Commission hearings to hear from both parties.

The AFN's National Chief met with Catholic Bishops in Ottawa at the end of January, but there were no apologies or promises of justice coming from the bishops for any of the offenses committed in residential schools against Aboriginal people.

From approximately 1870 to the late 1970's, churches and governments took Aboriginal children away from their families and communities and sent them to residential schools to train and learn the Christian and western European language. Many of the children were beaten and sexually abused.

In 2007, the government approved the 1.9 billion dollar compensation payout for the estimated 80,000 surviving students of the residential school system run by the Catholic, Anglican, Presbyterian and the United Church.

Reportedly, the Catholic Bishops are hoping "both sides" of the residential school story will be told at the impending Truth and Reconciliation Commission hearings. There will be Commission hearings held across Canada over the next five years to hear from residential school survivors, churches and the government.

Last year, Parliament apologized to the First Nation people, but the federal government has not. Last October, Prime Minister Stephen Harper promised in his throne speech to launch the commission for truth and reconciliation and to make a statement of apology to close this sad chapter in our history. Fontaine is quoted saying Aboriginal people want to be involved in the drafting of the apology, but have yet to be asked.

Fontaine is setting up cross-Canada meetings with the churches over the next couple months to let people know along with the churches, what the commission goals are.

There hasn't been any actual meeting dates announced, but Fontaine hopes to speak in Ottawa, Vancouver, Alberta and Saskatchewan.

The commission is in the process of selecting a chairperson and two commissioners. More than 300 applicants have come forward for the job.