Manitoba residential school survivors hopeful about Pope's visit, but want a say in apology

Residentialschool survivors metwith Catholic bishops in Winnipeg Wednesday to discuss whatthey'd like tohearfrom Pope Francis when he visits Canadathis summer.

The Pope is expected to apologize for the Roman Catholic Church's role in abuses suffered at the schools, but it's the wording of that apology that was the focus of discussions Wednesday morning.

After meeting over the last few days to discuss a draft of the apology, the National Indian Residential School Circle of Survivors met with three Catholic bishopsin hopes they willtake thefeedback to the Pope himself.

"He's coming to our homeland, he's coming to Canada, he's coming to treaty land and he has to say 'I am sorry for what happened to your people and your children, on behalf of the Catholic Church,'" said survivor and former Assembly of First Nations Regional ChiefKen Young.

First Nations, Mtisand Inuit delegates met with Pope Francis in Vatican City in March, where he apologizedfor the conduct of some members of the Roman Catholic Church involved in Canada's residential school system.

Young says the coming apology must go further. He tookissue with the wording that limited the apology to the actions of some members of the CatholicChurch and not the role the church itself played.

"The Catholic Church has to accept ownership and responsibility for what happened to First Nations people and their families, the negative experiences that we all had," said Young.

Lastmonth, the Vatican formallyannouncedPope Francis will make three main stopsinEdmonton, Quebec City and Iqaluit during hisJuly 24-29 visit to Canada.

"We're not happy that we weren't consulted with respect to the visitlocations," said Young.

"We're not happythat the apology ... may well be one that we were not involved in preparing."

Edmonton's ArchbishopRichard Smith said while the bishopsare not papal advisors, they heard the survivors' concerns at Wednesday's meeting.

"We'll take that to heart" and"try to find the wording that will land well for everybody," Smith said.

He said he has the sense the Pope will "do the right thing, he'll say the right thing, whatever that ends up being, because he really wants this to be a step forward, a step in the whole healing process."

"How he says it is the prevailingoutstanding issue, and it will require discussion."

Manitoba stop unlikely

Calls for a papal apology gained momentum last yearafter ground-penetrating radar revealedwhat are believed to be 215 unmarked graves near a former residentialschool site in Kamloops, B.C.

Since then hundreds more potential grave sites have been identified across the country, including many of the residential school sites in Manitoba.

Young said the papal apology in July will be the third one madeto First Nations people on behalf ofthe Catholic Church.

He said he wasn't happy with the apology in 2009, made by Pope Benedict XVI, and thought the one made to delegates who travelled to the Vatican this spring wasbetter, but can go further.

"This is the third strike coming," said Young,who went to two residential schools operated by the Anglican Church.

In April, the spiritual leader ofthe Anglican Church travelled to Saskatchewan toapologizefor its role in allowing abuses to take place at residential schools.

The group that met with bishops in Winnipeg on Wednesday also conveyedtheir disappointment that Manitoba isn't included in the Pope's coming visit.

The Vatican says the trip is limited to just a few stops due to the Pope's mobility issues.

While the survivors asked the bishops to convey a desire for more stops to the Vatican, both parties acknowledge the answer would likely be "no."

Smith said given the Pope's health,he was shocked he coming at all.

"The clearest indication of his desire to make this work is the fact that he's coming at all," Smith said.

Discussions around how to get some of the survivors from Manitoba to the stop in Edmonton are underway, the survivors circle said.

There are 139sites of former residential schools across Canada, most of whichwere run by the Catholic Church.

Support is available for anyone affected by their experience at residential schools or by the latest reports.

A national Indian Residential School Crisis Line has been set up to provide support for former students and those affected. People can access emotional and crisis referral services by calling the 24-hour national crisis line: 1-866-925-4419.