Hon. Margo Greenwood: An estimated 150,000 First Nations, Inuit and Métis children were removed from their families and forced to abandon their traditions, languages, cultures and identities. Many children at Indian residential schools were physically and sexually abused, and thousands of children would never see their families again. The violence and intergenerational trauma perpetuated by the state and Church continue to live on for Indigenous peoples across Canada.

But the truth is challenged by the disturbing rise of denialism. Recently, residential school denialists attempted to dig up unmarked graves because they refused to believe that Indigenous children were buried there.

Senator Gold, what is the government doing to combat the rise of residential school denialism in Canada?

Hon. Margo Greenwood: My question is for the Government Representative in the Senate.

September 30 will mark the third National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. There will be no celebrations or festivities on that day. Instead, Canadians are called upon to reflect on the legacy of residential schools and contemplate how we can further the cause of reconciliation.

Indigenous peoples and Indigenous governments have been calling for the federal government to recognize Indigenous languages as official languages. The Truth and Reconciliation Commission and parliamentary committees have stressed the importance of recognizing Indigenous languages as our first languages and furthering the cause of reconciliation. In their Calls for Justice, the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls said:

We call upon all governments to recognize Indigenous languages as official languages, with the same status, recognition, and protection provided to French and English.

Senator Gold, will the government heed this call and commit to recognizing Indigenous languages as official languages?