June marks anniversary of Canada's residential school apology

It has been one year since the apology was delivered by Stephen Harper for the abuse suffered by Aboriginal children in Canada's church-operated Indian residential schools, and many people across Canada want to ensure that day is never forgotten, including Assembly of First Nations National(AFN) Chief, Phil Fontaine.
"(This day) is about reminding Canadians how very important we are to them and how they need us if we are to build a beautiful future for this country," Fontaine said.
Fontaine walked with Indian Affairs Minister Chuck Strahl, in a procession of approximately 1,000 residential school survivors, students, union workers, and church officials who celebrated the anniversary at the steps of Parliament Hill.
On June 10, Strahl announced a second panel of leaders who will oversee the Truth and Reconciliation Commission for residential schools. These leaders will include Judge Murray Sinclair of Manitoba, who will chair the panel after the former members resigned last year. Joining Sinclair are Marie Wilson, a senior executive with the North West Territories Workers Compensation Commission and Wilton Littlechild, Alberta regional chief for the AFN.
On a related note, residential school victims who have been approved for payments under the Independent Assessment Process are being forced to wait up to eight months to be compensated despite approval by federal adjudicators.
Regina lawyer, Tony Merchant, whose firm represents about 13,000 former students, said one of his clients was approved for a $91,000 payment for repeated beatings he received as a child in a residential school and the money still has not been disbursed.
A spokesperson for the Department of Indian and Northern Affairs, Patricia Valadao, admitted to media that although there has been a backlog, the cheques will be forthcoming and the government has plans to ensure payments are made within 45 days after adjudicators have issued decisions.