Residential school survivors say they should decide location, timing of papal visit
CBC
Wendel Starblanket and A. J. Felix walk the windswept grounds of the former Lebret Indian Industrial Residential School in southern Saskatchewan, imagining what it would be like to host Pope Francis there.
The Roman Catholic-run residential school was one of Canada's largest. For these two survivors, Lebret is a natural choice for a long-awaited papal apology on Canadian soil.
"The apology should come in the heart of our territories. This is it," said Felix, who was forced to attend the school 500 kilometres south of his home on the Sturgeon Lake Cree Nation.
Last week, after meeting with a Canadian delegation, Pope Francis issued an apology for the actions of some Church members who worked at the schools.
Survivors have been demanding a papal apology on their territory for decades, and these calls were formalized in the 2015 final report of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. Momentum and pressure grew last summer following the discovery of more than 1,000 unmarked graves, as well as a CBC News investigation revealing new details about the Church's failed compensation efforts.
CBC News interviewed survivors and Indigenous leaders in Saskatchewan and elsewhere. They suggested several locations, including the following.
Lebret
One of Canada's first residential schools to open in 1884, the Lebret Qu'Appelle Indian Industrial Residential School was also one of the last to close, more than a century later in 1998.
It's located on Wa-Pii Moos-Toosis (White Calf) reserve of the Star Blanket Cree Nation, west of the village of Lebret. A ground penetrating radar search is underway at the site 80 kilometres east of Regina to identify unmarked remains.
Tk'emlúps te Secwépemc
In May, 2021, Tk'emlúps te Secwépemc leaders announced they'd identified more than 200 possible unmarked burial sites near the site of the former Kamloops Indian Residential School.
The announcement triggered widespread outrage and grief, led other First Nations to initiate their own searches or demand release of documents still held by the Roman Catholic Church.
Kukpi7 (Chief) Rosanne Casimir was a member of the recent Vatican delegation and gave Francis a hand written invitation.
Cowessess
Saskatchewan road crews and residents alike are getting ready for another icy blast of winter this weekend.
Student leaders at the University of Alberta are criticizing the school's plan to hike tuition — particularly for international students.
Environment Canada says a new fall storm will bring winds gusting up to 110 km/h to southwestern British Columbia on Friday, potentially causing more outages and travel disruption.
Environment Canada says strong winds could cause damage to roofs and windows in P.E.I.'s Kings County and Prince County this weekend, with power outages possible from fallen tree branches.
City council has approved a 3.6 per cent increase in municipal property taxes for next year. The decision follows five days of debate on adjustments to next year's civic budget.
Mississauga Mayor Carolyn Parrish has resigned from the Peel Police Service Board.
Public health in Yellowknife is reducing some services over the holiday season due to staffing shortages.
Two premiers are asking Ottawa to cover the provincial cost of the Trudeau government's promised tax holiday.
Former Alberta MLA Derek Fildebrandt fist-pumped from the prisoner's box as a Calgary judge acquitted him on all four counts of uttering threats to a group of 13- and 14-year-old boys whom he chased in a truck through his southwest neighbourhood last spring.
Buddhist monks and nuns who live in eastern Prince Edward Island say they were disappointed to hear some of the concerns expressed at a planning meeting this past week in the Town of Three Rivers.
The Alberta government reiterated its plans Friday to move forward on a passenger rail system for the province, with a goal to finish its master plan by summer 2025.