Apology being planned to Nunatsiavut residential school survivors in Hopedale

Another apology to residential school survivors is being planned in Labrador this fall, with Premier Andrew Furey set to apologize to survivors in Nunatsiavut.

Nunatsiavut government says no specific dates have been set for Hopedale or other Inuit communities

CBC News Posted: Oct 13, 2023 6:51 AM EDT | Last Updated: October 13, 2023

A man with a suit and tie smiles. — Premier Andrew Furey is set to travel to Hopedale to apologize to residential school survivors, according to a social media post by the Nunatsiavut government's Department of Health and Social Development. (Patrick Butler/Radio-Canada)

Newfoundland and Labrador Premier Andrew Furey is set to deliver an apology to Nunatsiavut residential school survivors in November in Hopedale, according to a social media post by the Nunatsiavutgovernment'sDepartment of Health and Social Development.

But in response to questions from CBC News, the Nunatsiavut government says nothing has been confirmed,including the dates of the apology or details of any potential apologiesin other Inuit communities.

In the post, the department said Furey was considering the first few days of November for the apology.

The post was later deleted, replaced by aversion that made no mention of potential dates.

The department said a community meeting will be held Thursday night to discuss details on who would accept the apology in Hopedale.

A black graphic with white writing reads — The Nunatsiavut government's Department of Health and Social Development updated a Facebook post to remove the suggestion of the first few days of November being considered for the apology. (Nunatsiavut government/Facebook )

The apology to Nunatsiavut survivors in Hopedale would be the second this fall. On Sept. 29, Furey apologized to NunatuKavutsurvivors in Cartwright, on Labrador's south coast.

Both Nunatsiavut and the Innu Nation took exception to the apology being delivered in Cartwright, as they dispute NunatuKavut's Indigeneity.

Why a residential schools apology has led to calls for N.L.'s Indigenous affairs minister to resign

N.L. premier apologizes to residential school survivors in southern Labrador

Nunatsiavut and the Innu Nation have called for the resignation of Lisa Dempster, minister of Labrador and Indigenous affairs and a member ofNunatuKavut.

LISTEN | Lisa Dempster responds to calls for her resignation:

NunatuKavutPresident Todd Russell has said the backlash was uncalled for and he's angry that it came over something as sensitive as a residential schools apology.

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