Graydon Nicholas, shown in March 2009, said it could be years before First Nations people find their place in Canada.Graydon Nicholas, shown in March 2009, said it could be years before First Nations people find their place in Canada. (Keith Minchin/Canadian Press)

New Brunswick's lieutenant-governor says it could take another two generations before First Nations find their place in Canada.

Graydon Nicholas, the province's first lieutenant-governor of aboriginal descent, said in an interview that national efforts such as the federal government's Truth and Reconciliation Commission are making progress but there's still a long way to go to heal old wounds with the First Nations community.

In an interview with CBC News, he noted it was only 50 years ago that natives got the right to vote federally and provincially without losing their status.

'It's going to take more than 10 years, believe me it's going to take 20, probably two more generations, before people realize there is a rightful place for aboriginals in this country.' — Lt.-Gov. Graydon Nicholas

And two years ago, Prime Minister Stephen Harper apologized to former students of residential schools.

All of these individual decisions are important, but Nicholas said more must be done to change attitudes within First Nations communities and in Canada as a whole.

"Canada has to come to terms with some kind of reconciliation. It's easy to say you're sorry — the proof in the pudding is — are you sincere?" he said, adding that it will take a long time before attitudes finally change.

"It's going to take more than 10 years, believe me it's going to take 20, probably two more generations, before people realize there is a rightful place for aboriginals in this country and they're not going to go away," he said.

Social organizations

For the progress that Nicholas said is possible, there needs to be a widespread change in attitude in various social institutions.

"The reconciliation has to involve all aspects of life. We're talking about spirituality, the churches. We're talking about the political process at the federal and provincial level," he said.

"We're talking about our democratic institutions, for example, the military as well as the police forces who were all part of ... removing the spirit of the aboriginal people in this country."

Nicholas said he's also hoping First Nations will work with government and others to resolve issues and move forward together.

In 2008, the federal government offered $1.9-billion in compensation to former students of residential schools.

Nicholas said reconciliation means more than just financial reparations.