Calling it a sad chapter in Canadian history, Prime Minister Stephen Harper apologized to former students of Indian residential schools in the House of Commons Wednesday.

For more than a century, residential schools separated in excess of 150,000 native children from their families and communities.

The federal government in the 1870s, partly in order to meet its obligation to educate First Nations children, helped develop and administer residential schools in co-operation with Anglican, Catholic, Presbyterian and United Churches.

The objective was to remove and isolate children from the influence of their families, traditions and cultures in order to assimilate them into the dominant culture.

"These objectives were based on the assumption aboriginal cultures and spiritual beliefs were inferior and unequal," Harper said. "Indeed, some sought, as it was famously said, 'o kill the Indian in the child.'

"Today, we recognize that this policy of assimilation was wrong, has caused great harm, and has no place in our country."

The federal government financed 132 schools in all provinces and territories, except Newfoundland, New Brunswick and PEI.

Children were often forcibly removed from their homes and taken to schools far away from their communities.

"Many were inadequately fed, clothed and housed," Harper said. "All were deprived of the care and nurturing of their parents, grandparents and communities."

Harper continued by saying the government now realizes the consequences of the residential school policy "were profoundly negative" and has had "a lasting and damaging impact on aboriginal culture, heritage and language."

"To the approximately 80,000 living former students, and all family members and communities, the Government of Canada now recognizes that it was wrong to forcibly remove children from their homes and we apologize for having done this," Harper said.

"We now recognize that it was wrong to separate children from rich and vibrant cultures and traditions, that it created a void in many lives and communities, and we apologize for having done this.

"We now recognize that, in separating children from their families, we undermined the ability of many to adequately parent their own children and sowed the seeds for generations to follow, and we apologize for having done this.

He also expressed regret for the abuse and neglect the students suffered at the hands of those who ran the schools

Wednesday's apology was the latest step in the federal government's efforts to help First Nations move towards healing and reconciliation.

In May 2006, the federal government announced the Indian Residential Schools Settlement Agreement, which included $1.9 billion for the common experience payment to be paid to all eligible former students who attended a recognized residential school.

The agreement, which is the largest class action settlement in Canada, also created an independent assessment process for claims of sexual and serious physical abuse, with former students eligible to receive between $5,000 and $275,000 each.

A Truth and Reconciliation Commission was also established with a budget of $60 million over five years. The commission is mandated to promote public education and awareness about the residential school system and its legacy.

And a $125 million endowment is being given to the Aboriginal Healing Foundation to continue to support healing programs and initiatives for the next five years.

There is no firm estimate on how much the Residential Schools Settlement Agreement will cost the federal government, but some peg the total at $4 billion.

dweir@blackpress.ca