Justice Murray Sinclair was the invited speaker, a guest of the Mir Lecture Series, at the Brilliant Cultural Centre on Sept. 21. Mr. Sinclair's presentation followed a function at the centre observing the International Day of Peace.
The commission Mr. Sinclair plays a significant role in was created for the purpose of addressing the wrongs done to aboriginal families over the course of many decades through the practice of forcibly placing First Nations children in residential schools.
Financial settlements have been part of the efforts to make amends for the painful emotional and physical experiences of thousands of children. While Mr. Sinclair pointed out that those payments do not "heal" the wounds...they indicate an acknowledgement of mistreatment and a willingness by authorities to accept responsibility for past policies.