100 Mile House Free Press from 100 Mile House, British Columbia, Canada • 28

100 MILE FREE PRESS DECEMBER 23, 1998 Newsbeat olocpe cell Lake natives receive ap Mpm t-f Church and government officials atone for residential school abuses by Angie Mindus and Ken Fisher Cariboo Press staff The people of Alkali Lake have finally received the apologies for residential school abuse they have sought for so long. In a pair of recent ceremonies at the Esket Reserve northwest of 100 Mile House officials of the federal government and the Roman catholic church have apologized for their roles in the abuse that has scarred generations of Cariboo natives. Bishop of Kamloops Lawrence Sabatini formally apologized to Alkali Lake Band members on Dec. 6 on behalf of the Roman Catholic Church for abuses suffered at the hands of urged them to use the power of their faith, the very religion which harmed some of them, to aid in the healing process. He also asked for their forgiveness.

Band members called for the apology to be a "new beginning" for the community and a return to the religion they have embraced for generations. The Alkali Lake Band had been requesting a formal apology from the church and the federal government for years. The healing continued on Dec. 12 as abuse victims wept listening to apologies from the federal government officials. Federal justice department regional director John Watson and other representatives took part in a healing ceremony at the reserve.

They were invited to participate by eight Alkali Lake men who, with two Canim Lake men, were physically and sexually abused at the church-run school. Another Alkali Lake vic Bishop Lawrence Sabatini apologizes for abuse to Alkali Lake band members Dec. 17. tim had died before hearing the apologies. "The government accepts full responsibility for the part it played in what happened at St.

Joseph's school, Watson said to the eight victims sitting in a row in front of him. "We are sorry more than we can possibly say." It was an emotional experience for all community members. The apologies were part of an out-of-court settlement between the 11 victims, the federal government and the church. Victims, community members and church and government representatives gathered in the Sxoxmic School gymnasium to take part in a pipe ceremony where red balloons symbolized the victims who did not live to see the special day. When the victims spoke each stood up in front of the crowd, described their sadness and accepted the apologies.

Some broke down in tears while talking. clergy at the St. Joseph's Mission School. "We must recognize with great sadness that there have been proven incidents of abuse of the native people on the part of some church members. For this we are deeply sorry," Sabatini said to the congregation, gathered for the first Mass at the newly-renovated St.

Teresa's Church on the reserve. "We sincerely sympathize with the victims of this shameful behavior, and deeply regret the pain and humiliation they have experienced." Band members seemed to appreciate the long-awaited apology. "Today was a first step and a really important one towards healing," said band member Tom Sampson. "I felt his apology was sincere, said Marilyn Belleau, a former chief of the Alkali Band and one of complainants in a long sexual abuse trial against former residential school supervisor Hubert O'Connor, who later became bishop of Prince George. Belleau and others were also present to hear a similar apology' from present Bishop of Prince George Gerald Wiesner earlier this year.

Bishop Sabatini acknowledged that First Nations across Canada have suffered "shameful and horrible treatment" throughout history and Mon, Dec. 28cJ i End-of-S Year-End OUIC! win Participating Merchants Country Fabrics Things 1 Atwood Shoes Didi's Boutique Pharmasave Sweet Classy True Value Hardware $1 Plus Store Hi Fi Express Shadel's Jewellers The RecRoom Work World 1 Mon, Dec. 28 to Fri. Jan. 8 tf terrific Savings JRe dftalff P3 Season's Greetings HS 3 BARTON.