The planned meeting in December between Canadian Indigenous delegates and the Pope in Rome has potential to open a new chapter in history, say NWT Indigenous leaders.
First Nation, M茅tis and Inuit delegations are scheduled to meet with Pope Francis in Rome between Dec. 17 and 20, with residential school survivors expected to be among the attendees, the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops said in a tweet in June.
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ChurchSA国际影视传媒檚 role in genocide, dehumanization
Dene Nation National Chief Norman Yakeleya wants the Pope to apologize for the involvement of the Catholic Church in the residential school system.
SA国际影视传媒�(He should say) the very simple words of SA国际影视传媒榳e are sorrySA国际影视传媒� and to acknowledge that they did wrong,SA国际影视传媒� Yakeleya said. SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 an apology they need to make. It canSA国际影视传媒檛 be just a hollow apology. ItSA国际影视传媒檚 got to be meaningful to the residential school survivors and their families and to the community and to the Dene culture and way of life.SA国际影视传媒�
Yakeleya also wants the full truth to be divulged of the ChurchSA国际影视传媒檚 role in the SA国际影视传媒渁ssimilation, genocide and the dehumanization process experienced at residential schools in the North.SA国际影视传媒�
But the point of the visit to Rome isnSA国际影视传媒檛 just to receive an apology, Yakeleya noted.
Rather, the delegation can be a start on a new path for justice, respect and recognition for Indigenous people.
SA国际影视传媒淭he Church had a role in the lives of Indigenous peoples. They need to acknowledge that they did something terribly wrong. We want to seek justice and acknowledgement of our way of life as Indigenous people. We want to bring balance back into our lives.SA国际影视传媒�
As to whether the national chief wants the Pope to ask for forgiveness for residential schools, Yakeleya said he would first seek direction from survivors and Elders.
SA国际影视传媒淚 would take that message back to the Pope. He can sit with our Elders and ask for forgiveness. We want freedom from the trauma of the past so we can live with peace and love and friendship and so we can be who we were meant to be, not what other people think we should be,SA国际影视传媒� he said.
It isnSA国际影视传媒檛 yet known if Yakeleya will join the delegation, even though he is the Assembly of First Nations regional chief holding the residential schools portfolio.
Apology can be a start
Garry Bailey, president of the NWT M茅tis Nation wasnSA国际影视传媒檛 invited to the December meeting but hopes the Pope apologizes for the residential school system.
SA国际影视传媒淚 hope the Catholic Church admits to what theySA国际影视传媒檝e done to the Aboriginal people. There should be a process to move forward to recognize Aboriginal peopleSA国际影视传媒檚 rights,SA国际影视传媒� Bailey said.
SA国际影视传媒�(The schools) were the beginning of genocide as far as ISA国际影视传媒檓 concerned. Our people were not given a proper education. They could only get an education up to Grade 4 and then they were married off. Our grandmothers were forced to marry French M茅tis or white people and when they did they lost their rights as First Nations people. An apology is a start. Canada has to to step up and face reconciliation in an equitable manner.SA国际影视传媒�
One residential school survivor who is not seeking an apology from Rome is Richard Hardy, a former NWT lawyer who was born in Tulita, and served as president of the Fort Norman M茅tis Community and President of the M茅tis Association of the NWT.
He suffered sexual abuse while attending Grollier Hall in Inuvik in the early 1960s.
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In a letter sent to the Pope on Aug. 31, 2021, Hardy takes issue with the inclusion of the M茅tis National Council in the delegation to Rome but not other M茅tis organizations.
SA国际影视传媒淭he M茅tis National Council does not represent me and most other M茅tis from the Northwest Territories in Canada. (The) MNC wrongfully denies our existence as M茅tis,SA国际影视传媒� he wrote.
SA国际影视传媒淣otwithstanding what the MNC delegation may say to you about the M茅tis students that attended various Catholic educational institutions in Canada, my friends and I do not need and do not want an apology from you or anyone else in the church.SA国际影视传媒�
Instead of an apology, Hardy would like the Pope to reach out to survivors and not the politicians who were invited to Rome.
The Pontiff should also admit to the ChurchSA国际影视传媒檚 knowledge about the history of abuse at residential schools and rebuke SA国际影视传媒渘aysayersSA国际影视传媒� such as former Bishop Paul Pich茅 of Mackenzie-Fort Smith who said in the book The Bishop Who Cared that some survivors are only seeking pay outs.
Hardy is calling for action following those acknowledgements and wants the church to ask for forgiveness from survivors and families.
SA国际影视传媒淭hen it becomes a matter for the survivors to decide, individually, whether or not to even respond to the Pope,SA国际影视传媒� he said.
