Friday, December 03, 2021

Alberta Indigenous delegates to visit Pope in Vatican City this month hope for apology

Lauren Boothby 
POSTMEDIA
© Provided by Edmonton Journal Angelina (Angie) Crerar takes part in a news conference on Thursday, Dec. 2, 2021, where she was introduced as one of three Alberta Indigenous delegates who will travel to Vatican City this month to meet with Pope Francis.

Two Alberta Métis delegates slated to meet the Pope later this month say they are hoping for an apology and for acknowledgement of the harms caused by Canada’s residential school system.


Gary Gagnon and Angelina Crerar, both representing the Métis Nation, are set to visit Vatican City with more than two dozen Indigenous elders and leaders from across the country Dec. 17-20. Gagnon and Crerar, speaking at a Thursday news conference in Edmonton, said meeting with Pope Francis on behalf of their communities, and being able to share their stories, is significant to them.

Gagnon, from the St. Albert Métis settlement and a long-time Edmonton Catholic Schools cultural facilitator, said it will be like a “pilgrimage” and he hopes to be a “voice for the voiceless.”

“I can only hope that there will be movement from the words that we share from our hearts,” he said Thursday. “I think there is nothing better for us … to hear those two-and-a-half words ‘we’re sorry’ and then just move on.”
© David Bloom David Bloom Gary Gagnon takes part in a news conference on Thursday, Dec. 2, 2021, where he was introduced as one of three Alberta Indigenous delegates who will travel to Vatican City this month to meet with Pope Francis. David Bloom/Postmedia

Gagnon said he feels overwhelmed and wants to get the message right when sharing stories from his community in a short window of time.

Video: Member of Indigenous delegation looks ahead to meeting with Pope (cbc.ca)

Pope Francis has scheduled three one-hour meetings, one each with First Nations, Métis and Inuit representatives, as part of reconciliation efforts.

Crerar — a Métis knowledge-keeper, elder from Grande Prairie, and residential school survivor — said an apology coming from the Pope would be meaningful because of her high esteem for him, and it’s something others want.

“He’s the only one that should give us one,” she said after the news conference. “This is our Pope.”

The third Alberta delegate, Chief Wilton Littlechild chosen by the Assembly of First Nations, was unable to attend Thursday’s announcement. In a news release from the Catholic Archdiocese of Edmonton, Littlechild, who is a residential school survivor and advocated for Indigenous peoples with the United Nations for more that 40 years, said Indigenous communities have never given up the need to heal.

“We are going and that should be a message in itself. We are willing to work with this and with you,” he said. “We are putting our hand out, meet halfway and let’s shake hands. It’s really important to show good intent.”

Edmonton Archbishop Richard Smith and Calgary Bishop William McGrattan are among the Canadian bishops set to accompany the delegates.

McGrattan said he hopes the Pope will stand in solidarity with Catholic Bishops of Canada who issued an apology this fall.

lboothby@postmedia.com
@laurby
Edmonton Archbishop Richard Smith takes part in a news conference on Thursday, Dec. 2, 2021, where Angelina (Angie) Crerar and Gary Gagnon were introduced as Alberta Indigenous delegates who will travel to Vatican City this month to meet with Pope Francis. David Bloom/Postmedia
Calgary Bishop William McGrattan takes part in a news conference on Thursday, Dec. 2, 2021, where Angelina (Angie) Crerar and Gary Gagnon were introduced as Alberta Indigenous delegates who will travel to Vatican City this month to meet with Pope Francis. David Bloom/Postmedia

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