'I'm very disappointed in the Pope,' Daniel Paul says of pontiff's failure to apologize for Catholic church's role
There is a call for Pope Francis to issue an apology after the discovery of the bodies of 215 Indigenous children at a former residential school in British Columbia.
The discovery has many now calling for surveys of other residential schools across the country.
Theresa Grineault was overcome with emotion as she stood before a memorial dedicated to 215 Indigenous children whose remains were discovered at an unmarked burial site at a former residential school in Kamloops, B.C.
"Those kids are never going to come home," Grineault said. "Never."
The Indian residential school settlement agreement identified 139 residential schools across Canada, including one in Shubenacadie, N.S. In total, it's thought about 150,000 First Nations, Inuit and Metis children attended these schools.
Doreen Bernard is a survivor. She's been touched by the outpouring of support, but she wants the federal government to look into the possibility of more graves at sites other than Kamloops.
"We talk about truth and reconciliation yet the truth hasn't come out," Bernard said. "It is still being uncovered."
Archbishop Brian Dunn of the Archdiocese of Halifax-Yarmouth released a statement saying the discovery of the unmarked burial site in Kamloops is heartbreaking and vows to work toward reconciliation, healing and peace.
"Acknowledging and bringing to light this dark chapter of our Catholic and Canadian history is difficult but necessary in order to be able to do and be better," Dunn wrote.
Daniel Paul doesn't doubt the sincerity of Dunn's statement, but says the real apology needs to come from the Vatican.
"Their main purpose was to take the Indian out of the Indian," Paul said. "I'm very disappointed in the Pope, that he doesn't come forward at this point in time and do what the other Christian denominations have done and make a full apology."
It would be a small step forward in what will be a long healing process.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Spectacular aurora light show to be seen across Canada Friday night
A rare and severe solar storm is expected to bring spectacular displays of the northern lights, also known as aurora borealis, across much of Canada and parts of the United States on Friday night.
Town of Fort Nelson, B.C., ordered to evacuate due to wildfire
The entire town of Fort Nelson, B.C., as well as the nearby Fort Nelson First Nation, has been ordered to evacuate due to an out-of-control wildfire.
Snowbirds in Vancouver for puck-drop flyby as Canucks face Oilers
The Canadian Forces Snowbirds will be performing a flyover across downtown Vancouver at the start of tonight's Stanley Cup playoff game between the Canucks and the Edmonton Oilers.
McGill University seeks emergency injunction to dismantle pro-Palestinian encampment
McGill University has filed a request for an injunction to have the pro-Palestinian encampment removed from its campus.
Which Canadian cities have the highest and lowest grocery prices?
Where you live plays a big factor in what you pay at the grocery store. And while it's no secret the same item may have a different price depending on the store, city or province, we wanted to see just how big the differences are, and why.
Swarm of 20,000 bees gather around woman’s car west of Toronto
A swarm of roughly 20,000 bees gathered around a woman’s car in the parking lot of Burlington Centre.
Video shows naked raccoon catching B.C. family by surprise
When Marvin Henschel spotted a strange and hairless creature wandering through a front lawn in B.C.'s Lower Mainland, he could barely believe his eyes.
Barron Trump declines to serve as an RNC delegate
Former U.S. President Donald Trump's youngest son, Barron Trump, has declined to serve as a delegate at this summer’s Republican National Convention, according to a senior Trump campaign adviser and a statement from Melania Trump's office.
Out-of-control wildfire prompts evacuation alert for Fort McMurray, Saprae Creek Estates Friday night
An evacuation alert was issued for two Wood Buffalo communities Friday night, as crews battled an out-of-control wildfire near Fort McMurray.