(Vatican) The president of the Métis National Council says she feels Pope Francis has embarked on a journey of justice after a meeting with the head of the Roman Catholic Church at the Vatican.
Posted at 6:20 a.m.
Updated at 8:19 a.m.
“He repeated ‘truth, justice and healing’ and I consider that a personal commitment,” said Cassidy Caron in front of Saint-Pierre Square on Monday morning.
Mme Caron pointed out that the pope did not apologize for the church’s role in residential schools. But, she added, (Indigenous people) have always demanded that the apology be made on Canadian soil.
The eight Métis delegates spent an hour with the pontiff, during which three survivors shared their stories about residential schools.
Angie Crerar, 85, said when she was at boarding school she knew what was going on was wrong. She wanted to tell the person responsible—the one at the very top. Now, nearly 80 years later, she finally has.
“They didn’t break us. We are still here and we intend to live here forever,” said Mr.me Crerar, originally from Grande Prairie, Alberta.
She said it was really amazing to speak with the pope about her experiences. She said he seemed kind and responsive.
The group also presented the pope with a pair of beaded red moccasins as a sign of the Métis people’s willingness to forgive if there is meaningful action. The color represents the traditional red papal shoes, the group explained, and that Pope Francis walks with the legacy of those who came before him, including the terrible parts.
Pixie Wells, from Fraser Valley, British Columbia, said she was proud to be a Two-Spirit person in the room with the pope. She said that homophobia is directly linked to colonization and residential schools.
“We’re bringing back that cultural component of being a two-spirited person,” said Ms.me Wells. “We were leaders, healers in our communities […], that was my power in this room for every other two-spirited person. »
The Inuit group was then to speak with Pope Francis.
Natan Obed, the president of the national organization representing Inuit, said he hoped it would be an opportunity to seek justice and hold church members who have harmed indigenous children accountable.
First Nations delegates will meet with the pontiff on Thursday.
The three groups of delegates will then meet with the pope on Friday. All expressed the expectation that he would pledge to apologize for the role of the Roman Catholic Church in residential schools during a trip to Canada.
An estimated 150,000 Aboriginal children were forced to attend residential schools, over 60% of which were run by the Catholic Church.
A total of 32 indigenous elders, leaders, survivors and youth participate in Vatican meetings. The Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops, which organizes and pays the expenses of the delegation, also sends a handful of members.
The Reverend Raymond Poisson, the group’s president, said he expected the meetings to allow Pope Francis to address the trauma and legacy of suffering faced by Indigenous peoples to this day.
“As well as the role of the Catholic Church in the residential school system, which contributed to the suppression of Indigenous languages, culture and spirituality,” he said.