Manitoba minister says residential schools meant to eliminate Indigenous people

WINNIPEG — A Manitoba cabinet minister who once defended some of the intentions behind residential schools now says they were part of a genocide.

Alan Lagimodiere says former prime minister John A. MacDonald’s plan was to eliminate Indigenous people from Canada.

And he says it was not just cultural genocide — the term often used — but genocide.

Lagimodiere was sworn in last month as Manitoba’s minister of Indigenous reconciliation and northern relations.

He angered Indigenous leaders when he said some of the intentions behind residential schools were good.

He issued a full apology the next day and has been visiting First Nations communities recently on what he calls a listening and learning journey.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 4, 2021.

The Canadian Press