MKO sponsors buses of residential school survivors to attend papal visit

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More than 80 Manitoba residential school survivors, their families and caregivers will travel together to Edmonton next week to see Pope Francis.

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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 18/07/2022 (1540 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

More than 80 Manitoba residential school survivors, their families and caregivers will travel together to Edmonton next week to see Pope Francis.

Two buses for survivors are being sponsored by Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak, one leaving from Thompson and one from Winnipeg.

The goal is to help “promote the healing journeys,” said Alyson Fournier, who provides support and trauma care for survivors.

ANDREW MEDICHINI / ASSOCIATED PRESS FILES More than 80 Manitoba residential school survivors, their families and caregivers will travel together to Edmonton next week to see Pope Francis.
ANDREW MEDICHINI / ASSOCIATED PRESS FILES More than 80 Manitoba residential school survivors, their families and caregivers will travel together to Edmonton next week to see Pope Francis.

MKO Grand Chief Garrison Settee will accompany the group on its drive to Edmonton.

In a statement, Settee said he is going to “support the ongoing healing work of the survivors and their descendants… My hope is to provide support to the MKO citizens who are also making the journey to hear from the Catholic leader.”

“It is my wish to hear a sincere apology from Pope Francis delivered to those who were forced to attend residential schools in Canada,” he added, noting survivors have been waiting a long time for such an apology.

Those words won’t make the difference for everyone, Settee acknowledged.

“Healing happens differently for all of us. There is no right way to heal from the generational trauma that has been inflicted upon our people due to the residential school system.”

The Archdiocese of St. Boniface, too, will be sending a bus of survivors from Poplar River, Berens River, Bloodvein, Little Grand Rapids/Pauingassi, Hollow Water, Manigotagan and Sagkeeng/Fort Alexander.

That group will be accompanied by Archbishop Albert LeGatt.

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