe the residential school system harmed Aboriginal people, yet just 5% believe the federal government should pay compensation to try to heal those wounds.
National Chief Perry Bellegarde believes the survey results show the views of non-Aboriginal Canadians are still tainted by negative stereotypes.
“If you want reconciliation, you need to make space in your mind, your heart and spirit to get rid of the misconceptions you have about Indigenous Peoples,” he said. “The stereotype that Indigenous Peoples are dumb, stupid, lazy, drunk and on welfare — put that aside.”
The Environics Institute telephone survey of 2,001 non-Aboriginal adults from across the country conducted in January and February found 66 per cent are learning about Indigenous Peoples and their issues, but 10 per cent still believe Indigenous Peoples receive “special treatment” from government.
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