(Ottawa) The federal government announces that it has earmarked more than $35 million to support Indigenous communities and residential school survivors during the papal visit to the country.
Posted at 8:42 p.m.
Pope Francis is due to travel to Alberta, Quebec and Nunavut between July 24 and 29. This papal tour includes public and private events with a particular emphasis on the participation of indigenous communities.
This trip is prompted by the Pope’s desire to offer a formal apology on behalf of the Roman Catholic Church for its role in the system of residential schools for Indians operated in Canada. Earlier this year, the pope offered his first apology to a delegation of indigenous representatives who came to the Vatican.
Indigenous Services Canada and Crown-Indigenous Relations jointly contributed $30.5 million for community activities, ceremonies or the transportation of survivors to take part in these events related to the Pope’s visit.
The Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations, Marc Miller, had already announced that Ottawa would support survivors who want to attend the events of the papal tour and that planning had already begun in order to avoid a “logistical nightmare”.
In addition to the sums described above, an amount of three million dollars will be donated to Aboriginal organizations in the three regions of the country where Pope Francis is expected.
The tour is set to begin in Edmonton, then the pope will head south to the community of Maskwacis to meet survivors of the Ermineskin residential school. Other activities are planned in Alberta, including a huge mass celebrated in Commonwealth Stadium.
Subsequently, the pope is expected in Quebec. Another large-scale mass is planned at the Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré basilica. The tour is set to conclude in Iqaluit, where the pontiff will once again meet residential school survivors and participate in community activities.
The federal government has also pledged to provide two million dollars to fund the services of interpreters in Aboriginal languages during events involving the pope.
An estimated 150,000 Aboriginal children were forced to attend residential schools over a century. The Roman Catholic Church was responsible for the management of about 60% of the establishments.
The Indian Residential Schools Resolution Health Support Program offers a dedicated crisis line service to survivors. If you feel the need, you can communicate day and night with workers by dialing 1-866-925-4419.