Expectations Among Aboriginal Peoples in <scp>C</scp>anada Regarding the Potential Impacts of a Government Apology

Abstract

After continued pressure, the C anadian government offered an apology to A boriginal peoples for its role in the I ndian R esidential S chool ( IRS ) system, where children were removed from their families in an effort to assimilate the A boriginal population. Although the apology was sought after, it was unclear what A boriginal peoples expected it to accomplish in relation to their treatment and quality of life within C anada. Quantitative and qualitative analyses revealed that, although A boriginal adults ( N = 164) felt the apology could potentially be a first step towards improved relations with the government and non‐ A boriginal C anadians, expectations that such changes would actually come to fruition were generally pessimistic. In exploring predictors of such expectations, path analysis indicated that those who had been intimately impacted by IRSs reported greater perceived discrimination that, in turn, was associated with lowered intergroup trust and forgiveness. Those who perceived high levels of discrimination were less likely to expect changes following the apology, which was mediated by the low levels of intergroup trust and forgiveness towards the government, but not towards non‐ A boriginal C anadians. Essentially, an apology was not enough to elicit hope for improved intergroup relations, especially when perceptions of continued discrimination impeded the restoration of intergroup trust and forgiveness.