by Jeff Colbourne
Northern News Services

NNSL (Mar 09/98) - There's been no apology and no direct funding yet to help the victims of residential schools.

But the government of the Northwest Territories did publicly announce its regret for the abuse suffered by former residential school students last week.

Before a crowd of about 40 people gathered at the Great Hall of the legislature, Premier Don Morin, Health Minister Kelvin Ng and Education Minister Charles Dent acknowledging and expressing in their own ways support for the victims.

"Over the past several years many victims of residential school abuse have been identified, and without a doubt more will come forward," said Morin.

"The sexual and physical abuse that occurred within our residential school system has left many former students deeply hurt, emotionally wounded and feeling very alone."

Morin added that the government will help victims in the healing process by recognizing the need for intervention and counselling.

They also plan to continue to replace residential schools with extension programs in community schools to allow more children to stay home, in their parent's care while they attend school. Charles Dent reiterated this sentiment in his address.

"I am glad to be able say today that all of our large school residences are closed," Dent said, adding, "Communities now have the option to provide high school programs in local schools."

"Working together we must do everything we can to help heal the wounds of the past, to make sure nothing like this can ever happen again," said Morin.

Ng said the department is committed to maintaining current levels of funding for mental health programs.

The department had already allocated $4 million, which is available to regional boards to provide mental health programs.

A victim's advocacy group has been set up to help investigate complaints surrounding Inuvik's Grollier Hall, which was at the centre of a number of recent sex-abuse court cases, and two other advocates positions have been established, one in the Beaufort and one in the Sahtu. The positions are cost-shared by the three GNWT departments and will fund up to $200,000 for the 1998-99 fiscal year.

In-service sexual abuse training programs for frontline workers in Kitikmeot and Inuvik regions have also been set up, along with a suicide prevention training program to teach people how to build prevention and intervention strategies.

Ng said no other funding has been allocated to help victims as the GNWT is waiting on the federal government to decide what support it will be sending North.

The GNWT does not want a duplication of services. "It is difficult to give any financial detail at this time because it is still not clear how federal healing money will be distributed in the NWT," said Ng.

The federal government announced Jan. 7 a $350-million healing fund for aboriginals to be paid out over four years.

The fund was part of the federal government's response to the report of the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples, released in November 1996.