Charges against priest further erode relationship between Roman Catholic church and First Nations

Once a devout Catholic, Geraldine Shingoose cut ties with the church more than a decade ago. 

The Saulteaux woman from Tootinaowaziibeeng First Nation is a residential school survivor. She understands why another Manitoba First Nation wants to end its relationship with the church in the wake of allegations against a priest in the community.

"It triggered me, my own abuse," Shingoose said. "It brought out that history of the Catholic church and what they did on Indigenous nations, Indigenous children in the residential schools."

Arul Savari, 48, is charged with five offences, including sexual assault, luring a child and forcible confinement. RCMP said the charges stem from a report they received that an eight-year-old girl was touched inappropriately on May 27 and then ordered not to leave while alone with Savari at the Roman Catholic church in Little Grand Rapids First Nation, about 265 kiometres northeast of Winnipeg.

Investigators believe Savari, who was still in custody Thursday, may have harmed other children. No further charges have been laid.

It comes as the Roman Catholic church has made recent efforts to reconcile its relationship with First Nations people. It denounced the doctrine of discovery in March and the Pope apologized last summer for the role of church members in the residential school system.

Shingoose doesn't see room for reconciliation or healing, especially in light of the latest allegation involving a priest.

"Now in 2023, it's an opportunity for us to keep our children safe," Shingoose said. "We don't need to have the Catholic church."

"We just want to take care of them (the children) and not to allow individuals in the community that bring harm. The Catholic church was one of them."

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 Roman Catholic church.

Sagkeeng First Nation Ogimaakaan (Chief) E.J. Fontaine was a day student at the Catholic-run Fort Alexander residential school and many of his family members also attended residential schools.

Fontaine isn't Catholic but he still goes to church around Christmas to honour the faith of his parents — who would take the family to midnight mass every year.

He said the church has deep roots in Sagkeeng, although the congregation is shrinking.

"It's important to some people," Fontaine said. "Not as much as it was when I grew up. When I grew up the Catholic church had a huge role in the community."