Pope Francis, who is the head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of the Vatican City, apologised for the "evil committed by so many Christians against the Indigenous peoples" of Canada.

Lamenting the Church’s cooperation in what he described as "cultural destruction," he kicked off a week-long trip to Canada.

Francis, who is the first pope to be a member of the Society of Jesus, will visit a former residential school and meet with indigenous people in Canada.

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Over 150,000 indigenous children were separated from their families between 1881 and 1996 and were brought to residential schools.

Canada's Truth and Reconciliation Commission called the sexually abused, starved, and beaten children part of a ''cultural genocide.

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Dear brothers and sisters of <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Canada?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Canada</a>, I come among you to meet the indigenous peoples. I hope, with God's grace, that my penitential pilgrimage might contribute to the journey of reconciliation already undertaken. Please accompany me with <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/prayer?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#prayer</a>.
— Pope Francis (@Pontifex) <a href="https://twitter.com/Pontifex/status/1551084765008130052?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 24, 2022</a></blockquote>
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Slamming the "archaic" nature of the church, the national chief for the Assembly of First Nations, RoseAnne Archibald said there are no women in leadership positions.

Before heading to St. Joseph Seminary, the 85-year-old pontiff sat between the two Canadian officials for a short performance of four drummers and native singing before several indigenous leaders.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/several-people-killed-in-targetted-canadian-mass-shooting-report-500589" hreflang="en">Several people killed in 'targetted' Canadian mass shooting: Report</a>

Due to a knee problem that has recently forced him to use a wheelchair and a cane, the pope cancelled a trip to the Democratic Republic of Congo and South Sudan in early July.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau faced severe criticism last year after the unmarked grave of hundreds of Indigenous children were discovered near former residential school sites.

(With inputs from agencies)

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Pope Francis, who is the head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of the Vatican City, apologised for the "evil committed by so many Christians against the Indigenous peoples" of Canada.

Pope Francis, who is the head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of the Vatican City, apologised for the "evil committed by so many Christians against the Indigenous peoples" of Canada. Lamenting the Church’s cooperation in what he described as "cultural destruction," he kicked off a week-long trip to Canada. Francis, who is the first pope to be a member of the Society of Jesus, will visit a former residential school and meet with indigenous people in Canada. × Over 150,000 indigenous children were separated from their families between 1881 and 1996 and were brought to residential schools. Canada's Truth and Reconciliation Commission called the sexually abused, starved, and beaten children part of a ''cultural genocide. Dear brothers and sisters of #Canada, I come among you to meet the indigenous peoples. I hope, with God's grace, that my penitential pilgrimage might contribute to the journey of reconciliation already undertaken. Please accompany me with #prayer. — Pope Francis (@Pontifex) July 24, 2022 × Slamming the "archaic" nature of the church, the national chief for the Assembly of First Nations, RoseAnne Archibald said there are no women in leadership positions. Before heading to St. Joseph Seminary, the 85-year-old pontiff sat between the two Canadian officials for a short performance of four drummers and native singing before several indigenous leaders. Also read | Several people killed in 'targetted' Canadian mass shooting: Report Due to a knee problem that has recently forced him to use a wheelchair and a cane, the pope cancelled a trip to the Democratic Republic of Congo and South Sudan in early July. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau faced severe criticism last year after the unmarked grave of hundreds of Indigenous children were discovered near former residential school sites. (With inputs from agencies) Watch WION's live TV here: ×

Pope Francis laments Church’s cooperation in 'cultural destruction'

A year since the discovery of the remains of hundreds of Indigenous children that exposed Canada’s history of “cultural genocide”, more than 90 “potential” graves are said to have been unearthed at a former residential school in the western province of British Columbia.

The Williams Lake First Nation— a community of around 800 Indigenous people—on Tuesday said that the preliminary results of the first phase of a geophysical search at St Joseph Mission Residential School unearthed 93 “reflections” with characteristics “indicative of potential human burials”.

Thousands of Indigenous children were said to have attended St. Joseph's Mission between 1886 and 1981 when it operated as a residential school run by various religious sects as part of a Canadian government system, according to WLFN.

“There is much more work to do on the St. Joseph's site, and we have every intention of continuing with this work,” WLFN Chief Willie Sellars said in a statement.

In early January, the Ottawa administration had announced $1.9 million Canadian dollars (US $1.5 million) in funding for the investigation at St. Joseph's mission.

“To date, $116.8 million has been committed to support First Nation, Inuit and Metis Survivors, their families and communities and go toward locating and commemorating missing children who attended residential schools,” the government said in a statement at the time.

Numerous investigations into former residential schools are underway across the country, with between 4,000 and 6,000 children believed to be missing, according to authorities.

In total, about 150,000 Indigenous children were enrolled from the late 1800s to the 1990s in 139 of the residential schools across Canada, spending months or years isolated from their families, language and culture.

The policy traumatised generations of Indigenous children, who were forced to abandon their native languages, speak English or French and convert to Christianity.

Christian churches were essential in the founding and operation of the schools. The Roman Catholic Church in particular was responsible for operating up to 70 per cent of residential schools, according to the Indian Residential School Survivors Society.

(With inputs from agencies)

A year since the discovery of the remains of hundreds of Indigenous children that exposed Canada’s history of “cultural genocide”, more than 90 “potential” graves are said to have been unearthed at a former residential school in the western province of British Columbia.

