Chief Wilton Littlechild (Alberta) will meet with Pope Francis on March 31
Today we can pray for the Indigenous delegation which is now in Rome for meetings with Pope Francis regarding the horror of Roman Catholic run Residential Schools. Several Christian denominations and the federal government established the schools to assimilate Indigenous children into Euro-Canadian society and they existed for more than a century.
Most denominations, including the United Church, have apologized for involvement. The United Church did so in 1998 and through the years has paid reparations, established a Healing Fund, and participated in the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. While this response doesn't compensate for what amounted to cultural genocide it is a recognition of wrong-doing.
The Vatican has yet to issue an apology but the discovery of hundreds of unmarked graves on the sites of former RC schools has prompted Canadian bishops to apologize and led to this meeting. Here is the CBC description of who is in Rome and what they hope for:
Thirty Indigenous delegates, including survivors, knowledge keepers, leaders and youth representing Inuit, Métis and First Nations from coast to coast to coast will be meeting privately and publicly with Pope Francis from March 28 to April 1 at the Vatican.
The trip is being jointly organized by the Assembly of First Nations, Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami, Métis National Council, and the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops and is in preparation for an eventual visit of Pope Francis to Canada, expected to happen later this year.
The delegates will press the Pope to make an official apology for the Church's role in running Catholic residential schools during his visit to Canada. "Our aim is to tell the stories about the painful legacy of the residential school system on our community members," said Gull-Masty, in a release.
Mitch Case -- Metis delegate
Here is the United Church apology from 25 years ago. I have shared it a number of times but it bears repeating:
To former students of United Church Indian Residential Schools,
and to their families and communities:
From the deepest reaches of your memories, you have shared with us your stories of suffering from our church’s involvement in the operation of Indian Residential Schools. You have shared the personal and historic pain that you still bear, and you have been vulnerable yet again. You have also shared with us your strength and wisdom born of the life-giving dignity of your communities and traditions and your stories of survival.
In response to our church’s commitment to repentance, I spoke these words of apology on behalf of the General Council Executive on Tuesday, October 27, 1998:
“As Moderator of The United Church of Canada, I wish to speak the words that many people have wanted to hear for a very long time. On behalf of The United Church of Canada, I apologize for the pain and suffering that our church’s involvement in the Indian Residential School system has caused. We are aware of some of the damage that this cruel and ill-conceived system of assimilation has perpetrated on Canada’s First Nations peoples. For this we are truly and most humbly sorry.
“To those individuals who were physically, sexually, and mentally abused as students of the Indian Residential Schools in which The United Church of Canada was involved, I offer you our most sincere apology. You did nothing wrong. You were and are the victims of evil acts that cannot under any circumstances be justified or excused.
“We know that many within our church will still not understand why each of us must bear the scar, the blame for this horrendous period in Canadian history. But the truth is, we are the bearers of many blessings from our ancestors, and therefore, we must also bear their burdens.”
Our burdens include dishonouring the depths of the struggles of First Nations peoples and the richness of your gifts. We seek God’s forgiveness and healing grace as we take steps toward building respectful, compassionate, and loving relationships with First Nations peoples.
We are in the midst of a long and painful journey as we reflect on the cries that we did not or would not hear, and how we have behaved as a church. As we travel this difficult road of repentance, reconciliation, and healing, we commit ourselves to work toward ensuring that we will never again use our power as a church to hurt others with attitudes of racial and spiritual superiority.
“We pray that you will hear the sincerity of our words today and that you will witness the living out of our apology in our actions in the future.”
The Right Rev. Bill Phipps General Council Executive 1998 The United Church of Canada
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