Draft speech edited Ottawa's role in boarding school abuse: Documents

A cabinet minister died after an unmarked grave was discovered last year, according to documents that Ottawa cautioned against admitting abuse.

The Canadian Press obtained documents through the Access to Information Act showing a draft speech written for Carolyn Bennett, then Minister for Royal and Indigenous Relations. Edited.

"I think they are still in a position to protect themselves," said Cindy Blackstock, Executive Director of Canada's First Nations Child and Family Care Society.

READ MORE: The Pope's journey is over. Here's what some Indigenous people want Canadians to take away:

announced that it had discovered what it believed were the unmarked graves of about 200 children. Former boarding school site near Kamloops, British Columbia

This revelation led to government-funded, church-run A national survey was conducted on the legacy of boarding schools, institutions. Indigenous, Métis and Inuit children have been forced to attend her over a century in Canada. Thousands of children have experienced physical, sexual and emotional abuse, neglect or died.

This discovery also raised questions about what Ottawa was planning to do with it.

Days later, the Royal Indigenous Relations Office was drafting Bennett's speech. In anticipation of a possible emergency debate on this issue in the House of Commons.

That was not the case. A different form of debate took place, and it appears that the draft speech given in the document was not the one Bennett finally delivered.

It deals with children suffering in the United States, who initially said they "experienced unimaginable trauma simply by attending school, including physical, mental and sexual abuse at the hands of the federal government." I was.

Writing a speech can be a long process. Documents are often drafted by ministries and sent to ministerial staff and ministers, sometimes back and forth.

READ MORE: What comes after Pope Francis' apology.

Edits contained on page 17 of the draft indicate that the words "at the hands of the federal government" have been removed. The reason for the revision was edited before the document was published to the Canadian Press.

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"The government talks a lot about reconciliation," says Saskatchewan attorney Thunderchild. advocate Eleanor Sunchild said. First Nation has represented many boarding school survivors in physical and sexual abuse cases.

"But it doesn't talk about reconciliation at all. Without that word."

The Royal and Indigenous Relations Department was asked to explain the change However, current Minister Mark Miller, in a written statement, said the federal government "takes full responsibility" for its role in the boarding school system, adding that "Indigenous children will be including abuses suffered in institutions of

Former Conservative Prime Minister Stephen Harper , in 2008, as part of the historic Indian Boarding Schools Settlement Agreement, which apologized for Canada's role in boarding schools.

In a speech, Harper apologized for the government's "failure to protect" children in institutions, saying: Abuse or neglect stating that they have "produced children too often".

He also apologized for the children's separation from their families and acknowledged the impact it will have on future generations.

Last month, Pope Francis traveled to Canada to apologize for boarding schools on behalf of the Catholic Church, which runs more than 60% of his institutions.

The Pope has asked for forgiveness for the "evil" committed by "many Christians" against indigenous children in boarding schools. Many indigenous leaders said they wanted an apology that specifically addressed the role of the Catholic Church.

Read More: Pope Francis says Canadian boarding school survivor pain 'felt like a slap in the face'

Bill Percy Seeks Compensation for Sexual and Physical Abuse A Winnipeg-based attorney who has represented survivors said the government may have challenged the word "in hand" in the draft.

It means he was physically abusive," he said.

"Most direct abusers are church-affiliated officials, not federal officials."

In any event, the Canada paid most of the billions, he said.

"When lawsuits are imminent, the federal government is always to blame."

Black Stock said he sees "room to wiggle" in Ottawa given that the federal government does not directly perpetuate abuses.

"What the federal government has done is deliberately leave children in the situation where this is happening and choose not to intervene to save them from death and save them from abuse," she said.

She demonstrates the reluctance of institutions to take full accountability for boarding schools, whether it be the Vatican or Canada.

"My major concern is that this is a 'dark chapter of history' and the fact that they knew what they were doing was wrong. They knew it was leading to the deaths of children.”

— with Jim Bronkill files

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