There will be some representation from northwestern Ontario when the Pope visits Alberta next week.
Kiiwetinoong MPP Sol Mamakwa will be travelling with the federal NDP delegation.
Mamakwa says the Pope’s apology was a good first step, but more needs to be done.
“I think its important to be able to expand on that apology,” Mamakwa told a media conference at Queen’s Park on Thursday.
“Also important that everyone us survivors, and the families, it’s upon them on how they receive it, how they take it. But I think we need to be able to move forward and certainly look at options behind that apology.”
Mamakwa says while he did got to a residential school, he did not go to a residential school run by the Catholic Church, but the visit can be the start of healing.
“Words are not enough anymore. We need to take some action behind those words and for example having some sort of healing initiative because trauma, crisis in our nations has become a way of life, and that’s not acceptable anymore.”
Mamakwa says it’s important the Pope and the Catholic church return sacred artifacts stored at the Vatican and the release of their residential school records.
(File photo)
