As the heir to the founder of English-speaking Canada, Sir William Alexander of Menstrie the first Earl of Stirling and Viscount of Canada and first hereditary Governor and Lord Lieutenant of Canada, I apologize for the horrible way that over 150,000 children of Inuit and First Nations peoples were treated in the "Indian Residential Schools" and I acknowledge the horrible legacy of their abuse. As a Christian I also apologize that Christian religious organizations were deeply involved in this abuse. In 132 schools, in over 100 years, native innocent children were taken from their parents, their extended families and tribes, from their culture and their language in the racist belief that their traditions and culture were inferior to that of the white man. These children were subject, in many cases, to horrific sexual, physical, and psychological abuse.

There is no excuse.

The program of "Indian residential schools" was a terrible stain on Canada's history. I fully and totally support the formal apology given yesterday by the Rt. Hon. Stephen Harper, the Prime Minister of Canada, to the Inuit and First Nations on behalf of all Canada.

May God bless those who suffered directly and indirectly from this horrible history and its legacy.

Stirling

Earl of Stirling

Hereditary Governor and Lord Lieutenant of Canada

Lord Lieutenant & Lord High Admiral & Lt.-General of Nova Scotia

Chief of Clan Alexander