Indianz.Com > News > Doug George-Kanentiio: Residential school survivors reject Pope Francis’ apology
Why I Turned Down a Private Session with the Pope
Monday, August 8, 2022
On July 29 a select group of 22 Residential School Survivors were asked to attend a private meeting with Pope Francis at Quebec City, part of his national apology tour. I was, as a former student at the Mohawk Institute in Brantford, Ontario, selected as one of those presenters but although honored by the request had to turn it down.
I dod so because I was given but 60 seconds to speak to the Pope followed by a photo with him. There was no way I could summarize our concerns and why we, as Mohawks, have rejected his apology.
We have done so because the Roman Catholic Church has not been cooperative in releasing the records of the children assigned to the institutions administered to by the Church. Without those documents there is no way we can answer the fundamental questions as to how many children were taken, where they were confined to, what happened to them and where are they know.
Indianz.Com
Nothing will be done for us without us. No one may speak on our behalf without our express approval.
Indianz.Com
Doug George-Kanentiio, Akwesasne Mohawk, is a residential school survivor. He was given the number 4-8-2-738. He serves as the vice-president of the Hiawatha Institute for Indigenous Knowledge. He previously served as a Trustee for the National Museum of the American Indian, is a former land claims negotiator for the Mohawk Nation and is the author of numerous books and articles about the Mohawk people. He may be reached via e-mail at: Kanentiio@aol.com or by calling 315-415-7288.
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