'Moment of recognition and truth:' N.L. premier delivers apologies in Rigolet and Postville
CBC
Premier Andrew Furey started his trip to Labrador in Rigolet and Postville on Wednesday as part of a series of apologies to residential school survivors happening this week.
Over the next three days, Furey will visit each of the five Inuit communities of Nunatsiavut, which dot the northern coast of Labrador before winding down in Happy Valley-Goose Bay on Friday. Each community made its own plans for the apologies, all based on what they felt was best for their residential school survivors and their families.
About 40 people turned out in Rigolet on Wednesday morning for the sombre but long-awaited event.
"As premier, and on behalf of the people of Newfoundland and Labrador, I extend this apology to the students for what you experienced while in residential schools, to your families and to all Labrador Inuit," Furey said. "We are sorry."
Charlotte Wolfrey, the AngajukKak of Rigolet, said she has waited many years to hear those words from the provincial government.
Wolfrey said she accepts the apology.
"We accept it because we want the pain and the hurting to go away, so that we can try to continue to move on," she said.
"This is a moment of recognition and truth. The premier admitted the government of Newfoundland and Labrador's role in the residential school system by saying 'We are sorry,' that the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador allowed this to happen and did not step in to protect the children that needed to be protected."
Joining Furey was Nunatsiavut President Johannes Lampe, as well as former students of residential schools, their family members, community members and elected officials of the Nunatsiavut Assembly.
Both events featured music, traditional dances, candle-lighting ceremonies and moments of silence.
Elder Roy Pilgrim accepted the apology in Postville, where dozens more residents turned out — many of whom were school-aged children.
"We accept the apology from Premier Andrew Furey on behalf of the Newfoundland and Labrador government for the treatment we, as Labrador Inuit, received in residential schools," he said.
"We appreciate the acknowledgement of this and the sad chapter in our history as children were separated from our families and communities, in turn the loss of connection to our language, culture and traditions. Some students were neglected while others suffered mental, physical and sexual abuse."
Like Wolfrey, Pigrim said he, and the Labrador Inuit, have waited years for an apology.
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