The Language of Time: An Analysis of Stephen Harper’s “Statement of Apology to Former Students of Indian Residential Schools” The Indian Residential School system was, as former Prime Minister Stephen Harper describes, “a sad chapter in [Canada’s] history” (1). The Indian Act of 1876 essentially passed guardianship of Aboriginal children to the Government of Canada, causing the education of these children to be the responsibility of the government. These Indian Residential Schools were created with the primary aim of assimilating Aboriginal children into “dominant culture” (Harper, 1). In 2008, former Prime Minister Stephen Harper issued a formal apology to the Aboriginal peoples of Canada, using language indicating time to great effect. This use of language indicating time establishes the Government of Canada’s current position in
…show more content…
He asserts that the government wants to support the Aboriginal community, constantly discussing “moving forward together” and building relationships (Harper 2). This unifying language enforces the desire of the government to do better in their treatment of Aboriginal peoples, and rectify problems in their treatment that have been and continue to be problems for the Aboriginal communities in Canada. Former Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s apology does seem to be sincere. The inclusion of the past, while being described in a somewhat sparse and incomplete manner, shows that the government is not just overlooking and neglecting this darker part of Canada’s history. The present language admits to there being wrongdoings, and the language looking to the future indicates the government’s aspiration to improve their relationship with the Aboriginal communities and hopefully assist with solving some of the ongoing problems that the systemic discrimination of the Aboriginal peoples has
He asserts that the government wants to support the Aboriginal community, constantly discussing “moving forward together” and building relationships (Harper 2). This unifying language enforces the desire of the government to do better in their treatment of Aboriginal peoples, and rectify problems in their treatment that have been and continue to be problems for the Aboriginal communities in Canada. Former Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s apology does seem to be sincere. The inclusion of the past, while being described in a somewhat sparse and incomplete manner, shows that the government is not just overlooking and neglecting this darker part of Canada’s history. The present language admits to there being wrongdoings, and the language looking to the future indicates the government’s aspiration to improve their relationship with the Aboriginal communities and hopefully assist with solving some of the ongoing problems that the systemic discrimination of the Aboriginal peoples has