Justin Trudeau: We Must Not Forget Injustices Against Indigenous Peoples in Canada

Justin Trudeau, the Prime Minister of Canada, warned on Saturday, September 30, about the increasing 'denialism' and stated that discovering the truth is more important than ever as the nation comes together to honor the children who died in residential schools for Indigenous peoples in Canada or were subjected to beatings or sexual abuse. These remarks by Trudeau were made on 'National Day for Truth and Reconciliation,' which recognizes the truth about Indigenous residential schools in Canada. Several children in these schools were subjected to abuse, sexual assault, and malnutrition in what the 'Truth and Reconciliation Commission' termed 'cultural genocide' in 2015. Between 1831 and 1996, approximately 150,000 Indigenous children in Canada were forcibly removed from their families and sent to residential schools to eradicate Indigenous culture. Christian groups, mainly Catholic, managed many of these schools. Over the years, thousands of children died from hunger or were beaten or sexually abused for speaking their native language. Trudeau stated, 'We must never forget the past and the injustices done to Indigenous peoples in these schools, as well as the intergenerational trauma that remains today.' He added, 'Now, as denialism unfortunately increases, discovering the truth is more important than ever.' According to Reuters, Indigenous peoples in Canada suffer from significant poverty and violence and have a lower life expectancy. Trudeau first emphasized the need to reveal the truth about Indigenous peoples during a trip to the western coasts of Canada on 'National Day for Truth and Reconciliation' in 2021, which the government declared a public holiday. Pope Francis, the leader of Catholics worldwide, stated in August 2022 that the Catholic Church feels the 'weight of failure' due to its role in running government-supported residential schools. Trudeau also apologized for Canadian lawmakers praising a former Nazi soldier.