Warning: This story contains harrowing details
The head of the Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations (FSIN), which represents Saskatchewan First Nations, says ticket purchase arrangements for the Pope’s next visit to Canada will result in survivors of residential schools who they want to see him in person if they are denied this opportunity.
Pope Francis is scheduled to visit Canada from July 24-29, stopping in Edmonton, Iqaluit and Quebec, to advance reconciliation between the Roman Catholic Church and indigenous peoples.
He is expected to personally apologize for the role of the Catholic Church in the residential school system.
The federal government said the visit is being organized by the Conference of Catholic Bishops of Canada (CCCB) in consultation with Indigenous partners.
But FSIN chief Bobby Cameron said there has been very little inclusion and communication with Indigenous organizations about the disbursement of these tickets and the funding that should reach First Nations regions.
“Very little input,” he said. “We are talking about being excluded from these very, very important decisions.
“Survivors hope it’s a better coordinated system.”
10,000 tickets snatched in 10 minutes
In an update posted Monday on the CCCB’s official website for the papal visit, he said a new batch of 10,000 free tickets for the July 26 Mass at Edmonton’s Commonwealth Stadium in 10 minutes was claimed. A final block of tickets will be released next Monday, he said.
“As you can see in the early stages of the tickets that were available, they were picked up in a matter of minutes,” Cameron said. “And now the next phase of entries, I’m sure it will be the same.
“So there will be survivors left.”
When CBC News asked him to explain what he knows about how the ticket allocation process works, Cameron said he didn’t know.
“It was a decision obviously made by the federal government and the Catholic Church of Canada,” he said. “I have no idea. I really don’t.”
The official website of the papal visit said information has been provided on the allocation of priority seats for survivors of residential schools, elders and conservators of knowledge to national indigenous organizations, Catholic dioceses traveling with survivors and other partners. indigenous people.
Delegate lists have already been completed or are being prepared, he said.
Cameron said some who want to go there cannot for lack of transportation and financial resources.
“That’s what we were trying to avoid,” he said. “We didn’t want any survivors who wanted to go there.
“Unfortunately, that’s what will happen.”
Conference of Catholic Bishops responds
CCCB spokeswoman Laryssa Waler said Canadian bishops were saddened to see the FSIN statement on the consultation on the papal visit.
“We have not been presented with these concerns directly and we will be available to speak with FSIN chief Bobby Cameron about any action that can be taken to ensure that Saskatchewan’s first nations are significantly involved in this upcoming milestone,” he said. to say.
Dioceses across Canada are helping survivors and facilitating their attendance at events with Pope Francis, he said.
Waler said planning for the next papal visit has been “informed by constructive discussions” with the leadership and staff of the Assembly of First Nations, the Métis National Council and the Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami, as well as leaders and local delegates who took part in the trip to the Vatican in March and April.
He also said the first allocation of a few thousand tickets for Mass at Commonwealth Stadium was sent to several Saskatchewan Indigenous partners.
“We notified our partners weeks ago about the process we will undertake,” he said. “As they tell us they need more, we will allow more. We do this to ensure that people from all over the country can attend.”
Waler said the Mass at Commonwealth Stadium is the only papal event in Alberta that the general public can attend, while the others are for survivors and other members of indigenous groups.
“The reason we did this is that we needed a way for Catholics to see the Pope as well, while respecting the reason the Pope is coming,” he said. “We didn’t want these other events aimed at survivors of indigenous residential centers to be overwhelmed by the general public.”
Ottawa announces details on funding supports
On Wednesday, the federal government released new details on funding and support for survivors of residential schools and indigenous communities who want to attend events related to the Pope’s visit.
The government said it was providing $ 30.2 million to First Nations, Inuit and Métis communities and organizations for community-led activities related to the papal visit, such as healing activities, events, ceremonies and trips for to the survivors.
An additional $ 3 million is provided to support the coordination of indigenous partners in the three host regions, along with $ 2 million to support the simultaneous interpretation of events in indigenous languages and the translation of apologies to indigenous languages, he said.
He said the Government of Canada is willing to support additional requests as needed.
Assistance is available for anyone affected by the persistent effects of residential centers and for those triggered by the latest reports.
A national crisis line of Indian residential schools has been set up to support survivors of residential schools and others affected. People can access emotional and crisis referral services by calling the national crisis line 24 hours a day: 1-866-925-4419.