Residential school survivors call for apology during reconciliation rally

Sarah Aggek was one of hundreds gathered in front of Confederation Building this morning, demanding justice for Newfoundland and Labrador's residential school survivors.

It has been more than 60 years since Aggek was sent to a residential school in Labrador, but she is still profoundly affected by her experience.

Anybody who has any influence on this wrong being corrected should do so. So I'm here today to say that I'm one of those who apologizes.- Former MP John Crosbie

"They used to wash our head in, I don't know what it was, kerosene or some kind of oil. Our heads were stinging and we were going around crying," said Aggek.

Aggek said she was often hungry at the school, but one mealtime still haunts her.

"We were having supper, I was kinda sick I threw up in my bowl of soup and they got me to eat it. Today I don't like carrots and turnip," she said.

"I want a big apology."

Aggek is not alone. The Rally for Reconciliation comes one week after the Truth and Reconciliation Committee released its final report. One of its many recommendations was that the federal government work with victims not included in the Indian Residential School Settlement — such as those from Newfoundland and Labrador.

Survivors from the province were also not included in the federal government's 2008 apology.

Mediation beginning on lawsuit

The rally was held at the same time mediation began on a class action lawsuit brought forward by residential school survivors from Newfoundland and Labrador.

Several speakers at the rally urged the government to settle the lawsuit quickly and painlessly.

"We're hoping that it'll be resolved through mediation so that our survivors who are suffering a lot don't have to be hauled through the court system again and relive all those memories," said Pat Ford, deputy speaker of the Nunatsiavut Assembly.

"Some survivors couldn't even be here today because of the bad feelings inside of them. Brings back too many bad memories."

Several politicians spoke at the rally, including former Lt.-Gov. John Crosbie. Crosbie apologized for not doing more to help during his time in office.

"When I was an MP in Ottawa I didn't really know enough about it or take the time to get into the issues," said Crosbie.

"Anybody who has any influence on this wrong being corrected should do so. So I'm here today to say that I'm one of those who apologizes. I should have done more when I was in the position to do more."

There are an estimated 1,000 people in the province who went through the residential school system.