Pope Francis did not directly mention the Doctrine of Discovery when he delivered his apology to residential school survivors, which has prompted criticism that his remarks failed to fully recognize the Catholic Church’s role in the residential school system.
After Pope Francis’ historic apology acknowledging the Catholic Church's role in Indigenous residential schools in Canada, which the Assembly of First Nations has called "a significant gesture,” many advocates are calling for him to also rescind the Doctrine of Discovery.
Pope Francis did not directly mention the Doctrine of Discovery when he delivered his apology to residential school survivors in Maskwacis, Alta., which has prompted criticism that it failed to fully recognize the role played by the Catholic Church in the residential school system. According to Indigenous Corporate Training Incorporated , a training organization that guides professional relationships between businesses and Indigenous people in North America, there is one major reason the Doctrine of Discovery continues to impact First Nations communities: it has never been officially renounced by the head of the Catholic Church.
“You see the Supreme Court of Canada always just assumes that Canada has sovereignty, even though it is acknowledged that its Indigenous peoples have actual sovereignty, and that's where the reconciliation takes place,” she said. Those ramifications include Indigenous communities in Canada still struggling with land disputes with the government.
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