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Why is this visit so important?

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Who is going to benefit from the Popes visit?

Why are we choosing to be part of this?

Why is the Pope visiting Iqaluit?

How will we partake?

Why is this visit so important?

This visit is important for Nunavummiut, particularly survivors who are still reeling from the horrors of residential school. The Impact of the trauma has resulted in various issues for Inuit families in Nunavut. For some, this includes issues arround addiction, chronic health issues and cycles of physical and sexual abuse, which originated from educators at residential schools.

An estimated 150,000 Indigenous children were forced to attend residential schools in Canada, and more than 60% of the schools were run by the Catholic Church.

The residential school system began in the 1880s as a method of removing Indigenous peoples in Canada from their identity, culture and language. Some schools remained open until the 1990s, including Kivalliq Hall in Rankin Inlet.

Since spring 2021, more than 1,800 unmarked graves have been found at residential schools with the intention of assimilating Indigenous people into the dominant Western culture, by displacing them from their identity and language. Calls have since come for the Catholic Church, which ran most of the residential schools, and other institutions to accept responsibility for their role.

Who is going to benefit from the Pope's visit?

Pope’s visit will help world understand trauma caused by residential schools. All Nunavummiut will benefit with any positive step forward towards reconciliation, for Inuit who survived residential school and their families. It’s about peaceful coexistence. It’s about the survivors and it’s about truth and about reconciliation. 

Nunavummiut affected by the tragedies of the Residential School affair should all be part of this visit. It will be the first time that someone at the highest level of the Catholic system stands on Nunavut soil with the expectation of them finally taking the steps to admit their wrong doing. 

This visit is important for Nunavummiut, particularly the survivors who are still reeling from the horrors of the Residential School experience. The issues individuals and families continue to struggle with originate from both the leaders and educators at these schools.

We believe that the Nunavummiut affected by the tragedies of the Residential School affair should be a part of all efforts to acknowledge the experiences endured, and the efforts made to move forward toward truth and reconciliation.  It will be the first time that someone at the highest level of the Catholic Church system stands on Nunavut soil and openly takes steps to acknowledge and apologize for the wrongdoing that occurred. 

 

 

Why are we choosing to be part of this?​

As a non-profit whose existence is to help all Nunavummiut prosper, we believe that it was crucial that we do what we could to be part of this and to support our people. We’ve all seen and we all know the devastation residential schools have played on Nunavummiut.

We live amongst, have relationships and work with survivors and generational survivors who are all still reeling with the trauma.  The closure our friends and family deserve is something we collectively are able to assist in providing. 

Why is the Pope visiting Iqaluit?​

This is a pivotal moment for the world to witness and understand the impacts of the intergenerational traumas suffered by Indigenous people in residential school systems in Canada and around the world,” they said. “This is an important step toward reconciliation for everyone to be a part of.

For responsibility, to the survivors and for the pain that they lived through daily, that pain will never fully go away, but at least they’re being acknowledged.

An apology is the beginning, An apology is required, and the rebuilding of a relationship would follow the apology. As the Pope’s visit is a mere weeks away, there is still no confirmation whether an apology from the Pope will be guaranteed during this visit however the expectation after his apology in March is that one will be made to the survivors on their soil.


Papal 2022 Live Stream Event

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