(Ottawa, ON) April 08, 2022 – The Legacy of Hope Foundation (LHF) is deeply appreciative about the statement of apology made by Pope Francis on behalf of the Roman Catholic Church and the role it played in Residential Schools. The need for an apology was clear as the Catholic Church ran the large majority of Residential Schools within Canada, an institution which took over 150,000 Indigenous children away from their families and communities, forbade them from speaking their language or practicing their culture, and subjected them to horrific abuse in an effort to strip them of their cultural identity. The meaningful apology that was expressed by Pope Francis on April 1st was an important historical moment for Survivors, their families, and all Indigenous peoples within Canada who have suffered immense wounds as a result of hurtful policies of colonization. It represents an important step towards creating a better future for Indigenous peoples.

The Pope’s apology at the Vatican came after a series of meetings with more than 30 First Nations, Inuit and Métis delegates, and was the result of many years of tireless work by Survivors, their families, Indigenous voices across Canada, and other advocates. The LHF sincerely thanks all of those who made this moment possible. Hopefully, this apology will help assist Survivors, Intergenerational Survivors, and others who were impacted by the legacy of Residential Schools within their ongoing healing journeys.

The Pope’s statement also includes equally important future plans to support healing and Reconciliation efforts between the Catholic Church and Indigenous peoples. One of the most prominent of these is the Pope’s promise to deliver a more detailed public apology on Canadian soil, which reflects the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s 58th Call to Action. This apology will come as an important occasion for those Survivors and their families who couldn’t make the trip to Rome, and signifies a crucial moment of healing because it will take place within the country where the atrocities occurred, as well as the ancestral land of those who were forced to attend these schools.

“Hearing the Pope say that he is very sorry meant a great deal to myself and other Indigenous peoples who are grappling with the deep and widespread wounds inflicted by Residential Schools. I am hopeful that this step taken by the Catholic Church is the first of many steps that it will take to ensure it remains accountable for its wrongdoings, and represents a true commitment to a path of healing and Reconciliation with Indigenous peoples. I am also looking forward to seeing the Pope come to Canada to publicly apologize for Residential Schools, which will be a hugely meaningful moment for all,” said the LHF Board President Adam North Peigan.

As the Pope and the Catholic Church continues to take action to help atone for the Church’s role within Residential Schools, the LHF will persist in the work it does to educate all Canadians about the important history of Indigenous Peoples within Canada, as well as provide further awareness about the harmful effects of Residential Schools, and how they continue to impact Indigenous Peoples so we can begin to address the discrimination, injustices and trauma and begin to foster Reconciliation in Canada.

The LHF is a national, Indigenous-led, charitable organization that has been working to promote healing and Reconciliation in Canada for over 21 years. The LHF’s goal is to educate and raise awareness about the history and impact of the Residential and Day School Systems, and the Sixties Scoop on Indigenous (First Nations, Inuit, and Métis) Survivors, their descendants, and their communities. This is one of the ways in which the LHF is working to promote hope and healing in Canada. The LHF is also committed to works to encouraging people to address discrimination and injustice in order to contribute to the equity, dignity, and respectful treatment of Indigenous Peoples and to foster Reconciliation.

The LHF currently has more than 25 educational exhibitions that promote awareness of Indigenous history. These exhibitions are free to borrow, and the LHF is in the process of making them available online. The LHF also has curriculum for K-12 and for adults, along with Activity Guides, Workshops and Training, and Podcasts, all aimed at educating Canadians about Indigenous history and the shared history of Residential and Day Schools, the Sixties Scoop, and other colonial acts of harm. The LHF is proud of the work it does to develop empathy and understanding among Canadians so as to eliminate racism against Indigenous Peoples.

For media inquiries:
Teresa Edwards, B.A. JD.
Executive Director and In-House Legal Counsel
Legacy of Hope Foundation
Phone: 613-237-4806 Ext. 303 info@legacyofhope.ca