'I felt it was very sincere': Manitoba reaction to the Pope's apology
Reaction to the Pope's apology about the church's role in residential schools is coming in across Canada, including in Manitoba, where Indigenous leaders says the apology was sincere, but note more is needed to help survivors.
"I'm mindful that this act of acknowledgement and contrition is very meaningful to some, others not," said Stephanie Scott, the executive director of the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation.
Indigenous leaders who spoke with CTV News Winnipeg said the Pope's apology felt sincere.
"I think a lot of our people will all accept that this is a true apology from a Pope that believes in it," said David Chartrand, the president of the Manitoba Metis Federation.
"I felt it was very sincere. You could feel the emotion in him," said Pimicikamak Cree Nation Chief David Monias.
While Monias felt the apology was sincere, he hoped Pope Francis would go into greater detail about the discovery of unmarked graves. Pimicikamak Cree Nation started a ground search this month at a former residential school site.
"I was hoping I would hear more about the unmarked graves that we are uncovering all over Canada," he said.
Monias is also calling for funding from the church for awareness and education, measures to promote culture and languages, as well as monuments recognizing the past.
Now that the apology from the Pope has happened on Canadian soil, Scott says more action is needed to help the survivors, like mental health supports.
"It was evident that the pain is still raw. The pain is very, very real and all they want is to heal and move forward," said Scott.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Canadian gov't proposes new foreign influence registry as part of wide-spanning new bill
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's government is proposing a suite of new measures and law changes aimed at countering foreign interference in Canada, amid extensive scrutiny over past meddling attempts and an ever-evolving threat landscape.
Boeing Starliner capsule's first crewed test flight postponed
The long-awaited first crewed test flight of Boeing's new Starliner space capsule was called off for at least 24 hours over a technical issue that launch teams were unable to resolve in time for the planned Monday night lift-off.
Teacher charged in historical sexual assault of Calgary teenage girl
Calgary police have charged a teacher with the alleged sexual assault of a teenage girl more than 20 years ago.
Winnipeg man admits to killing four women, argues he's not criminally responsible
Defence lawyers of Jeremy Skibicki have admitted in court the accused killed four Indigenous women, but argues he is not criminally responsible for the deaths by way of mental disorder – this latest development has triggered a judge-alone trial rather than a jury trial.
Man banned from owning animals after fatal Calgary dog attack
The owner of three Calgary dogs that got loose and mauled a woman to death in 2022 has been ordered to pay a $15,000 fine within one year and banned from owning any animal for 15 years.
East-end Ottawa family dealing with massive rat infestation
Residents in Ottawa’s Elmridge Gardens complex are dealing with a rat infestation that just won’t go away. Now, after doing everything they can to try to fix the issue, they are pleading with the city to step in and help.
Mediterranean staple may lower your risk of death from dementia, study finds
A daily spoonful of olive oil could lower your risk of dying from dementia, according to a new study by Harvard scientists.
An El Nino-less summer is coming. Here's what that could mean for Canada
As Canadians brace themselves for summer temperatures, forecasters say a weakening El Nino cycle doesn’t mean relief from the heat.
Newfoundland and Labrador latest province to tighten rules on Airbnbs
Newfoundland and Labrador is the latest jurisdiction to bring in stricter rules for short-term rentals, with a coming set of regulations that will force operators to register with the provincial government.