Prince Charles was asked to apologize on behalf of the royal family for the treatment of Indigenous communities in Canada when he and the Duchess of Cornwall landed in the country for a royal tour.
The couple landed on the island of Newfoundland, the first leg of their 72-hour visit, which will see them travel an incredible 9,000 miles door-to-door.
Cassidy Caron, president of the Metis National Council, said she intends to raise the issue in person with the heir to the throne when they meet tomorrow.
Mary Teegee, executive director of child and family services at Carrier Sekani Family Services in the province of British Columbia, said, “You also need to understand that they are not the leaders in our nation,” adding that acknowledging the damages caused by the Colonization this was needed instead of just a “banal” excuse.
The pressure comes after two recent royal visits to the Caribbean – by the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and the Earl and Countess of Wessex – which drew criticism for promoting “colonialism” and demanding reparations over Britain’s role in the historic slave trade .
Despite the tension, flag-waving schoolchildren and well-wishers still turned out to greet the royal couple as they kicked off their busy schedule with a welcome ceremony in the town of St. John’s.
The Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall arrive in St John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador for their three day trip to Canada to celebrate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee
The Duke and Duchess of Cornwall were warmly greeted by well-wishers as they arrived in St John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador on the first day of their Royal Tour of Canada
Despite the tension, flag-waving schoolchildren and well-wishers still turned out to greet the royal couple as they kicked off their busy schedule with a welcome ceremony in the town of St. John’s
The couple were greeted by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau (pictured) as they arrived in the country for the three-day visit
The UK enjoys a warm relationship with Canada, where the Queen is Head of State and whose three-day platinum jubilee visit is to be celebrated by Charles and Camilla.
But the country has come to terms with the murky discovery last year of hundreds of human remains in unmarked graves in former church schools, facilities where generations of Indigenous children were forcibly relocated.
From the 19th century through the 1970s, more than 150,000 Indigenous children were forced to attend government-funded Christian boarding schools in order to integrate them into Canadian society.
Thousands of children died from disease and other causes, many never returning to their families.
The Prince of Wales is greeted as he and Camilla arrive in Canada ahead of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Royal Tour
The Prince of Wales as he disembarks the plane after landing in Canada for her three day trip to Canada to celebrate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee
The Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall are greeted as they disembark the plane in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
The Duke and Duchess of Cornwall are greeted warmly on arrival in St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador for their three day trip to Canada
The Duchess of Cornwall is greeted as she arrives with the Prince of Wales for their three day trip to Canada
The couple appeared in good spirits as they chatted with well-wishers in St. John’s to kick off a three-day tour of Canada
Prince Charles and Camilla disembark their plane after landing in St. John’s to embark on a three-day tour of Canada
The Canadian government has acknowledged that physical and sexual abuse was rampant in schools, with students being beaten for speaking their native language.
Charles, 73, and Camilla, 74, in particular, will begin their tour by acknowledging the schools’ treatment of victims.
They will participate in a “celebratory moment of reflection and prayer” at the Heart Garden in St. John’s, Newfoundland, dedicated to the thousands who have died or been abused in the school system.
Commenting on her decision to begin the journey with an acknowledgment of the issue, Chris Fitzgerald, the Prince’s Deputy Private Secretary for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, said: “Heart Gardens is a memorial to all Indigenous children who have been lost through the school system, in recognition of the survivors and families of both.’
He added: “Throughout the tour, Their Royal Highnesses will take the opportunity to continue to engage with Indigenous communities.
Prince Charles and Camilla arrive ahead of their three-day tour of Canada to celebrate Her Majesty’s Platinum Jubilee
Prince Charles and Camilla descend the stairs of their plane upon arrival in St. John’s, Newfoundland, Canada
“For five decades, HRH has continued to learn from indigenous peoples in Canada and around the world.
“He recognizes their deep connection to land and water and the important traditional knowledge they hold to restore harmony between people and nature.”
But Ms Caron, who represents the Metis, a distinct indigenous people originally the descendants of Indian women and European fur traders, believes the royal family needs to go further.
She told CBC News, “There is so much healing that is needed. We need basic human necessities in our communities and that arises from colonization.
“It comes from assimilation, and some financial reparations are absolutely helpful in helping us move forward.”
She said she will address the issue of the Queen apologizing for abusing Aboriginal people at Canada’s boarding schools and paying reparations when she meets with the Prince and Duchess at a reception in Ottawa.
Prince Charles stood at attention during an official welcome to Canada held in the city of St. John’s
Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall exchanged a soft word as they joined the Governor General of Canada, Mary Simon, at the event
Schoolchildren waving Canadian flags greeted Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall upon their arrival
Charles and Camilla flew on the Canadian government’s official aircraft, Royal Canadian Air Force, which was specially renamed “Royals 01” for the trip. It’s usually called CanForce1 when the country’s Prime Minister is on board.
Immediately upon arrival, they traveled in convoy to St. John’s for an official welcome ceremony at the Confederation Building, attended by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and other dignitaries, as well as senior officials from key Indigenous communities.
The prince received a royal salute and inspected an honor guard before he and his wife watched cultural performances depicting the history and traditions of Newfoundland and Labrador.
Charles is expected to address the Queen’s “deep affection for Canada and its people” in his first major speech of the tour.
The visit will also take the couple to Ottawa and Yellowknife, the capital of the Northwest Territories.