Prince Charles to reflect on indigenous abuse during Canada visit

Some 150,000 indigenous Canadian children were forcibly enrolled from the 1800s to 1990s in residential schools, where thousands died

The Prince of Wales and his wife Camilla were greeted by schoolchildren on Tuesday on their royal visit to Northern Ireland. Getty Images

Schoolchildren in Cookstown lined up to greet the British royal couple. Getty Images

Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, meets and greets well-wishers during a walkabout in Cookstown. Getty Images

Prince Charles and Camilla test out a bike as they meet volunteers at the Superstars cafe in Cookstown. PA

Children hold flowers as they await the couple's arrival. Reuters

The Prince of Wales signs the visitors' book at Lissan House, Cookstown, during a visit to meet community groups. PA

The Prince of Wales meets photographer John O'Neill at a reception at Lissan House. PA

Prince Charles chats to volunteers from Loughgall Hedgehog Rescue at Lissan House. PA

Prince Charles and his wife Camilla are to acknowledge the abuse of thousands of indigenous children by Canada's school system during a visit next month, his office said on Tuesday.

The Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall will take part in “a solemn moment of reflection and prayer” shortly after arriving at St John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, on May 17.

The meeting at a so-called Heart Garden on the grounds of Government House will be “with indigenous leaders and community members in the spirit of reconciliation”, said Charles's deputy private secretary Chris Fitzgerald.

“Heart Gardens are in memory of all Indigenous children who were lost to the residential school system, in recognition of those who survived, and the families of both,” he added.

Pope Francis earlier this month apologised to Canada's indigenous peoples for a century of abuse committed at Church-run residential schools.

Charles's mother, Canada's head of state Queen Elizabeth II, last year sent a message of support to mark the country's first National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.

The queen joined Canadians “to reflect on the painful history that indigenous peoples endured in residential schools in Canada, and on the work that remains to heal and to continue to build an inclusive society".

Some 150,000 indigenous, Metis and Inuit children were forcibly enrolled from the late 1800s to the 1990s in 139 residential schools across Canada, spending months or years isolated from their families, language and culture.

Many of the children were physically and sexually abused by staff, and thousands are believed to have died of disease, malnutrition and neglect.

A truth and reconciliation commission concluded in 2015 that the failed government policy of assimilation amounted to “cultural genocide".

Discoveries of 1,300 unmarked student graves at several of the former schools since last May — with ongoing searches expected to uncover many more — has shocked Canada.

Governor-general Mary Simon, the first indigenous woman to serve as the queen's representative in Canada, called the pope's apology a “historic and emotional day for Indigenous peoples across Canada".

The royals' three-day visit is to mark the queen's platinum jubilee year and will also see them visit the Northwest Territories on the other side of the vast country.