Thursday, March 28, 2024
ADVT 
National

Pope sorry for assimilation of Indigenous people

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 25 Jul, 2022 12:20 PM
  • Pope sorry for assimilation of Indigenous people

Pope Francis says he is sorry for the Roman Catholic Church’s role in cultural destruction and forced assimilation of Indigenous people, which culminated in residential schools.

Francis apologized Monday in front of residential school survivors and elders in Maskwacis, Alta., south of Edmonton after visiting the site of the former Ermineskin Indian Residential School.

He received applause from many in the crowd of thousands.

"I am sorry. I ask forgiveness, in particular, for the ways in which many members of the church and of religious communities co-operated, not least through their indifference, in projects of cultural destruction and forced assimilation promoted by the governments of that time, which culminated in the system of residential schools," Francis said through a translator.

Francis spoke in Spanish, his first language, and it was translated into English by a priest. Translations were also available in several Indigenous languages.

The Pope said he feels sorrow, indignation and shame. He said begging forgiveness is the first step and there must be a serious investigation into what took place.

Francis also called the overall effects of the policies linked to residential schools "catastrophic."

An estimated 150,000 Indigenous children were forced to attend residential schools in Canada, where neglect and physical and sexual abuse were rampant. More than 60 per cent of the schools were run by the Catholic Church.

Earlier in the day, Francis held his face as he was brought in a wheelchair to a graveyard in Maskwacis. Organizers said there are likely remains of residential school students among the graves.

The Ermineskin school was one of the largest residential schools in the country. Five teepees were set up at the location for the Pope's visit — four representing the nations of the land and the fifth as symbol of the entrance to the former school.

Organizers said sacred fires were also burning in communities throughout the country in solidarity.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Gov. Gen. Mary Simon, as well as other political and Indigenous leaders, were at the event.

Francis was set to speak later Monday with Indigenous Peoples and parish members at the Church of Sacred Heart in Edmonton.

Later in the week, the Pope plans to host a large outdoor mass at the city's football stadium and take part in a pilgrimage in nearby Lac Ste. Anne, before travelling to Quebec City and Iqaluit.

MORE National ARTICLES

Rogers CEO defends outage response to MPs

Rogers CEO defends outage response to MPs
The CEO further outlined some of the technical causes of the outage and what the company is doing to prevent additional outages, including a plan to separate the wireless and internet networks.  MPs also directed questions to Industry Minister François-Philippe Champagne on government action in response to the outage.     

Rogers CEO defends outage response to MPs

Heat warnings for much of B.C. with temperatures up to 40 C through to Saturday

Heat warnings for much of B.C. with temperatures up to 40 C through to Saturday
The warnings cover an area from the inner south coast, including Victoria and Metro Vancouver, to the Okanagan, and as far north as the Bulkley Valley and Terrace and Kitimat on the northern coast.

Heat warnings for much of B.C. with temperatures up to 40 C through to Saturday

Male suspect in custody after multiple morning shootings in Langley, road closures in effect

Male suspect in custody after multiple morning shootings in Langley, road closures in effect
Police say in a news release they responded this morning to reports of shots fired with several victims in several different locations. The RCMP has asked people to stay away from those location 200 street and Langley Bypass; Parking lot of Cascades Casino located at Fraser Highway and 204 Street, Langley Bus Loop located a Logan Avenue and Glover.     

Male suspect in custody after multiple morning shootings in Langley, road closures in effect

Double homicide victims in Whistler identified as Meninder Dhaliwal and Satindera Gill, IHIT says shooting targeted

Double homicide victims in Whistler identified as Meninder Dhaliwal and Satindera Gill, IHIT says shooting targeted
The victims are identified as Satindera Gill and Meninder Dhaliwal. Both were known to police. IHIT said the shooting is believed to have been targeted, and in relation to the ongoing Lower Mainland gang conflict.

Double homicide victims in Whistler identified as Meninder Dhaliwal and Satindera Gill, IHIT says shooting targeted

Nexus backlog tops 341K amid U.S. border dispute

Nexus backlog tops 341K amid U.S. border dispute
The standoff has led to a massive backlog in applications for the program, which allows pre-approved travellers to cross the border more quickly. The Canada Border Services Agency says the number of Nexus applications has ballooned to 341,688 from about 270,000 in April at a time when delays are wreaking havoc on travellers' summer plans.

Nexus backlog tops 341K amid U.S. border dispute

In Conversation With Stewart Prest - A Political Science Expert On The Stepping Down Of BC Premier, Mr John Horgan

In Conversation With Stewart Prest - A Political Science Expert On The Stepping Down Of BC Premier, Mr John Horgan
With a PhD in political science, Stewart Prest researches, writes and teaches about various areas of political science, including provincial and federal Canadian politics and institutions. In an exclusive interview with DARPAN Magazine, he talks about the BC Premier - John Horgan stepping down and the future of BC politics. 

In Conversation With Stewart Prest - A Political Science Expert On The Stepping Down Of BC Premier, Mr John Horgan

PrevNext