Conservative Senator Lynn Beyak has drawn criticism over her comments about Indigenous residential schools, in which she said their “good deeds” were overshadowed by negative reports outlined by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.

“I speak partly for the record, but mostly in memory of the kindly and well-intentioned men and women and their descendants — perhaps some of us here in this chamber — whose remarkable works, good deeds and historical tales in the residential schools go unacknowledged for the most part,” Beyak said Tuesday in the Senate.

Beyak, who lives in Dryden, Ont., is a member of the Senate committee of Aboriginal Peoples. She was appointed to the Senate in 2013 by former prime minister Stephen Harper.

“I am a bit shocked, senator, that you still hold some views that have been proven to be incorrect over the years,” said Sen. Murray Sinclair. “But, nonetheless, I accept that you have the right to hold them.”

Sinclair was the chief commissioner of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.

A six-year study by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission found rampant physical and sexual abuse in residential schools.

Other than physical, sexual and mental abuse, the Commission found about 6,000 children died while in care because of malnourishment or disease.

“Mistakes were made at residential schools,” said Beyak on Tuesday. “In many instances, horrible mistakes that overshadowed some good things that also happened at those schools.”

At a January meeting of the committee, Beyak said the schools were run with the best of intentions.

“They didn’t mean to hurt anybody,” she said. “The fathers and sons and family members of the nuns and priests, to this day, have to bear the reputation as well, and nobody meant to hurt anybody. The little smiles in the Truth and Reconciliation Commission are real, the clothes are clean and the meals are good. There were many people who came from residential schools with good training and good language skills, and of course there were the atrocities as well.”

Beyak said she was disappointed the commission’s report didn’t focus on the good.

“The people I talk to are Christians,” she said.

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While the commission report did talk about the staff at the residential schools, and did say some positive things about them for some people, University of Saskatchewan history professor Jim Miller said his own research found there is a very small minority of students who had a good experience.

“There were some good things . . . but many more difficult things, such as emotional deprivation; poor care; inadequate instruction; overwork; aggressive and hostile proselytization by missionaries and so forth,” he said.