There has been a local backlash following Pope Francis’ apology for the Catholic Church’s involvement in Indian boarding schools.
Osoyoos Indian band chief Clarence Louis said after apologizing, “He is angry and frustrated.”
“Let’s face it, it was a compulsory apology. It was a political apology. When someone is forced to apologize, I don’t think it’s sincere forgiveness, “said Chief Louis
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Thousands of Indigenous children were forced into residential schools where they were separated from their culture, their families and abused.
“That church is a multi-billion dollar company. It is rich, very rich and it has lost the language of our first nation, has done a lot of cultural damage and it should spend some of the billions to go to the damage of the past, ”Louis added.
Chief Louis thinks more needs to be done than financial retaliation and apology.
“There should be a criminal investigation, the culprit,” he said.
“If only two non-native graves are found in this country, what will RCMP do? They will launch a criminal investigation. Here you have 215 unmarked graves in Kamloops, where is the crime investigation? There is still a lot of racism. “
He added that the apology came too late and now is the time to act.
“There are no more beautiful words; And not fake, I apologize forcibly. We need some resentment and action. It’s a time of anger and action in my opinion, “said Louis.
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Greg Gabriel, head of the Penticton Indian band, also emphasized the pope’s apology in a statement from the Silox Okanagan Nation Alliance.
Chief Prime Minister Gabriel said in a statement that “apologies from the Prime Minister, government officials and empty words or a visit to the Vatican will never heal the pain and trauma that our people have suffered, witnessed and continue to endure.”
“We have apologized in the past – there is no apology for killing and attempting to kill our children. We have no faith in the actions taken by the colonial authorities and we demand that the Vatican, the Roman Catholic Church and the Government of Canada go beyond a simple apology. “
Chief Gabriel also demanded accountability from the Catholic Church.
“They have actively and explicitly dispersed the evidence of their crimes and need to be investigated and held accountable. We will not be silent on governments or organizations that are working to protect their own interests – tearing down evidence, deprivation of responsibility and accountability, “said Chief Gabriel.
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