Beyak’s comments that Canada should focus on the “good deeds” done by residential schools - which stole children from their homes in an effort to forcibly assimilate Indigenous peoples -- are totally unacceptable. They starkly contrast with the spirit and goals of the Senate committee, and show that she is unfit to serve on it.

"So how do we tell the true origin story of Canada? The true origin story can only be told if Parliament formally, through legislation, recognizes that there are three founding peoples of Canada: the British, the French, and the Indigenous peoples" - Phil Fontaine

Lynn Beyak says she will not apologize or step down from Senate's Aboriginal Peoples committee

Kathleen Mahoney is a professor of law at the University of Calgary, fellow of the Royal Society of Canada and fellow of the Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation.

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African Great Lakes Networking Foundation

“In 1996, the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples observed, ‘A country cannot be built on a living lie.’ Now is the time, during the Canada 150 activities, to complete the story. The government should adopt legislation that acknowledges that Indigenous peoples are a founding nation of Canada. It’s time for the government to take action and make specific commitments to right this wrong. It’s time to turn recognition to action." 

“In 1996, the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples observed, ‘A country cannot be built on a living lie.’ Now is the time, during the Canada 150 activities, to complete the story. The government should adopt legislation that acknowledges that Indigenous peoples are a founding nation of Canada. It’s time for the government to take action and make specific commitments to right this wrong. It’s time to turn recognition to action." 

“In 1996, the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples observed, ‘A country cannot be built on a living lie.’ Now is the time, during the Canada 150 activities, to complete the story. The government should adopt legislation that acknowledges that Indigenous peoples are a founding nation of Canada. It’s time for the government to take action and make specific commitments to right this wrong. It’s time to turn recognition to action." 

“In 1996, the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples observed, ‘A country cannot be built on a living lie.’ Now is the time, during the Canada 150 activities, to complete the story. The government should adopt legislation that acknowledges that Indigenous peoples are a founding nation of Canada. It’s time for the government to take action and make specific commitments to right this wrong. It’s time to turn recognition to action."