The Canadian government officially apoligized to First Nations, Inuit and Metis peoples this week for a century of abuse endured at boarding schools. From the 1870s through the 1990s, an estimated 150,000 Native children were forcibly removed from their homes and communities, and taken to government funded residential schools whos purpose was to eradicate Native culture and language.

The apology is being accompanied with a Truth and Reconciliation council and compensation for the approximately 80,000 survivors still living.

• Harper ’sorry’ for native residential schools, Tronoto Star
• Natives welcome PM’s apology: Government sorry for abuses at country’s residential schools, Barrie Examiner
• Saying sorry: PM’s apology heals old wounds, Windsor Star

The sad tale of abuse and neglect suffered in Canada parallels what happened to Native children in the United States during the same time frame. In fact, the Canadian boarding schools were modeled on the U.S. system of residential schools for American Indians. The abusive treatment of children in residential schools has been responsible for the loss of indigenous languages, particularly in the U.S. where they were compounded by federal allotment and relocation policies. Sadly, an apology from the United States government seems unlikely.

Many were taught to feel shame for speaking their language, and refused to teach their children the language as a way to protect them from the same pain.

As the indigenous language revitalization movement gains momentum, one of the challenges for many in learning their language is healing the internal pain left from internalizing the oppression of generations. There are many varied strategies for language acquisition, and perhaps this healing can be thought of as an emotional strategy. Healing the past and learning language anew together can become a way to reclaim idenitity as Indian people and to take back the power and strength of Indian people that was once denied.

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