Chief Tammy Cook-Searson said it is vital Pope Francis comes to Canada following the apology in Rome. (Derek Cornet/larongeNOW Staff)

By Derek Cornet

residential schools

LLRIB chief surprised by Pope’s apology, calls it a strong statement

Apr 1, 2022 | 1:41 PM

Lac La Ronge Indian Band chief Tammy Cook-Searson called Friday’s apology from Pope Francis to an Indigenous delegation of residential school survivors in Rome a strong statement.

“I was surprised to see Pope Francis had apologized to the delegation, but it also shows the strength and unity of the First Nations, Métis and Inuit delegation that’s there,” she said. “They made powerful impacts on the Pope and the Catholic church. They shared the impacts of the residential schools in our communities and our people. It continues to impact us everyday. They were able to convey that to the Pope.”

The delegation arrived in Rome earlier this week and had private meetings with Pope Francis before he spoke publicly on Friday. In a video of the apology posted by media outlets, Pope Francis said he was deeply grieved by the stories of suffering, hardship, discrimination and various forms of abuse that was experienced in residential schools. He explained it was chilling to hear of determined efforts to instill a sense of inferiority to rob people of their cultural identity and to severe their roots.

Pope Francis also acknowledged the intergenerational trauma caused by residential schools. He noted the stories brought him feelings of indignation and shame.

“For the deplorable conduct that these members of the Catholic church, I ask for God’s forgiveness and I want to say to you with all my heart, I am very sorry,” Pope Francis said. “And I join my brothers, the Canadian bishops, in asking your pardon.”

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Although the residential schools that operated in La Ronge were done so by the Anglican church, which issued an apology in 1993, Cook-Searson believes the Pope’s apology is meaningful to local survivors as well, adding it further shows policies such as residential schools were incorrect and destructive.

“To have that recognition from the highest representative of the Catholic church, it still impacts us even though we are Anglican,” she said. “It was wrong to implement the policies that were taking the Indian out of the child. Those are wrong policies and those are policies that were implemented on our people and continue to impact us every day.”

Cook-Searson also believes it is vital Pope Francis travels to Canada to issue the apology. That way those who couldn’t travel to Rome can also tell their stories and hear the apology themselves.

The Catholic church also needs to pay the promised compensation that was never received, Cook-Searson said, as well as turn over any residential school records in its possession.

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derek.cornet@pattisonmedia.com

Twitter: @saskjourno