A tribute to the 215 children, whose remains were found in an unmarked grave at a Kamloops residential school, pictured in Saskatoon on May 31, 2021. (Brady Lang/650 CKOM)

FSIN demands apology from Pope; wants church to preserve, release records

By CJME News Jun 6, 2021 | 2:47 PM

The Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations (FSIN) isn’t happy with the Catholic Church, or Pope Francis.

This is because he did not apologize Sunday, but he referenced the residential school findings from Kamloops in May, coining them a “sad affair.”

Now, the FSIN wants an apology, along with the release of residential school records and a promise of the preservation of those records.

“This was genocide, and it should be acknowledged as such by the perpetrators, the Church, the Government, and the RCMP,” FSIN Chief Bobby Cameron said in a Sunday release.

“Survivors and their families deserve an apology for the wrongs committed against them during decades of abuse at federally and church-run residential schools.”

Cameron added that this will continue on the path of true reconciliation, and added that “healing can begin,” with the release. Cameron adds that once everything is released to the public, the United Nations can conduct an investigation.

“Litigation against the release of these records contradicts Canada’s claim that their most important relationship is with the First Peoples of these lands. Anything short of this is continued injustice against First Nations people,” he stated.

The FSIN is asking all survivors, families, Elders and knowledge keepers now to write, request and call upon Catholic Church, Pope Francis, Canada, the RCMP and all other institutions linked to the system.