Maskwacis to ‘Freedom Convoy’ protesters during Pope visit: ‘Your agendas do not have a place’
Global News
'The attempts from the Freedom Convoy demonstration to try to take over First Nations initiatives distracts from these important events.'
Stay away, you are not welcome.
That’s the message leaders from Maskwacis have for members of the Freedom Convoy who may plan to protest during Pope Francis’ apology at the central Alberta First Nation community next week.
Pope Francis is set to travel to Alberta, Quebec and Nunavut from July 24 to 29. The papal visit is to include public and private events with an emphasis on Indigenous participation.
The visit will start in Edmonton before Francis joins survivors at the Ermineskin Indian Residential School in Maskwacis, south of the city.
A joint statement issued Friday by the chiefs of Maskwacis said the event there on July 25 is for survivors of residential schools — not an opportunity to steal the stage.
“On behalf of our community, we request that Freedom Convoy protestors planning to attend the apology to please stay home or find a place to protest that is not in our territory.
“The attempts from the Freedom Convoy demonstration to try to take over First Nations initiatives distracts from these important events. We ask for all protestors to respect our survivors. This is a time for truth, reconciliation and healing.
At the beginning of 2022, the protest against COVID-19 restrictions and the Liberal government swarmed downtown Ottawa with large trucks, blocking streets and blaring loud horns for more than three weeks.
