By Deborah Gyapong
Canadian Catholic News

OTTAWA (CCN) -- When Canada's aboriginal leaders meet with the Pope April 29, they hope to turn the page on the tragic legacy of Indian Residential Schools.

"This meeting has the potential to be a historic and momentous occasion for First Nations, survivors, Canadian Catholic and indeed all Canadians," said Assembly of First Nations National Chief Phil Fontaine at an April 15 news conference. "I am both honoured and excited to have this opportunity to meet with the pope to discuss this important matter and to move forward to work towards real reconciliation."

"The Pope is a bridge builder," said Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB) president Winnipeg Archbishop James Weisgerber of the Pope's invitation to aboriginal leaders to meet him in the Vatican. "That is the meaning of the word 'pontiff.' For that reason, he has invited us to visit him in Rome, in a gesture of reconciliation and healing."

Weisgerber and leaders of the religious communities that ran schools will also be present for a private audience that will follow the Pope's weekly general audience.

Weisgerber told the news conference about the "close association" between the Catholic Church and Canada's indigenous peoples that goes back 500 years to the earliest settlements. "Most of this history has been a wonderful sharing of faith and witness, but there have also been moments of sorrow," he said, describing the former Indian Residential Schools as "among the greatest disappointments."

Though many Catholics dedicated their lives to provide a good education in these schools, they faced "terrible challenges" that included cultural differences inadequate funding, human failings, and "instances of exploitation and cruelty," he said.

The sufferings were not limited to the past or to the residential schools, the archbishop said. "Aboriginal peoples continue to be marginalized and impoverished in our country."

"Their social, economic and cultural needs are in fact so urgent today, that all Canadians need to make new and sustained efforts to collaborate with the indigenous people in order to assure them of respect, acceptance and equality," he said.

Fontaine also spoke of the healthy relationship that existed with the Catholic Church before the "terrible policy of the federal government" designed to "eradicate any sense of Indianness" fractured it. Various church denominations and Catholic religious orders and diocese ran schools for the government that forced children out of their homes and communities into the schools.

Impetus for the Pope's invitation began last September when Fontaine addressed the CCCB's annual plenary in Cornwall, Ontario. He appealed to the bishops for help in addressing the poverty of First Nations peoples.

Weisgerber said he met with the Pope last November and told him about the "great suffering of the Aboriginal community in Canada." He said that in order for the Catholic Church to be able to help, the legacy of the residential schools needed to be addressed.

The Pope understood "very quickly," he said.

Last June, Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper apologized on behalf of the government of Canada for the schools that Fontaine said was designed to "kill the Indian in the child."

The Anglican, United and Presbyterian Churches have all issued formal apologies for their role in running the schools. In advance interviews, Fontaine said he hoped for an apology from the Catholic Church that would "close the circle" and begin the path of reconciliation. He pointed out that various Catholic entities -- dioceses and religious orders -- ran 75 per cent of the schools.

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He avoided using the word 'apology' at the news conference, however.

"It is my fervent hope that this Papal Audience will include a statement from Pope Benedict XVI to all the survivors of Indian Residential Schools," said Fontaine. "We also hope that the statement will reference the role the Catholic Church played in the administration and operation of the schools and the impact it had on survivors and our communities."

Journalists pressed both leaders on whether the Pope would issue a formal apology. "It would be impolite to tell the Pope what to say," the archbishop said, noting that words like 'apology' have different meanings in different languages that pose linguistic problems.

"What I think is most important is that there be acknowledgement of the pain and suffering of the kind of dysfunction of the schools and the role of the Church in all of that," he said.

Weisgerber noted that the Oblates of Mary Immaculate, the religious order that ran most of the schools, issued a formal apology in 1991. Other orders and bishops of dioceses that ran schools have also done so. Last year, Wiesgerber himself apologized on behalf of his Winnipeg diocese.

As there is no one legal entity for the Catholic Church in Canada, there could be no official apology because it is not structured like other denominations, said Weisgerber. He added that the Church in Canada is structured like Aboriginal communities with each bishop like a chief who is not responsible for other dioceses and no one else can speak for him. The Pope is the only one who can speak for the Catholic Church as a whole, he said.

Fontaine said he hoped for something like the statements the Pope made during visits to the United States and Australia about regret for the sexual abuses of priests. He stressed that he is as interested in a commitment to rebuild a positive relationship.

The word 'apology' has been problematic for liability reasons, but the 2006 Indian Residential Schools Settlement Agreement had settled that, he said, adding he was not interested in handcuffing anyone to a particular word. "It's a moral issue," he said. "We want to do this right."

"Thousands of individuals were harmed in the residential schools here," he said. "In whatever language, however it's expressed -- the hard work lies beyond us, after this particular audience is done, we have to move on."

Related stories:

Residential school survivors granted audience with the Pope
A delegation of residential school survivors has been granted a rare private audience with the Pope in the Vatican, fuelling hope that Benedict XVI will apologize for abuse in institutions run by Roman Catholic missionary congregations.
Globe and Mail, April 14

Pope will reach out to natives in Canada
Pope Benedict XVI will express regret to Canada's aboriginal peoples this month for the role of the Roman Catholic Church in the abuse of thousands of children in residential schools, says the leader of the Assembly of First Nations.
La Presse, April 15

Pope to acknowledge suffering at residential schools
Pope Benedict is expected to acknowledge the suffering of aboriginals at residential schools when he meets with a delegation of survivors later this month in Rome. Phil Fontaine, national chief of the Assembly of First Nations, and Archbishop James Weisgerber, president of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops, will lead the group when they meet with the Pope on April 29.
Canadian Press, April 15

April 23/2009