FSIN seeks apology and the records for residential School Survivors

The Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations says the Pope and the Catholic Church should to apologize to Indian Residential School Survivors. The Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations has also sought the release all of its records relating to First Nations children at residential schools across Canada. At a news conference Friday morning in Saskatoon, FSIN Vice Chief David Pratt also advocated for further mental health support and investment in survivors moving forward.

Kinistin Chief Felix Thomas adds that the concept of “let’s move on” has been tried and has failed. Instead, he's asking that everyone to be part of the act of healing.

Vice Chief Pratt says they hope the Pope will pay a visit to Canada and points out many Indigenous people are Catholic. For their own healing, he states, they need to hear the leader of their church recognize the harms that were visited upon them. As well, he suggests a show of solidarity by Catholics not showing up in church on Sunday but rather, pray at home in their own way.

Pratt also says the City of Victoria has cancelled Canada Day celebrations to honour residential school victims; he is in support of this notion as well.