Prime Minister Stephen Harper will make a long-awaited apology for the rampant abuses at native residential schools on June 11 in Parliament.
Indian Affairs Minister Chuck Strahl made the announcement Thursday saying, "This is going to be a very meaningful and respectful apology."
The announcement comes before a national aboriginal day of action on May 29 that may include highway and railroad blockades.
Tensions are increasing between the government and First Nations over a number of issues, including land claims and poverty on reserves.
Strahl said that native leaders have wanted an apology over the schools "for many, many years."
Starting in 1874, Canada funded the residential schools, which were an extension of religious missionary work. It was part of a Canadian campaign to assimilate aboriginals into a Christian society by obliterating their language, religion and culture.
About 150,000 children went through the schools, most of which closed down in the 1970s.
The federal government admitted 10 years ago that physical and sexual abuse in the once-mandatory schools was rampant. Thousands of former students have sued the government.
Many of the 90,000 survivors of the schools have said that they wanted to hear a formal apology from the prime minister in the House of Commons.
National Chief Phil Fontaine has made statements in recent weeks suggesting that First Nations might reject the apology if it is seen as a tool of appeasement prior to the May 29 day of action.
With files from The Canadian Press
