March 29, 2007
PRESS RELEASE: Association of Iroquois and Allied Indians

Grand Chief Denise Stonefish releases this statement on behalf of the member nations of the Association of Iroquois and Allied Indians who are currently meeting in Toronto.

Grand Chief Denise Stonefish is disgusted with the recent comments by Mr. Prentice, the Minister of Indian Affairs and the absence of an apology for the Indian residential school system.

The Minister of Indian Affairs stated that the fundamental objective of the Indian residential school system was to educate. It is true that indigenous peoples were educated by the Indian residential school system. This system taught our people about sexual, physical, and emotional abuse – specifically rape, beatings, and the insignificance of indigenous languages, culture and ways of life.

This 'education' has been passed on through generations of families. Some of our grandfathers and grandmothers who attended residential schools passed on this education to their children. Their children passed it on to the next generation and so on. As indigenous peoples we are still being 'educated' by the Indian residential school system.

This 'education' has resulted in our current and many struggles as nations. Our member nations are like every other indigenous nation in that we are struggling against the long lasting legacies. We are fighting for our languages, our cultures, and our ways of life. Our nations are facing devastating social issues that are a direct result of this 'education.'

Prentice also argued that the Indian residential school system is different from the Chinese head tax and Maher Arar, who have received apologies from the Canadian government. Grand Chief Denise Stonefish fails to see the difference between these injustices, specifically, in terms of the Chinese head tax. Both indigenous peoples and Chinese immigrants were used to further the colonization of Canada; indigenous peoples are used for their land and the Chinese were used for a railway. Once both peoples were considered no longer useful, they were deemed expendable and hence the Canadian government developed the Indian residential school system and the Chinese head tax. The intent of residential schools and the head tax were one in the same, to eliminate these peoples within Canada.

On behalf of the Association of Iroquois and Allied Indians, Grand Chief Denise Stonefish implores the opposition parties to act and not just condemn the former and current governments. Take this collective opportunity on behalf of the indigenous peoples within Canada and Canadian citizens and bring forth a motion within the house to have the current government extend an apology to indigenous peoples.

There will be a Press Conference with Grand Chief Denise Stonefish at the Holiday Inn, 370 King Street West at 2:00 pm. Please contact Adriana Poulette, Senior Policy Analyst and Government Relations Advisor for questions at (519) 318 2305.