First, here is Mr. Yves-François Blanchet’s tweet, including his Bloc Québecois (BQ) party’s statement:
If you do not understand French, here is a quick translation of the tweet above: “I am not that interested by the motivation of the Leader of the Conservative party to suggest that residential schools may have had another intention than the acculturation of the Indigenous people. Nevertheless, I wish that the real history, even if it is troubling, be admitted, known, and taught“.
Now, below, you can read the official statement of the BQ, as published in French first, followed by a quick translation into English for you.
Thank you Mr. Blanchet for your wise and straightforward words.
Bambi was curious to see the reaction of Ms. Jody Wilson-Raybould. As of 10:23 PM, there was no reaction on her Twitter account. Bambi will allow herself to say the following: Thank you Ms. Jody Wilson-Raybould for not playing politics over either mere stupidity (or malice?!) of your peers. As usual, you remain focused on the crying issues of your fellow Indigenous people, without any virtue signalling or pandering. Thank you for your authenticity, which is rare in politics!
“Le Bloc Québécois s’inquiète des propos du chef conservateur sur les pensionnats autochtones
Shawinigan, le 16 décembre 2020 – Le Bloc Québécois s’inquiète des propos tenus par le chef conservateur, Erin O’Toole, devant des militants de son parti. La lecture historique que fait le chef du PCC est erronée. Yves-François Blanchet souligne qu’on ne peut pas ainsi confondre une volonté d’éducation des enfants autochtones et génocide culturel.
Le chef du Bloc Québécois prend toutefois acte de l’admission d’erreur du chef conservateur. Il considère qu’il faut plutôt saisir l’occasion et, au contraire, enseigner l’histoire réelle de la relation entre les Autochtones et le Canada qui, pendant des décennies, avait pour intention de faire disparaître un ensemble de cultures riches et diversifiées en assimilant les enfants autochtones dans un réseau de pensionnats administrés par le clergé.“
“The Bloc Québécois worries about the Conservative leader’s comments on residential schools
Shawinigan, December 16, 2020 – The Bloc Québécois is concerned about remarks made by Conservative leader Erin O’Toole in front of his party activists. The historical reading of the CCP leader is wrong. Yves-François Blanchet emphasizes that we cannot thus confuse a desire to educate Indigenous children with cultural genocide.
The leader of the Bloc Québécois, however, takes note of the Conservative leader’s admission of error. He considers that one must rather seize the opportunity to, on the contrary, teach the real history of the relationship between Indigenous peoples and Canada, which for decades intended to wipe out a set of rich and diverse cultures by assimilating Indigenous children into a network of clergy-run boarding schools.“
