Alberta chiefs hope Pope's visit will help world understand impact of residential schools
CBC
Leaders from four First Nations in central Alberta say the Pope's upcoming visit could help the world understand the trauma the residential school system caused to Indigenous people.
Pope Francis is scheduled to visit the Maskwacis area, south of Edmonton, as part of his Canadian tour from July 24 to 29.
The community, which has four member nations, says it has been working around the clock in preparation for the thousands of people who are anticipated to come to the area to watch as the Pope is expected to apologize to survivors of residential schools and hear their stories.
The approximately one-hour visit to Maskwacis is the first scheduled stop during the pontiff's trip.
Along with visiting a local church and cemetery, the Pope is also to visit the former site of a residential school in the community.
It signals his desire to highlight the voices of survivors, said Chief Wilton Littlechild, a lawyer and former Truth and Reconciliation Commission member who spent 14 years of his youth in a residential school.
"It's about peaceful coexistence. It's about the survivors and it's about truth and about reconciliation," Littlechild said at a news conference in Maskwacis on Monday.
"We ask everyone to join us on our walk together to the path of peace, justice and reconciliation."
Littlechild said he hopes the Pope personalizes his apology and allows survivors some time to forgive when he is in Maskwacis.
Littlechild was among the Indigenous delegates who went to the Vatican in the spring to speak with Francis. The trip ended with the pontiff apologizing for the Roman Catholic Church's role in residential schools and committing to visit Canada to make another apology.
Ermineskin Cree Nation Chief Randy Ermineskin said the planned visit is triggering a lot of emotions for survivors.
"After he leaves, we're left holding the baggage."
Ermineskin said the community has already engaged local mental health practitioners to support survivors, and it has reached out to the federal government to request more workers.
The Vatican has said the Pope's daily appearances will be short due to the 85-year-old's mobility and health issues.
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