Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau publicly apologized on Wednesday for travelling to Tofino on Sept. 30, the country91Ƶs first National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.
Trudeau addressed the issue while speaking at a press conference in Ottawa to
91ƵTravelling on September 30 was a mistake and I regret it,91Ƶ the prime minister said. 91ƵThe first National Day of Truth and Reconciliation was a time for Indigenous people and non-Indigenous people alike to reflect and connect, think about the past but also focus on the future.91Ƶ
He said he had called Tk91Ƶemlúps te Secwépemc Kúkpi7 (Chief) Rosanne Casimir on Saturday and 91Ƶapologized for not being there with her and her community for this important day.91Ƶ
91ƵIt was a mistake to travel on that day,91Ƶ he said. 91ƵThis is an important moment for Canada and for Canadians to reflect not just on the past but on the present. I was in error to choose to travel on that day and I apologized directly to Chief Casimir for not having attended the event that she invited me to, which is why I am looking forward to going to the community and sitting down with them in the coming weeks.91Ƶ
Trudeau was asked what led to the decision to travel and whether anyone had advised him not to.
91ƵI think how it happened is far less important than that it happened, which I regret,91Ƶ he responded. 91ƵWe will continue to do even more on the path of reconciliation, whether it91Ƶs continuing to eliminate long-term boil water advisories, whether it91Ƶs making sure that there91Ƶs better investments in housing and support for kids going to new and better schools across the country in indigenous communities, there91Ƶs much work to do and I am committed to doing it.91Ƶ
Tofino is in the traditional territory of the Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation and TFN members Timmy Masso and Hjalmer Wenstob led a gathering outside the beachfront property Trudeau was staying at on Chesterman Beach on Saturday evening
91ƵFor me and for so many people across Canada, it91Ƶs our job to keep our prime minister in check and always try to make sure that they91Ƶre addressing their mistakes when they make them,91Ƶ Masso told the Westerly News following the prime minister91Ƶs statements on Wednesday.
91ƵIt is a little bit reassuring to know that he91Ƶs stepping up and owning that mistake91ƵIn Nuu-chah-nulth culture, when you make a mistake, you make sure you address that publicly and make sure you have everyone to acknowledge that you made that mistake so you can go forward, so I91Ƶm glad that he addressed that publicly.91Ƶ
He added though that the prime minister91Ƶs apology must be followed up by action.
91ƵI think that is truly the first step, but there are so many steps to regaining respect and, for me, I91Ƶm still disappointed in him. One thing that we called for was to address that publicly, but there91Ƶs a lot of steps to regain that respect and on that path to reconciliation you have to work together,91Ƶ he said.
91ƵFor me personally, and this is kind of a sad thing though, I91Ƶve lost a lot of respect for our prime minister through various actions that he91Ƶs done91Ƶand then to finally drive that peg into the wall you see him going on a vacation on this first Day for Truth and Reconciliation. For me, when it comes to regaining respect, there91Ƶs so many things that he has to do. He has to own up to previous mistakes that he91Ƶs done and try to move forward with everyone, not just have it as lip service of 91ƵI91Ƶm sorry and I91Ƶm going to be different now.91Ƶ I91Ƶve seen so many politicians say that and then go on and repeat the actions they91Ƶve done in the past.91Ƶ
andrew.bailey@westerlynews.ca
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