The apology means a lot to those who need healing and I see nothing wrong at all with that except that it came to late for elders like Nora Bernard, who started the fight. Monetary compensation is more of a concern though. Too often I have seen money going to reserves being siphoned off by councils and chiefs and never getting to those in need. We have had local band chiefs paid more than the Prime Minister, and tax free as well, while the people on the same reserves live in poverty. I feel that education is the key, but reservations are a ghetto that limits the progress of their people. The residential schools tried to educate and assimilate but it was a failure because it was forced upon people and it tried to stamp out their rich culture and language.
Integration and education is still badly needed but we must help the natives do it in a way that preserves their heritage. Not an easy task and an apology does little to rectify the real problems.