Indigenous historians say more than an apology is needed from the Catholic Church

Even with hopes for an apology from the Catholic Church for its role in Canada’s residential schools, Indigenous history experts say more is needed for true reconciliation. This includes financial compensation, revoking past legal frameworks and greater access to school records.

Made up of Indigenous elders, residential school survivors, and youth, the group would have been headed to the Vatican later this month in hopes of securing an apology from the Pope for the Catholic Church’s involvement with Canada’s residential schools.

“Our shared commitment to walking together towards healing and reconciliation remains strong,” read a joint statement issued by the Canadian Bishops, Assembly of First Nations, Metis National Council, and Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami. Organizers note that the meeting is not being cancelled but postponed to “the earliest opportunity in 2022.”

Crystal Gail Fraser, a Gwichya Gwich'in assistant professor in history and native studies at the University of Alberta, said that while the news is unfortunate, it’s not surprising considering the need to protect vulnerable communities from infection. Still, she’s unsure of what exactly a meeting with the Pope will achieve, she said.

“This meeting is historic, but for me, this expectation of an apology has been long gone,” she told CTVNews.ca in a phone interview. “If an apology was on the table, it would have already happened and I'm not sure, for the broader survivor community in Canada, what this meeting is going to accomplish.”