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Residential School System

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Pope Apology For Church’s Role In The Residential School System

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Pope Francis made a formal apology for the Roman Catholic Church’s role in Canada’s residential school system.

The Holy Father was meeting this week with First Nations, Inuit and Métis delegations, and also vowed a visit to our country at a later date.

Former prime minister Stephen Harper (2008) and the RCMP (2004, 2014) have also issued apologies each acknowledging their role in the operation of residential schools.

Back in 2017, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau had asked the Pope to apologize but was denied in a letter the following year.

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Trudeau Addresses Discovery At B.C. Residential School

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The prime minister says his thoughts are with all Indigenous communities across Canada.

The remains of 215 Indigenous children were found at a former residential school in Kamloops, B.C., last week.

Justin Trudeau says these were children who deserved to be happy and most of all, they deserved to be safe.

“As a dad, I can’t image what it would feel like to have my kids taken away from me. As prime minister, I am appalled by the shameful policy that stole Indigenous children from their communities.”

Trudeau says sadly this isn’t an exception or an isolated incident and we’re not going to hide from that.

“We have to acknowledge the truth. Residential schools were a reality – a tragedy – that existed here in our country and have to own up to it.”

Trudeau adds the federal government is committed to concrete action and to support survivors, families and Indigenous people.

A national Indian Residential School Crisis Line has been set up to provide support for former residential school students.

The toll-free line can be accessed 24 hours a day, seven days a week by calling 1-866-925-4419.