As far back as the arrival of Jacques Cartier in New France, the goal of the Canadian Government has always been to assimilate Aboriginal people into dominant Canadian society whether French or English. From the 19th to the 20th century, thousands of aboriginal children were forcibly removed from their homes, and separated from their families in an attempt to integrate the children into the Canadian nation. The aboriginal culture was considered inferior, and “killing the Indian in the child” was the only perceived measure that would assure the superiority of the French and English ways. In 2008, after decades of abuse whether physical, emotional or sexual at the hands of church officials, then Prime Minister Harper presented an apology, on behalf of all Canadian in the Chamber of Common in Ottawa. The apology was met with mixed reviews by the aboriginal people, some claimed that it lack sincerity and others claimed that it did not speak about the real issues. It was also, however, met with silence, as claimed by Knockwood.
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January 2016
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