International: Canada Hears of Native Abuse Pain

June 1, 2008

Author: Staff Writer

Source: BBC News

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/7430270.stm

A truth and reconciliation commission examining what native leaders call one of the most tragic and racist chapters in Canada's history has begun.

The commission will study Canada's decades-long policies that removed Aboriginal children from their families to force Christianity upon them.

The state-funded religious schools were often the scenes of horrific physical and sexual abuse.

The commission has a five-year mandate to detail the abuses.