The Wisdom of Our Elders: The Contempt for Memory in Canadian Indigenous Policy – C2C Journal
December 7, 2025
That no one should be punished for the sins of their father is an ageless concept of fundamental justice. But what about the wisdom of one’s father? Should anyone be obliged to acknowledge or honour that? It seems a particularly relevant question when considering Indigenous policy in Canada, given the respect traditionally due to – and often demanded by – native elders.
Yet over the past year, two significant opportunities for members of a younger generation to pay proper respect to the wisdom of their forebears have failed due to the narrow-minded and rigidly-enforced nature of contemporary Canadian politics. One example involves a blast of negative publicity given to the views of the late Robert Carney, a scholar and school administrator, regarding his thoughts on Canada’s Indian Residential Schools. This sudden interest was brought on by the fact his son Mark became prime minister this year.
