Saskatchewan survivors react to Pope Francis’ apology for residential schools
Global News
Mixed emotions from Saskatchewan survivors following the apology from Pope Francis on the harms and traumas inflicted on Indigenous kids in residential schools.
Pope Francis spoke the words “I am deeply sorry” on Canadian soil as he addressed survivors and families for the wrongdoings and harms caused by Catholic Church-operated Indian residential schools.
On July 25, 2022, Pope Francis began the papal visit with his first stop in Maskwacis First Nation, Alberta.
During his address, the Pope referred to a pair of baby moccasins presented to him during the Indigenous delegation in Rome, which occurred at the end of March 2022.
“I would like to reflect on this symbol, which over the past few months has kept alive my sense of sorrow, indignation and shame,” said Pope Francis. “The memory of those children are indeed painful. It urges us to work to ensure that every child is treated with love, honour and respect.
“Those moccasins also speak to us of a path to follow, a journey that we desire to make together.”
It was a gesture that came from retired Okanese First Nation Chief Marie-Anne Day-Walker Pelletier to amplify his commitment to visiting Canada, to deliver an apology, and to visit a residential school gravesite.
“I’m feeling relieved that the moccasins have been returned back,” said Day-Walker Pelletier. “The words that he described really put in perspective that he really understood that the unmarked graves and the children that were lost and died he really … (reinforced) the presentation I made in Rome.”
At the end of March, Day-Walker Pelletier presented baby moccasins to Pope Francis to represent the children that were ripped from their families to be placed in Indian residential schools where many did not return home.
