Hon. Nick G. Sibbeston:

Honourable senators, this past weekend I attended the three-day National Forgiven Summit in Ottawa at the Civic Centre. Thousands of Aboriginal people from across Canada came together in response to the Prime Minister's apology of two years ago. Many church leaders representing the denominations in our country as well as thousands of non-native people attended in support of this undertaking by Aboriginal people to forgive.

In his apology, the Prime Minister asked for forgiveness by Aboriginal peoples for the wrong done in residential schools. This conference was held in response to that request. Aboriginal people are willing to forgive.

A Charter of Forgiveness and Freedom was presented to Canada. It was a moving ceremony as elders from all regions of the country signed the document and youth witnessed the process. Minister Chuck Strahl accepted the charter on behalf of the Prime Minister. The Prime Minister was given many beautiful gifts from Aboriginal people from one end of the country to the other.

As Chief Kenny Blacksmith, the organizer of this event, said, forgiveness "is an individual choice that can break the generational cycle of victimization and accusation."

Forgiveness is necessary to heal and live a free life. It was deeply moving to watch and listen to many people who described their journey from hurt to healing. It gave me hope for reconciliation with Aboriginal peoples in our country.

This coming weekend, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, established as part of the Residential Schools Agreement, will hold its first public event in Winnipeg. The commission is not only for Aboriginal people but also for all non-native people in our country who understand what Aboriginal people have gone through and, in this way, understand the situation.

I hope and trust this process will allow all Aboriginal peoples to eventually share in the gift of forgiveness that I witnessed these last few days. I believe that what I saw this weekend is a movement that has begun. The summit has been held for a number of years, and it is growing larger each year. It will be held in different parts of the country and, in this way, the hope is that there will be a nation-wide healing of the peoples of Canada.

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