(Montreal) The papal apologies for the abuses committed in the residential schools for Aboriginals are long awaited by the members of the First Nations, but accepting them will still remain difficult for many survivors, according to a former Innu resident of the North Shore. Other actions by the Church will need to follow this important step to enable healing, says an Indigenous leader.
Posted at 6:44 a.m.
Pope Francis, who will begin a trip to Canada from July 24 to 29 focused on reconciliation with Indigenous peoples, has “a lot on his shoulders,” believes Jeannette Vollant.
“I have compassion for him today. […] It’s a big responsibility. Surely he must have heard what happened, but there was no action on the part of Church authorities to stop it,” she told The Canadian Press.
The septuagenarian from the community of Uashat mak Mani-utenam attended the former Notre-Dame boarding school during her childhood in the 1950s. Like thousands of other members of the first peoples of Eastern Canada, she plans to attend the papal mass scheduled for July 28 at the Basilica of Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré.
Many expect the Holy Father to apologize on behalf of the Catholic Church for past abuses at federally funded residential schools run by religious organizations. This gesture is included in the calls to action of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.
According to Jean-François Roussel, professor at the Institute of Religious Studies at the University of Montreal, Pope Francis is “the man for the job” to deliver an apology with delicacy.
“He has a sensitivity towards the poor, the oppressed, through his Latin American origins”, describes Mr. Roussel. However, he is concerned that his message will be weighed down by inconveniences related to logistics and communication due to the tight schedule to prepare for this trip.
Jeannette Vollant wants a sincere apology that “comes from the heart”, even if Pope Francis will rely on a prepared speech.
“It would be better if those were his real words. […] Let it be felt in our hearts, let it be truly sincere. It may be more accepted, ”she says.
Trying to forgive will still be difficult for many survivors, according to Ms.me Flying. She did not experience abuse during her time at residential school, but she did hear stories, especially when she was an advocate in her community.
“When a child is sexually abused, you don’t forget that overnight. No matter how much you do therapy, the memory will always be there. The pain and suffering in your heart, in your soul, is still there. It is not easy. I know that one day a pardon will pass, but it’s not for now, “said Mme Flying.
“It’s going to take some time because my people need to start a healing process,” she continues.
“What more is the Church going to do? »
It will be up to the survivors of residential schools to judge whether the pope’s words are acceptable or not, also advances the head of the Assembly of First Nations Quebec-Labrador (AFNQL).
Nevertheless, the apologies will only be “very significant” insofar as gestures will follow to support them, mentions Ghislain Picard, recalling that this opinion was also widespread among the First Nations when Ottawa asked for forgiveness in 2008.
“What applies to the Canadian Parliament at the time certainly applies to the Vatican today,” Mr. Picard mentioned in an interview.
“The question: what more is the Church going to do next? “, he adds, inviting him to be innovative in his approach to reconciliation.
Mr. Roussel believes that many efforts belong to the Canadian Church in this road towards reconciliation with the first peoples, in particular in the file of the archives surrounding the residential schools.
Giving access to these documents kept in Rome and in Canada would be the next step to take “as quickly as possible” to complete the search for these missing children, according to Mr. Roussel.
The Vatican is also called by the First Nations to revoke the “doctrine of discovery” dating from the 15e century. According to this policy emanating from decrees issued by the Pope, European explorers could claim lands considered “vacant”, despite the presence of indigenous peoples, on the principle that they were racially and religiously superior.
In its final report, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission mentions that the mentality behind this doctrine led to the development of the residential school system. This logic was also transposed into the jurisprudence of colonial states and continues to have an impact on the recognition of the territorial rights of Aboriginal peoples, says Mr. Roussel.
The Vatican refuses to comply with the request to abolish the doctrine asserting that the decrees have already been invalid for a very long time. All of the Canadian Catholic organizations have nevertheless repudiated the principles of this ideology, indicates Mr. Roussel.
The professor from the University of Montreal considers the claim of the First Nations relevant, but doubts that the abolition of decrees dating back to the 15e century of a religious institution has a real influence on the current courts.
This dispatch was produced with the financial assistance of the Meta Exchanges and The Canadian Press for the news.