A prime minister gives his word as TRC unveils final report on dark legacy of residential schools – APTN

December 15, 2015

During an emotional ceremony Tuesday marking the end of Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s six year journey through the darkness of the over century-long existence of Indian residential schools, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau asked the forgiveness of Indigenous peoples in Canada and committed the full weight of the federal government to refashioning a new relationship.

The Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) unveiled its final report during the ceremony in Ottawa marking its final act in an over six year process that saw it hold cross-country hearings gathering the testimonies of about 7,000 survivors. While the report’s primary findings, along with its 94 “calls to action,” were previously released in June, the hefty volumes provide the full breadth of data supporting the TRC’s conclusions.

Trudeau, who was the first prime minister to attend a TRC event, told the room of about 800 people, which included residential school survivors, their families, cabinet ministers and church leaders, that he was committed to nothing less than a “total renewal” of the relationship between Indigenous peoples and Canada.

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