Residential school survivor hopes to meet with senator over remarks

A residential school survivor from northwestern Ontario is hoping to meet with Senator Lynn Beyak after she defended the residential school system on Thursday.

GarnetAngeconebis from Lac Seul First Nation, andwas sent to Pelican Falls Residential School, near Sioux Lookout, when he was young.

Speaking to CBC Thunder Bay on Thursday, he said he was "surprised, somewhat taken off-guard, to learn that this kind of opinion or viewpoint still exists in the chambers of the government in Ottawa."

On Wednesday, Beyakattempted to defend the residential school system during a Senate meeting, saying that "well-intentioned" religiousteachers in the schools had performed "good deeds," but they were overshadowed by negative reports from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.

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"Really, I was disappointed," Angeconebsaid. "Especially coming from that level of government, with all the work that the government has done to redress issues stemming from the residential school legacy."

"Having said that, it's just a reminder that there's a lot of awareness to do out there."

Angeconebalso noted that Beyak was appointed by theConservative government, and it was Prime Minister Stephen Harper whoformally apologized to residential school survivors, their families and communities in 2008.

"That particular government of the day, they did a lot of work,"Angeconeb said."And it is surprising that, today, that a senator would go that far and really undermine the good work that has been done to date."

Hoping to meet

Angeconeb has reached out to Beyak,in a letter he said he sent Wednesday, in hopes ofmeeting with the senator todiscuss residential schools and their legacies.

"I have invited her to meet with survivors and to meet other people connected to the residential school system," he said. "That includes possibly involving the churches, and to enter into a meaningful dialogue."

"Again, it's part of the process of creating awareness, and I'm hopeful that she will respond in a good way."