The 2008 apology to residential school survivors by Prime Minister Stephen Harper opened a door and made clear the need for action. That action involves the need for healing. Such supports for healing have existed 10 years as part of the Aboriginal Healing Foundation, an organization that is slated to be cut by the federal government March 31, 2010.The Aboriginal Healing Foundation is aimed at addressing the legacy of physical and sexual abuse in the residential school system, including dealing with the inter-generational impacts. It supports 139 projects across the country, of which 27 are in Manitoba. The foundation supports 18 projects in Northern Manitoba in 17 communities, allowing for everything from counselling services, to community events to building awareness.
The healing programing has received overwhelmingly positive feedback from survivors, their family members and communities. Despite this positive feedback the government has been unwilling to commit to extending the funding. That is why we have spearheaded a campaign along with interested Northerners and Manitobans to call for the government to commit to the healing programing that is vital to the wellbeing of people and their communities.
This is a campaign we are asking everyone to get involved in by signing our petition to the government and sending it to our office in Ottawa.
As your NDP MP, I will be taking your voices and the voices of Northerners to Ottawa, asking for the recognition that healing programing is part of the legacy of action that ought to follow the apology.
As your MP, I will be bringing forward your voices and working with people in Northern Manitoba and across Canada to hold the Government accountable to the spirit of the historic apology it made to aboriginal people - a spirit that involves healing.
