In a show of support to the survivors of residential schools, and to mark the closing ceremonies of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, the Nunatsiavut Government is holding a ‘Walk of Reconciliation’ in all five Labrador Inuit communities, as well as in Upper Lake Melville.
The walks started from each of the community offices of the Nunatisavut Department of Health and Social Development, beginning at 1 p.m. today.
“As the country marks the conclusion of the work of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, we mustn’t lose sight of the fact that more needs to be done to create a new way forward in the relationships between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal Canadians,” says Nunatsiavut President Sarah Leo. “Many of the survivors of the residential school system in Newfoundland and Labrador are Beneficiaries of the Labrador Inuit Land Claims Agreement who have never received an apology and were excluded from the Government of Canada’s 2008 Indian Residential Schools Settlement Agreement. The walks planned for tomorrow (today) are aimed at creating awareness of this injustice.”
“We once again call on the Government of Canada to agree to mediation with the other parties in order to ensure true reconciliation can occur,” adds President Leo. “The prospect of a resolution fair to all parties will only occur through meaningful dialogue. If not, then the wounds which separate Inuit in Newfoundland and Labrador from reconciliation with Canada will remain unhealed.”
President Leo says she remains hopeful that justice will prevail, and that an out-of-court settlement will be reached soon.
The approximately 1,000 residential school survivors in Newfoundland and Labrador have filed five separate class-action suits against the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, the Moravian Mission and the International Grenfell Association.