Historically, countries have been nations of "conquerors". In other words, the strongest people are the one who win power and control. Most recently, countries in the western part of the world have adopted what is considered a more "ethical" position that acknowledges the wrongs that have been done to those who were conquered, defeated, or simply overwhelmed as with Aboriginal people in Canada. Sometimes they even try to make up for their past actions by trying to reverse them or ask for forgiveness, as in South Africa or in Rwanda. The Canadian Aboriginal Residential Schools Reconciliation process has many similarities to these cases.

1. The residential schools have left a terrible scar on the psyche of the Aboriginal community. What was the lasting impact of the schools on these people?
2. Why is it important to provide survivors and their families with an opportunity to go through a reconciliation process?