CHURCHILL, Man. - The federal government will formally apologize today for the forced relocation of a First Nations community in northern Manitoba 60 years ago.
Indigenous and Northern Affairs Minister Carolyn Bennett will apologize for a move that led the Sayisi Dene First Nation down a path toward to hunger, violence and death.
The residents were forced out of their community of Duck Lake in 1956, partly because the Manitoba government said hunting was decimating the area's caribou herd.
That turned out not to be true, and in their new home near Churchill, there was little food or housing, and residents were often assaulted by people from Churchill.
Chief Ernest Bussidor remembers growing up seeing many children die.
In 1973, the Sayisi Dene left the Churchill area and moved back to their traditional territory.
Today's apology comes with a 33-million-dollar settlement package, aimed party at economic development.
The Manitoba government apologized for its role in 2010.
(The Canadian Press)
