Although Norman YakeleyaSA国际影视传媒檚 view of Catholicism was deeply coloured by his childhood at Grollier Hall residential school in Inuvik, he says he has come to appreciate many teachings of the Bible.

In particular, he says he is fond of the passage Matthew 7:7: SA国际影视传媒淎sk, and you shall be given; Seek, and you shall find it; Knock, and it shall be opened unto you.SA国际影视传媒�

SA国际影视传媒淭his is what we have done,SA国际影视传媒� he says.

Yakeleya, a former Dene national chief who was born and raised in Tulita, was one of the First Nations delegates who met with Pope Francis at the Vatican in Rome last week to seek an apology for the enduring damage of the residential school system.

On Friday, the pope formally apologized for the role some Catholics played in CanadaSA国际影视传媒檚 residential school system and its traumatic legacy. He said he felt SA国际影视传媒渟orrow and shame for the role that a number of Catholics, particularly those with educational responsibilities, have had in all these things that wounded you, and the abuses you suffered, and the lack of respect shown for your identity, your culture, and even your spiritual values.

SA国际影视传媒淚 ask for GodSA国际影视传媒檚 forgiveness, and I want to say to you with all my heart: I am very sorry,SA国际影视传媒� said the pontiff.

Yakeleya had the chance to meet Pope Francis during the last of several meetings on Friday, April 1.

SA国际影视传媒淗e is a very special man. HeSA国际影视传媒檚 a very kind man,SA国际影视传媒� says Yakeleya. SA国际影视传媒淎nd by hearing his words and listening to him on his land, and acknowledging his apology and his views of the church and the residential schools, heSA国际影视传媒檚 spoken the truth.SA国际影视传媒�

SA国际影视传媒淏y the pope saying, SA国际影视传媒業 am very sorry,SA国际影视传媒� he has taken the shame back, and it has lifted off my mind and my shoulders. That is not my shame to carry. ISA国际影视传媒檓 not to be shameful of who I am, where I come from.SA国际影视传媒�

Dene National Chief Gerald Antoine, who led the delegation to Rome, was not available for comment in time for publication. However, in a press conference after the final meeting with the pope, he called the apology SA国际影视传媒渓ong overdue,SA国际影视传媒� but said the Indigenous delegation SA国际影视传媒渁ccepted the apology as a gesture of good faith that he will come to our home, and to visit with our families.SA国际影视传媒�

The pope has said he will visit Canada sometime this summer, although no date has been set. Yakeleya says the Dene, M茅tis and Inuit nations will work with the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB) to further advance reconciliation between CanadaSA国际影视传媒檚 Indigenous peoples and the Catholic Church. He also said he hopes the CCCB will listen to CanadaSA国际影视传媒檚 Indigenous peoples, and SA国际影视传媒渢o work with them and to get healing centres, treatment centres and to support us to live according to our own values and principles.SA国际影视传媒�

SA国际影视传媒淭he seeds of forgiveness, the seeds of reconciliation have been planted,SA国际影视传媒� he says. SA国际影视传媒淲eSA国际影视传媒檝e got to work the soil and come out with good things, and pull the weeds of the residential school negativity and put them in the past where they belong. And that is not an easy task, but we can do it together.

SA国际影视传媒淚 would hope the pope would come to my motherSA国际影视传媒檚 grave and say he is sorry to her for what the Roman Catholic Church has done to her children by attending the residential school.SA国际影视传媒