A former chief of Tk’emlúps te Secwepemc says Indigenous people in Canada have been waiting for an apology from the Catholic Church for its role in the residential school system for years.
Following what Tk‘emlúps te Secwepemc says was the discovery of the unmarked graves of 215 children at the Kamloops Indian Residential School, Manny Jules tells NL News he is still waiting for an apology from Pope Francis.
“He knows very well what happened under Spanish Colonial efforts and of course, in South America, its Catholicism that rules the day,” Jules said. “And so they were part and parcel of the colonization of the Americas. And so its critically important that from my view, that the church say something.”
“It has to say something about this finding because they were involved but isn’t just the Catholic Church, its also the other churches that were part and parcel of the colonial approach here in this country that have to have a role and responsibility, and that’s going to be a very powerful signal.”
Despite the pleas of survivors and a formal request by the Prime Minister three years ago, Pope Francis said he would not be able to apologize for the Catholic Church’s role in the residential school system.
“The Holy Father is aware of the findings of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, which he takes seriously,” Bishop Lionel Gendron, president of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops, wrote in an open letter to the Indigenous People of Canada in March 2018.
“As far as Call to Action #58 is concerned, after carefully considering the request and extensive dialogue with the Bishops of Canada, he felt that he could not personally respond.”
There was no explanation for the Pope’s decision in that letter which noted that the Church in Canada will instead dedicate itself to “reconciliation at the local level.”
The Kamloops Indian Residential School was in operation from 1890 until 1978. For most of that time it was operated by the Catholic Church, with the Federal Government taking over operations in 1969.
“It took [the church] many many years to deal with so many issues that are outstanding, not only with First Nations but also internal to the Catholic Church, and I feel that the Catholic Church has to step up and the church has to say something, “Jules told NL News. “Their silence in my view speaks volumes.”
Diocese of Kamloops ‘heartbroken and horrified’ by discovery
In a statement released on Friday, the head of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Kamloops said he was ‘heartbroken and horrified’ after learning about the discovery.
“I humbly join so many who are heartbroken and horrified concerning the news report of the discovery of the remains of 215 children found at the former residential school site in Kamloops,” Bishop Joseph Nguyen wrote.
And while he offered his support to local First Nations, there was no formal apology.
“I express my deepest sympathy to Chief Rosanne Casimir of the Tk’emlups te Secwepemc Nation and to all who are mourning this tragedy and an unspeakable loss. No words of sorrow could adequately describe this horrific discovery,” Nguyen said.
“Along with the people of the Diocese of Kamloops, I offer assurance of my personal support, prayers and accompaniment to our First Nations community in Kamloops and beyond.”
Prior to 1945, the Kamloops Indian Residential School was within the boundaries of the Archdiocese of Vancouver. In a statement, Archbishop J. Michael Miller said he was “filled with deep sadness” when he heard about the remains that were found.
“The pain that such news causes reminds us of our ongoing need to bring to light every tragic situation that occurred in residential schools run by the Church. The passage of time does not erase the suffering that touches the Indigenous communities affected, and we pledge to do whatever we can to heal that suffering,” Miller said.
The Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops echoed these sentiments in a statement Monday, saying news of the recent discovery is shocking.
“As we see ever more clearly the pain and suffering of the past, the Bishops of Canada pledge to continue walking side by side with Indigenous Peoples in the present, seeking greater healing and reconciliation for the future, the statement read.
Sympathy has poured in from many others including Kamloops Mayor Ken Christian, MP Cathy McLeod, Premier John Horgan, and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Back in 2008, then Prime Minister Stephen Harper apologized to to former students of Indian Residential Schools, on behalf of the Government of Canada.
In 2017, Trudeau also apologized to former students of the provincially run residential schools in Newfoundland and Labrador who were not included in the apology nine years earlier.
“No amount of apologies is going to solve all of these issues, “Jules added. “What we have to do is make sure is that First Nations assume our rightful place in this federation known as Canada.”
