Former Student Finds Cold Comfort In Pope's Apology
Pope Benedict says "he's sorry"
Canadian aboriginal leaders say they got the apology they were seeking during a meeting with Pope Benedict today at the Vatican.
But at least one former student isn't as charitable with his opinions.
Ted Quwezance, a student for 11 years at two different residential schools in Saskatchewan, says he isn't impressed with the Pope's gesture.
"There's no confession of any kind from the Pope," Quwezance said. "He didn't apologize, he just said he's sorry it happened."
Quwezance says many in the Catholic church still resist acknowledging the extent of the abuse unlike other churches in Canada.
In Quwezance's opinion, the legacy of residential schools continue to be a detriment to many First Nations people.
Comments
I am curious as to how long
I am curious as to how long "Residential Schools" will be blamed for all the ills in the First Nations world?
In the US the african-americans were captured and dragged to the US and put into slavery. When finally they were freed they had no monies and no lands and for sure no treaties. There are still some issues there no doubt but look at where the african-american population has gotten to. Even President.
Yet in Canada our First Nations are still, for the most part, living in dire straits. Instead of blaming this and blaming that it is time for some people to take on some personal responsibility and make an effort to improve their own and their childrens lives.
Residential Schools
The Residential School system was in operation for over 300 years, and only ended in the early 90's. Generations of traditional knowledge and lifeways lost forever. While I would rather do my hunting at superstore and safeway, there are many values that were also lost, family ties destroyed and lives destroyed.
It took 300 years for us to be forced into this mess, a few appologies and money are not going to heal the deep scars among our people. Your society compares our plight to those of the African Americans....however unlike the African Americans, there was no attempt to assimilate them into the American society as happened to Aboriginal people. They were not subjected to the same degree of cultural genocide that we were subjected to. They were allowed to maintain their own culture while much of ours was outlawed.
What the majority of Canadians fail to understand is that the residential school system was condoned not only by the Churches but the Government as well. In the words of Duncan Campbell Scott Superintendent General of Indian Affairs in 1922: ""Our objective is to continue until there is not a single Indian in Canada that has not been absorbed into the body politic, and there is no Indian question, and no Indian Department," Indians were and contiued to be seen as a problem as reflected in many of the statements made both here and other media.
So when is the problem going to end??? When are you going to start seeing us as human beings as deserving of respect as you are?
to Annette
Annette, First Nations people will be and are given the respect they deserve the same as the rest of us, Metis included. Individuals that deserve no respect often find that they get none. Many of us started our lives with nothing and had to work our way through life job after job, obtaining the training required to get a better one when possible. We had only the opportunities provided to us that were available to all citizens in regards to education and many of us had no chance to attend college as our families were too poor. But we worked and earned our respect as individuals. The short answer is we all get what we earn when it comes to respect.
In regard to the residential schools, there were obviously terrible things that happened there however, likely not as many as we are being led to believe. The promise of money clearly taints the evidence as does the choice of legal representation.
I am of the opinion that while hindsight is 20/20 and we can see that the schools were handled poorly they were likely the correct thing to do. It was obvious to the leaders of the day that the native people weren't going to be able to cope in modern society without an education and given the nature of first nations communities, bringing the students to a central location was the efficient thing to do. Can you imagine where first nations people would be today if no one bothered to bring education to them and just left them to fend for themselves in society. I would like to hear your realistic suggestion as to how native peoples could have been taught everything one needs to know to function in modern society. I hope you don't use the present day reserve schools as an example because I know what kind of education they provide.
Hollow words...
It is no difference then the Harpers apologies empty.There's no truth in them and they still walk away from it like nothing ever happened.
Well what else do you want
Well what else do you want them to do!? The gov't apologized and paid out money. The Pope apologized. Seriously, what else do you want them to do? I couldn't imagine that stuff happening to me and I feel sorrow for those that were abused. However there comes a point where you need to put it behind you and try to live your life instead of wallowing in the past and making yourself miserable.
Forgive or carry the weight you decide
I believe as long as you carry the burdens of the past they will weigh you down , it's up to you to forgive as much as it's up to the people that wronged you and till then you will carry this heavy burden that you control , all you have to do is put it aside and move on , it might not be easy but it'll only get heavier the longer you carry it.
I can't believe it, yet
I can't believe it, yet another apology and yet another disapointment. Imagine that maybe if the pope got his cheque book out everyone would be happy. What is it that first nations people want. We live in a sad sad time...when someone doesn't take the pope's..."THE POPE'S" apology.
truth speaker on phony apologiy
Some people like Ted Quwezance have the difficult responsibility to tell the truth.. i appreciate his courage and persistance..
It's true about the black slaves in America.. however the red slaves who were here first have yet to rise above the catastrophic losses and abuses.
It appears to me they are even put down by the african americans...
Let's get to the real roots before we go back to the church and hierarchy who are responsible for so many crimes against all indigenous people.
Again some of us are voices for those who can not "pick them selves up"..
Expectations
for the many thousands of dollars spent on the junket what was the optomistic expectations, money or ! The world is and will continue to be full of fault and human suffering but money never solved that and sure hasn't in the past 104 years. Evolve, get jobs, join society - the past is where it belongs!
It is long over
I would like to say when is enough , enough? What are the First Nations trying to accomplish? How much blood can you get out of the stone? It is time for the leaders of our First Nations to get their head out of the sand and start appreciating what is being done for them. Instead of running on about how bad it is for the First Nations, its time to count your blessings and get on with the job. You as First Nations must realize that this maybe as good as it is going to get for you, unless you do something for yourself. Anyone and not only first nations will play what ever card they have until they come to the understanding that to get ahead requires work, I mean physical labour. Apply for jobs, get an education, change your attitude do something for yourself. The time for crying over spilt milk and free handouts is over.
What next an apology from GOD?
As a First Nations person, born and raised off reserve with a father who spent 11 years in Residential School, and was a recovering Alcoholic for 25+ years before his death. One thing he always said was, "YOU are responsible for YOUR own personal happiness." And you must choose to change your life, only by excepting responsibility for your own personal actions will you ever be able to change. I grew up in the 12 step program, and have NEVER forgotten the serenity prayer. "God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things that I can, and the Wisdom to know the difference." If it helps replace God, with "Great Spirit" or whomever you believe in, but the same holds true.
The entire universe can apologize but until YOU are willing to take an Honest and Heart felt personal inventory of your life, and are willing to forgive yourself, nothing will ever change. You cannot change the world but you CAN change how you react to it.
No apology will ever be enough because it cannot come directly from the abusers themselves, but we can learn to forgive ourselves and begin to walk the road to recovery.
Very well put. That is
Very well put. That is exactly what needs to be done. Thank you.
Well Briefed
The Pope was obviously well briefed by his legal counsel, and chose his words accordingly. Had he actually said he was sorry for the atrocities committed Tony Merchant would be on the next plane to the Vatican with a class action law suit.
Yawn...next story please
Is it me or are headlines about apologies and begging for easy money getting a bit old. Yawn...next story please.
Sorrow vs Sorry
The Pope can not appologize for something he was not involved in. I am sure that he personally did not have a role in the decision to implement residential schools. Thus the Pope can not and should not appologize for something he was not involved in. Yes he can and did express sorrow for the events happening, but an appology is not warranted.
One can not appologize for things I did not do or were not involved in. The First Nations leaders need to realize that most of the people responsible for the terrors they faced in residential schools have long since passed away. They should stop looking for appologies and start looking for sorrow and simpathy. Only when they stop looking for someone to blame and start to look forward can they first nations people move forward.