MCK applauds Chief Justice assertion that Canada attempted Cultural Genocide on aboriginals

05/29/2015

The Mohawk Council of Kahnawà:ke (MCK) wishes to commend the Supreme Court of Canada’s Chief Justice Beverly McLachlin for acknowledging Canada’s treatment of aboriginal people at the time of colonization was the “most glaring blemish on the Canadian historic record of ‘wrong-doing,’ and that the government’s 19th Century assimilation policies toward aboriginal people would today be called ‘cultural genocide.’"

“The term ‘cultural genocide’ is as strong an indictment of Canada’s past policies as has ever been stated by a person of Justice McLachlin’s stature and influence,” said Grand Chief Michael Ahríhron Delisle, Jr. “We hope that this helps the everyday Canadian understand what it means to be a Native person in 2015.

“We have survived the onslaught of attempted assimilation, we are working to correct the ignorance of our historical realities, and we will continue to fight for our right to exist as First Nations people,” concluded Grand Chief Delisle. “We hope that this simple acknowledgement from such a high-ranking person sparks some deep reflection across the country. We applaud Justice McLachlin’s candor, honesty and, most of all, her willingness to share her thoughts on this important matter.”