The pontiff will stop in Edmonton, a city founded on Treaty 6 lands. Grand Chief of the Confederacy of Treaty 6 First Nations, George Arcand Junior, is pleased to have been included in the discussions surrounding the announcement. of the Pope’s visit.
A half-dozen residential schools for Indians have been built on his community’s lands and he still sees the scars of trauma from the atrocities committed in these facilities.
” It’s a beginning, the beginning of a process of living with what happened in those Indian residential schools. »
Apologies and after?
According to Bishop Richard Smith, the pope’s trip coordinator for the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB), the sovereign pontiff should reiterate the official apologies of the Catholic Church on Canadian soil.
Although they are welcome, according to Grand Chief Arcand Jr, many members of his community are asking for more. He believes the Catholic Church needs to follow up its apology with discussions about how to help residential school survivors.
Apologies are a way to open the discussion about how to make sure it doesn’t happen again and to educate people to understand why we are overrepresented in health and social care systems, [ainsi que dans les statistiques de] dropout
he adds.
Grand Chief George Arcand Jr highlighted the survivors’ work to secure an apology from the Pope and a visit to Canada.
Photo: Radio-Canada
The Grand Chief hopes that the Pope will be able to stop at the historic site of the Lac Sainte-Anne Pilgrimage, a sacred place for Catholics and Aboriginals.
Jack Lloyd Wepataham, a residential school survivor, came to light a candle. Hearing that the Pope will come to Alberta to apologize brings tears to his eyes.
” That would be wonderful. It would be something unforgettable. »
He is the head of the Catholic Church and he must lead by example
he explains.
The Lac Sainte-Anne Pilgrimage has been a Catholic gathering place for First Nations and Métis since the 19th century.
Photo: Radio-Canada / Travis McEwan
In a statement, the president of the Métis Nation of Alberta expressed the same sentiment. [Cette visite] is a new step on the road to reconciliation after the historic visit to the Vatican in April
, she said. The Nation wishes to work with the Holy See so that these members and especially the survivors can participate in the events of the papal visit.
Political reactions
Alberta Premier Jason Kenney, a devout Catholic, wrote that he looked forward to welcoming Pope Francis this summer.
The City of Edmonton is working with the CCCB to provide logistical support for the organization of this trip.
Edmonton is deeply committed to the path of truth and reconciliation and it is in this spirit that we will welcome Pope Francis to our city. We will work with him and local spiritual leaders to repair the pain and intergenerational trauma caused by residential schools.
Edmonton Mayor Amarjeet Sohi said in a statement.
The precise itinerary of the pope will be communicated in the coming weeks.
With information from Audrey Neveu and Travis MacEwan
Reference-ici.radio-canada.ca