Residential school survivors shouldn’t have to beg Pope for apology, says survivor

CANADA
CBC News

By Jason Warick, CBC News Posted: May 29, 2017

The Pope shouldn’t have to be asked to come to Canada and apologize for the harm inflicted by the residential school system, says one survivor.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau met with Pope Francis Monday and asked for an apology on behalf of residential school survivors. Following the meeting, the Vatican issued a statement saying Pope Francis will consider the request. No timeline has been given.

That doesn’t sit well with Eugene Arcand. The Saskatchewan man has held a number of national positions representing survivors. In an interview Monday afternoon, Arcand emphasized he is stating his own views, and other survivors and their surviving children should be asked for theirs.

That said, the Vatican has long known about the calls to action from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. He said survivors deserve better.

“Surely, he could find it in his heart to come here and apologize,” Arcand said.

“We shouldn’t have to go on our hands and knees again to this particular church to seek some level of dignity and redress for the destruction of generations of the First Peoples of this country.”

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