OTTAWA – Conservative Senator Lynn Beyak is demanding an apology from survivors of residential schools after she was traumatized by all the negative things they’ve said about what she calls a “well-intentioned system.”
“I am demanding an apology to all of the priests, ministers, nuns, government officials, and myself who worked so hard at trying to preserve the good in residential schools” said Beyak at a press conference. “As an innocent life-appointee of the Upper Chamber, I had no choice but to listen to all of the bad stuff when we should have focused on all of the good stuff. And I may have to listen to all of the bad stuff until I am 75.”
Beyak shared her own experience growing up as a child who wasn’t forced to leave her home or physically punished for speaking her language at school.
“I have lived in Northern Ontario for 40 years which gives me tremendous insight into what happened in these facilities,” explained the Senator adding that she had some native friends, which therefore makes her a survivor too. “To have so many former students of these schools detail the systematic destruction of their culture and childhoods has caused me so much suffering and pain…but I didn’t receive any apology for it.”
Beyak also expressed concern that she may pass on the terrifying history of colonization and violence to her children causing an inter-generational trauma.
“My children may not be able to whitewash Canadian history as my generation did.”
