There’s an advertisement with the line, “It’s not just about the money.” That applies also to the new residential schools agreement. For the overwhelming majority of First Nations people, the new agreement isn’t just about money. It’s about recognition by the larger society of the not only physical and sexual abuse, but also cultural deprivation.
In 2003 the Anglican Church of Canada agreed to furnish $25 million to the federal government (our share is $1.6 million) to pay validated claims of physical and sexual abuse. It was a fair agreement. We must continue giving to our Honouring Our Commitment campaign.
Still that agreement was incomplete, as our Church’s own Anglican Council of Indigenous People pointed out. It failed to address the serious loss to First Nations people when for years their culture and language was repressed.
Also, the 2003 agreement was made without the equal involvement of First Nations people themselves. The Church tried to take First Nations sensibilities into account, and the Church includes many Aboriginal people. But that couldn’t and didn’t make up for their absence at the table. They were present this time.
There is a monetary settlement, a substantial one. But why we hope this agreement may bring some finality is inclusion of a healing and reconciliation process on both the national and local levels. People will get to tell their stories.
How completely the stories are told, and how seriously they are listened to, is what will bring settlement to the settlement – not just the money.