WARNING: This story contains distressing details.
Indigenous communities “expect more” from Pope Francis when he visits Canada in July, says Governor General Mary Simon, but said she is not sure if she will.
He Pope apologizes for “deplorable abuses” in residential schools when indigenous delegations visited Rome in April, but the pontiff received criticism for denouncing conduct of some members of the Catholic Church, instead of taking responsibility for the role of the wider institution.
There is also concern in the First Nations community that qualified apology does not address the issue of compensation, disclosure of documents or the extradition and prosecution of those known to have been involved in abuse.
The pontiff will visit Canada in July, and is expected to do so reiterate apologies to indigenous peoples.
“I suspect it will be similar to what he said at the Vatican, but people expect more: that he will include the Church as an institution,” Simon said. The Current Matt Galloway in an interview at Rideau Hall.
“I don’t know if this will happen or not … I’m just talking about some of the expectations I’ve heard from some of the indigenous leaders,” he said.
TARGET | An apology can help with healing, says Gov. Mary Simon.
An apology can help with healing, says Gov. Mary Simon
The pope is expected to reiterate his apologies to residential schools during his visit to Canada in July, but some communities want more, says Governor General Mary Simon.
Simon was appointed Governor General of Canada last July — the first indigenous person to take office — after a decade-long career as an Inuk leader and advocate for indigenous rights.
In the 1970s and 1980s, he negotiated historic agreements that saw provincial and federal governments recognize indigenous rights. She served as Ambassador for Circumpolar Affairs in the late 1990s, simultaneously serving as Canada’s Ambassador to Denmark from 1999 to 2001.
As governor general, Simon said part of her role is to raise awareness of what happened to indigenous peoples and “find this conversation that will allow people to understand why reconciliation is needed.”
Simon listens to Sandy Emudluk and Janice Parsons on a tour of Nunavik, Que., Their home region. (Adrian Wyld / The Canadian Press)
“This whole era of colonization and residential schools was not known to many Canadians,” he said. “In fact, I’ve talked to a lot of Canadians who didn’t know there was a residential school around the hill in some of the cities.”
She sees her mandate as one that can “approach this conversation in a way that allows us to tell our stories, be more respectful of each other, and give space to different cultures and different languages.”
He said it was a difficult task, but noted that reconciliation was something that had to happen “every day: it’s a journey, it’s our way of life.”
Apologies for historical abuses, such as the Pope’s request, are an important part of this process, which can allow “people to be healed in many ways,” he said.
“But they can’t just be words, they have to be followed by action.”
He apologizes royal
Earlier this month, indigenous leaders also called for it Queen Elizabeth apologizes for the operation of residential schools and for the harmful effects of colonization.
Simon met with the queen in March, but she said that conversation was about reconciliation in a more general sense.
Queen Elizabeth met Simon and her husband Whit Fraser at Windsor Castle in Windsor, England, in March. (Associated Press / Steve Parsons)
She said her term as governor general is to represent the Queen in Canada and work with Indigenous and Canadian communities, but said she is “not involved in political issues with this job.”
She can see where the apologies can come from, “and how it could evolve, but right now, I’m not getting too involved in that part.”
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Trudeau was frightened by the pain of the community: Simon
Simon was in Kamloops, BC last week at a ceremony to commemorate a year since the First Nation of Tk̓emlúps te Secwépemc announced preliminary conclusions indicating the remains of 215 children buried in a place adjacent to the former Indian residential school in Kamloops.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau spoke at the Kamloops event, but he did frightened by some of those presentwho chanted “Canada is all Indian land” and “We don’t need your Constitution.”
Trudeau told the crowd that he listened to their concerns and that his government was committed to joining indigenous communities on their healing journey.
TARGET | The First Nation will work with the Prime Minister, despite anger, says the governor general:
Trudeau erupted in pain and anger, says Gov. Mary Simon
Prime Minister Justin Trdueau recently spoke at an event in Kamloops, BC, but Gov. Mary Simon says that doesn’t mean the Tk̓emlúps te Secwépemc First Nation won’t work with him.
Simon said the question was an expression of anger born of pain, transmitted “to the man who represents the country.”
But he said that does not mean that the community will not finally work with Trudeau and the Canadian government, adding that the head of Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc Kukpi7, Rosanne Casimir, told him that the First Nation will find ways to work together.
“I think we need to allow people to process that grief,” Simon said. “The next time the Prime Minister leaves, it will probably be very different.”
Although the abuses in residential schools were documented by the Truth and Reconciliation CommissionSimon said evidence of unmarked graves last year seemed to wake up Canadians to what had happened.
He felt the need to go to Kamloops and support those affected by the confirmation of burial sites, from the elderly to younger people living with intergenerational trauma.
“It meant a lot to me as an individual to be able to do that and support them on their journey to deal with these atrocities,” he said.
BC Lieutenant Governor Janet Austin, Head of Tk̓emlúps te Secwépemc Kukpi7 Rosanne Casimir and Simon at a ceremony honoring children who died at residential schools in Kamloops, BC, last week. (Ben Nelms / CBC)
Creating a better country, together
Simon said he believes Canada is moving forward in reconciliation and sees the conversation moving to more and more places in society.
“I was at a school in Victoria yesterday and you know, five- and six-year-olds were talking about reconciliation in their own way and asking me questions,” he said.
“That’s the part I like about my job, it’s talking to the students.”
It wants to help people find ways to live respectfully, with equal opportunities and the freedom to express different cultures, languages and diversity.
“Canada is such a diverse country, it’s not just about Indigenous and Canadian peoples, it’s about all Canadians having to talk to each other,” he said.
“I think it’s very important for people to realize that each of us has a responsibility to create a better country, and we have to do it together.”
Support is available to anyone affected by their experience in residential centers or the latest reports.
A national crisis line of Indian residential schools has been set up to support alumni and those affected. People can access emotional and crisis referral services by calling the National Crisis Line 24 hours a day: 1-866-925-4419.
Written by Padraig Moran. Produced by Julie Crysler and Paul MacInnis.