Indigenous women carrying cradles they intended to give to Pope Francis during a private meeting with residential school survivors were asked to leave the room before the pontiff entered. The event was planned as a time for survivors from Eastern Canada to meet with the pope at the archbishop’s residence Friday morning in Quebec City, hours before the pontiff left for Iqaluit. Jonel Beauvais, a member of the Kanien’kehá:ka wolf tribe from Akwesasne, said while she could stay, she had to go to the rear. “They said they only wanted survivors and not their supporters. So I’m not entirely sure why you would invite supporters if they’re not allowed to be in the room with the survivors,” she said. Two other women holding cradles, which are traditionally used to carry and protect babies, left the room. “I brought it today to represent every baby that’s still on the ground, every baby that’s come out, every baby that didn’t get to feel the love and affection that they were supposed to have,” Bovet said. The Truth and Reconciliation Commission found that there could be thousands of unmarked graves near the sites of former residential schools. More than 1,000 suspected mass graves have been identified in the last year. Pope Francis meets school survivors at the Archbishop of Quebec’s residence in Quebec City. (Vatican Media/Reuters) Grand Chief Mandy Gull-Masty of the Cree Nation of Eeyou Istchee said the women were already seated when they were asked to leave. “The staff of Bishop [Gérald Cyprien] Lacroix asked them to leave, so it was quite disappointing,” Gall-Masti said, referring to the Quebec archbishop. Assembly of First Nations of Quebec and Labrador regional chief Ghislaine Picard said the way the situation was handled was “totally unacceptable and disrespectful.” He said there were too many members of the clergy when the moment was meant for the survivors and those accompanying them.
lack of space
In an emailed response, the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops and the diocese of Quebec said some people were told to leave because there were not enough places to accommodate them. The statement said the delegation that showed up was much larger than they had originally planned. “Additional seats were immediately offered to members of the delegation, but in an effort to prioritize seating for survivors, some guests were unable to be present inside the room,” the statement said. Those people were asked to wait in another room, the email said. “As an organization, we just wanted to make sure we could accommodate everyone who wanted to attend,” Jasmin Lemieux-Lefebvre, a spokeswoman for the papal visit’s organizing committee, told CBC Quebec’s Breakaway. He said looking at the week as a whole, this was largely achieved. “We’ve always tried to find the right balance and show that the priority is the survivors,” he said.
Cradle paintings exhibited in the Vatican
Another woman who came carrying a cradle, Michelle Schenandoah, is a member of the Haudenosaunee delegation that met the Pope at the Vatican earlier this year. She presented the same cradle to the Pope at the Vatican and it was later returned to her. She says she and Rosalie LaBillois, co-chair of the AFN National Youth Council, were asked to leave the meeting without explanation. “They were pretty loud,” he said. The women agreed to leave the hall so that the elders could have seats.
A moment of exchange
After the Pope’s short speech, the survivors had the opportunity to speak with him. “I was grateful for the process, for our grandmothers and grandfathers, our aunts and uncles because they need what they need and we always have to support that in their healing process,” Bovet said. Beauvais said she told the pope she appreciated his visit, but also expressed displeasure at the way indigenous peoples were treated during his trip. Picard said many natives who attended the meeting wanted more from her. Still, he said he’s glad the survivors had a moment to meet the pontiff. With the pope returning to the Vatican tonight, it is now up to the Canadian clergy to follow his instructions to take concrete steps toward reconciliation, Picard said. Support is available for anyone affected by their residential school experience or recent reports. A national residential school crisis line has been set up in India to provide support to school survivors and others affected. People can access emotional and crisis referral services by calling the 24-hour national crisis line: 1-866-925-4419. Support is also available for anyone affected by their experience in Indian or federal day schools. Individuals can access immediate mental health counseling and crisis intervention services at the Hope for Wellness Helpline by calling 1-855-242-3310 or online at www.hopeforwellness.ca.
