The minister was responding to suggestions that the statement of reconciliation she read on Jan. 7, one that was to signal a new relationship between the federal government and aboriginal peoples of Canada, contained no recognition of the government's responsibility for residential school abuses.

Following Stewart's delivery of the government's statement of reconciliation, some aboriginal leaders said their people who suffered sexual and physical abuse at residential schools believe the statement did not go far enough.

Leaders such as Marilyn Buffalo of the Native Women's Association and Harry Daniels of the Aboriginal People's Congress said any apology for the abuses should come from the prime minister of Canada and be delivered in the House of Commons.

Asked if she felt such an apology is warranted, Stewart said, "The apology we offered in the statement of reconciliation that I read wouldn't have been possible without the full support of Prime Minister Chretien."

Stewart said Chretien felt she and Natural Resources Minister Ralph Goodale were the most appropriate people to deliver the apology, since it bore most closely on their portfolios.

"The apology has been issued," said Stewart, when asked again if any hope should be held out for an apology from the prime minister.

"Its intention was to recognize the ways and means that we had worked together in the past, and identify those approaches that were disrespectful of culture, tradition and contribution, and to indicate those approaches are ones we do not want to take any more."