Pope Francis embraced — but his apology leaves much unsaid and unmended. A historic day underscores once more the enduring pain caused by Canada’s residential schools. Opinion by RDiManno
MASKWACIS, Alta.—Like the rooster that cried three times, as the man who would become the first pope of the Roman Catholic Church three times denied knowing Jesus Christ, the successor to St. Peter thrice declared what everyone had come to hear.Not in denial, though.
As elder and residential school survivor Jon Crier explained of the heavily weighted gesture: “We’ve adopted him as one of our leaders in the community. Here’s a man that belongs into our tribe.” The Star happened to speak with that woman earlier in the morning — before the Pope arrived, after making a brief visit to the Ermineskin Cemetery; at least 15 children from this residential institution either died or disappeared in the years the school operated. Wearing a beautifully beaded white buckskin dress, she said her name was Sipihko and she intended to make herself known to Francis.
“My parents were both devoted Catholics,” she explained, tears starting to fall. “They would have been honoured to be here, which is why I came, because they’ve both passed. I thank the Pope for coming, but there’s still so much pain. That pain won’t go away because he’s apologized.” “This is our history,” Korkmaz asserted, of the elusive documents. “They don’t belong in Rome. They belong here.”
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