Love and Forgiveness in Governance: Exemplars: Phil Fontaine

by Ernest Ogbozor

Phil Fontaine was instrumental in raising awareness of the importance of human rights to all Canadians, and the First Nations people in particular. He was the longest-serving National Chief in Assembly of First Nations, and the only one to be elected to three terms.[1] He devoted his life to improving the quality of life for First Nations citizens. He received the national Aboriginal Achievement Award for community service in 1996, and he successfully negotiated the Residential Schools Settlement Agreement, which entails financial contribution to residential school survivors, and the ratification of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission by the government.[2] Phil Fontaine successfully got the Canadian Government and Pope Benedict XVI to apologize for the treatment of aboriginal students in the residential schools run by the Roman Catholics.

Mr. Fontaine led successful resolution and settlement of the 150-year Indian residential school tragedy, which led to a historic apology by the Canadian government. At the historic ceremony, Prime Minister Stephen Harper said, "I stand before you today to offer an apology to former students of Indian residential schools. The treatment of children in Indian residential schools is a sad chapter in our history". The Prime Minister recalled the history of residential schools and noted that the federal government — in order to meet its obligation to educate aboriginal children — began to play a role in the development and administration of residential schools. The primary objectives of the residential schools system were to remove and isolate children from the influence of their homes, families, traditions and cultures, and to assimilate them into the dominant culture.[3]

These objectives were based on the assumption that aboriginal cultures and spiritual beliefs were inferior and unequal. However, it was admitted that the residential schools, in some cases, sought to "kill the Indian in the child." The government recognizes that the policy of assimilation was wrong, has caused great harm, and has no place in Canada. Finally, the Prime Minister said that, "The absence of an apology has been an impediment to healing and reconciliation. Therefore, on behalf of the government of Canada and all Canadians, I stand before you, in this chamber so central to our life as a country, to apologize to aboriginal peoples for Canada's role in the Indian residential schools system".[4]

In addition, Phil led a delegate of Assembly of First Nations and residential school survivors to meet the Vatican. Pope Benedict XVI expressed "sorrow" to the delegation from Canada's Assembly of First Nations on the abuse and "deplorable" treatment that aboriginal students suffered at residential schools run by the Roman Catholic Church. The Pope "offered his sympathy and prayerful solidarity" to those whose anguish was caused by some church members. After the meeting, Phil said that "the fact that the word 'apology' was not used does not diminish this moment in any way."[5] He is an exemplar of a leader that practices Love and Forgiveness in Governance.

 

[1] "Province of Manitoba | Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba," accessed February 18, 2013, http://www.lg.gov.mb.ca/awards/order/bios.html.

[2] "{Turtle Island Native Network} • View Topic - Growing Call for Formal Apology for Residential Schools," accessed February 18, 2013, http://www.turtleisland.org/discussion/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=5283.

[3] "Prime Minister Stephen Harper's Statement of Apology - Canada - CBC News," accessed April 4, 2013, http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/story/2008/06/11/pm-statement.html.

[4] Ibid.

[5] "Pope Expresses 'Sorrow' for Abuse at Residential Schools - World - CBC News," accessed April 4, 2013, http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/story/2009/04/29/pope-first-nations042909.html.