VATICAN CITY – “Indignation and shame” for what happened in residential school in Canada: “for the deplorable conduct of those 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”. After private meetings between Pope Francis and First Nations, Inuit and Metis delegates this week, all parties met the Pope at the Vatican on Friday and, speaking in Italian, the Pontiff asked for God’s forgiveness, recognizing the wrongs done to Indigenous in residential schools.
TORONTO – Songs, drums, speeches, dances. But also painful testimonies and tears. For the first time in its history, Canada celebrated The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation yesterday. A day, that of yesterday, established by Ottawa last June 3 to commemorate the tragic and painful history of residential schools, to remember the dead children and those who survived, their families and communities. →
The Kamloops Residential School
The Ontario government will spend $10 million to examine the soil of eighteen residential schools in Ontario and to preserve and commemorate the remains found. Provincial Premier Doug Ford announced today that the money, which will be spread over three years, will be part of the “indigenous-led” effort to identify, protect and commemorate “the burial sites of Indian residential schools.” →