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Lance Copegog January 4th, 2018 The Honourable Andrew Scheer Leader of the Conservative Party of Canada House of Commons, Ottawa, ON K1A 0A6 Mr. Scheer: In recent months, Senator Lynn Beyak has engaged in conduct that is detrimental to the advancement of reconciliation with Indigenous peoples in Canada. As you aware, both Indigenous people and non-Indigenous Canadians are engaged in a process of acknowledgement, healing, and truth telling. Senator Beyak’s repeated defence of the Indian residential school system is an insult to the survivors of that system and their descendants. Studies have shown that the Indian residential school system has contributed to the intergenerational trauma that affects First Nations communities today. Her comments illustrate her ill-informed views of the impact that Canada’s attempts at assimilating Indigenous people have had. Your predecessor, The Right Honourable Stephen Harper, then Prime Minister of Canada, expressed remorse for Canada’s involvement in the residential school system in 2008. The primary objectives of the Indian Residential School system were to remove and isolate children from the influence of their homes, families, traditions and cultures, and to assimilate them into the dominant culture: to “kill the Indian in the child.” Furthermore, Mr. Harper acknowledged that “there is no place in Canada for the attitudes that inspired the Indian Residential Schools system to ever prevail again.” I am dismayed that Senator Beyak continues to speak to the apparent good of the Indian residential school system. In order to further advance her lies, Senator Beyak published “letters of support” for her comments to her official Senate website. Many of these letters contained falsehoods about Indigenous people and pushed ignorant, fringe opinions that border on racist. Fewer than 10 of the 100 letters posted contained “personal experiences” by Indigenous people in the Indian residential school system. Mr. Scheer, in the face of Senator Beyak’s conduct, the right course of action to take would be to remove her from the Conservative caucus. Her comments have no place in today’s Canada, and highlight the work that we need to do together to advance reconciliation. I join the voices of Grand Chief Alvin Fiddler, Cindy Blackstock, and others in calling for Senator Beyak’s resignation or removal from your caucus. I trust that you will do the right thing. With kind regards, I am Sincerely, Lance Copegog 38 Epingishmok Miikan Christian Island, ON L9M 0A9 .

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