Focusing on justice

Considering the many decades abuses against defenceless minors at the Nova Scotia Home for Colored Children went unchecked, uninvestigated and seemingly uncared about by the rest of provincial society, there should be no issue with government granting the restorative inquiry into those abuses its requested one-year extension, to March 2019.

The Council of Parties of the Nova Scotia Home for Colored Children Restorative Inquiry, from the outset, intended their efforts to be non-confrontational and inclusive.

It’s a collaborative process that wants victims not to feel revictimized in sharing their stories while inviting other parties, including Home staff, child welfare and other government officials, to also willingly engage.

If that takes more time, so be it. The Council of Parties’ second annual report, released Friday, reflects important progress as well as ambitious — and necessary — goals.

Specifically, the report identifies three central issues the Council will focus on “examining, understanding and addressing” in 2018 — responses to institutionalized abuse, experiences of children and youth in care of the province and the historic and ongoing impacts of systemic racism on African Nova Scotians.

That includes a pledge to examine how children and families enter the care system, what happens during care, whether institutional, foster or adoptive, and a look at the transition out of care and the level of preparation for adult life.

“Many residents have expressed their desire to make a difference for children in care of the province today,” the report said.

This inquiry represents an opportunity – that’s come at the cost of a grave injustice – for all of us to take a cleareyed view at the damage systemic racism has inflicted on African Nova Scotians.

We can only hope that what we learn from the past can make both the present and future better, not only for children in the care of the province but for relationships between and among all Nova Scotians.