I wanted to comment on the Pope's visit to Canada. As a White Settler, I believe in Truth and Reconciliation. I also believe in Reparation. I do not think the Pope did that. Many Catholic Indigenous people have been happy with his visit, others not so much. There is so much more to be done.
I think this Cree woman spoke for many, with tears and emotions clearly reflected on her face (CTV): Her name is Si Pih Ko and she is a true Ogichidaa Kwe (Facebook).
It was a powerful moment during the Pope’s visit to Treaty 6 on Monday, as a woman stood in her regalia and sang an emotional rendition of O Canada in Cree directly to the leader of the Catholic Church following his apology to residential school survivors. pic.twitter.com/LO3eIiT8ac
— APTN News (@APTNNews) July 26, 2022
In fact, she didn't sing O Canada. She sang a powerful song to those who enacted the 'Doctrine of Discovery', giving them permission to steal Indigenous lands.
Simon Bird interpretation:
our father
I am grateful standing here
we are the royalty
there cannot be another law brought here
great leaders were selected
so we can make our own laws/to be sovereign
That’s it/thank you
Pope Francis celebrated Mass on Thursday and came face-to-face with a long-standing demand: to formally rescind the papal decrees underpinning the so-called “Doctrine of Discovery” that seemingly legitimized the colonial-era seizure of Native lands. https://t.co/0pVgjizlrs
— The Associated Press (@AP) July 28, 2022
All I can do is bear witness to the pain and the wrongs. I hope we can do the things that need to be done. And what needs to be done? Cindy Blackstock has long advocated for the people, First Nations, Innuit, Metis. She states what must be done in reparations. I leave you with this:
9 comments:
...the church created a MESS!
To study history is to have a broken heart.
Your comments keep going to the side, so I've learned to approve them to be published...someone called it the spam folder. Wonder why, several others get that also. Great to read about the Indigenous efforts for reparation. I am glad to hear there's someone even called the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. They do have an uphill battle against the patriarchal colonial institutions!
It sounds like a positive first step (long overdue) with a long way to go yet...
Good that he visited
It is hugely complicated and will take time.
A very thought-provoking post Jenn. I have been reading about this. The cruelty these children had to go through is hard to comprehend and absolutely heartbreaking.
I'm glad he came. I really appreciate this post, Jenn. We heard about this, of course, but not in the detail you have in CA and the replies on both sides are interesting.
I saw news on the papal visit to Canada, and it seemed there was disappointment all 'round from the indigenous community. There's no way to make up for the cruelty...
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