A year since the discovery of the remains of hundreds of Indigenous children that exposed Canada’s history of “cultural genocide”, more than 90 “potential” graves are said to have been unearthed at a former residential school in the western province of British Columbia. The Williams Lake First Nation— a community of around 800 Indigenous people—on Tuesday said that the preliminary results of the first phase of a geophysical search at St Joseph Mission Residential School unearthed 93 “reflections” with characteristics “indicative of potential human burials”. Thousands of Indigenous children were said to have attended St. Joseph's Mission between 1886 and 1981 when it operated as a residential school run by various religious sects as part of a Canadian government system, according to WLFN. “There is much more work to do on the St. Joseph's site, and we have every intention of continuing with this work,” WLFN Chief Willie Sellars said in a statement. In early January, the Ottawa administration had announced $1.9 million Canadian dollars (US $1.5 million) in funding for the investigation at St. Joseph's mission. “To date, $116.8 million has been committed to support First Nation, Inuit and Metis Survivors, their families and communities and go toward locating and commemorating missing children who attended residential schools,” the government said in a statement at the time. Numerous investigations into former residential schools are underway across the country, with between 4,000 and 6,000 children believed to be missing, according to authorities. In total, about 150,000 Indigenous children were enrolled from the late 1800s to the 1990s in 139 of the residential schools across Canada, spending months or years isolated from their families, language and culture. The policy traumatised generations of Indigenous children, who were forced to abandon their native languages, speak English or French and convert to Christianity. Christian churches were essential in the founding and operation of the schools. The Roman Catholic Church in particular was responsible for operating up to 70 per cent of residential schools, according to the Indian Residential School Survivors Society. (With inputs from agencies)

More than 90 ‘potential’ graves of Indigenous kids unearthed at Canada school

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau apologised Friday for "harmful government policies" and did not rule out a criminal probe after hundreds of unmarked graves were discovered at a former indigenous residential school in western Canada.

The public mea culpa for the policy of indigenous assimilation and other historical wrongs comes one day after the Cowessess First Nation said it had found at least 751 unmarked graves at the former Marieval Indian Residential School in Saskatchewan province. It was the second such discovery in less than a month.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/hundreds-of-unmarked-graves-found-at-another-indigenous-school-in-canada-393533">Hundreds of unmarked graves found at another Indigenous school in Canada</a>&nbsp;

"This was an incredibly harmful government policy that was Canada's reality for many, many decades and Canadians today are horrified and ashamed of how our country behaved, about a policy that ripped kids from their homes, from their communities, from their culture and their language and forced assimilation upon them," Trudeau told a news conference in Ottawa.

"To the members of the Cowessess community and Treaty Four communities, we are sorry," he said. "It was something that we cannot undo in the past, but we can pledge ourselves every day to fix it in the present and into the future."

The graves&nbsp;some of which may at one time have been marked were found through ground-penetrating radar mapping.

Excavations at the Marieval school, about 150 kilometres (90 miles) east of the provincial capital Regina, began at the end of May, after the discovery of the remains of 215 schoolchildren at another former indigenous residential school in Kamloops, British Columbia.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/remains-of-215-children-of-kamloops-indian-residential-school-discovered-387995">Remains of 215 children of Kamloops Indian Residential School discovered</a>

Since the grim find in Kamloops, searches have also started at other such former boarding schools across Canada, with government help.

Nearly Can$5 million (US$4 million) would be made available to the Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations (FSIN), which represents 74 tribes in Saskatchewan, to search for more burial sites in the province, Trudeau said Friday.

'What happened'&nbsp;

Pressed about whether a criminal probe demanded by indigenous leaders was warranted, Trudeau said: "I think people want to properly understand what happened."

"We are open to taking whatever steps are necessary to learn the truth," he added in French, and to "ensure that there are consequences for organizations, institutions, and perhaps in some cases individuals."

The FSIN, the former chair of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, Murray Sinclair, and others have called for an independent investigation to determine if any crimes occurred at the schools.

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Until the 1990s, some 150,000 Indian, Metis and Inuit children were forcibly enrolled in 139 of these residential schools across Canada, where they were isolated from their families, language and culture.

Many were subjected to ill-treatment and sexual abuse, and more than 4,000 died of disease and neglect in the schools, according to a commission of inquiry that concluded Canada had committed "cultural genocide."

Today those experiences are blamed for a high incidence of poverty, alcoholism and domestic violence, as well as high suicide rates, in indigenous communities.

Trudeau said he has asked Pope Francis to come to Canada and apologize for abuses at the government-funded, Catholic church-run schools.

"I have spoken personally directly with His Holiness Pope Francis to impress upon him how important it is not just that he makes an apology, but that he makes an apology to indigenous Canadians on Canadian soil," he said.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trudeau-says-pope-should-apologise-on-canadian-soil-for-churchs-role-in-residential-schools-394067">Trudeau says Pope should apologise on Canadian soil for church's role in residential schools</a>

The Catholic church's leadership, he said, "is looking and very actively engaged in what next steps can be taken."

In the meantime, the Missionary of Oblates of Mary&nbsp;Immaculate, the religious order that operated 48 indigenous residential schools in Canada, including those in Kamloops and Marieval, is committed to disclosing all historical documents in its possession to help shed light on the student deaths.

"We remain deeply sorry for our involvement in residential schools and the harms they brought to indigenous peoples and communities," the group said in a statement.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau apologised Friday for "harmful government policies" and did not rule out a criminal probe after hundreds of unmarked graves were discovered at a former indigenous residential school in western Canada.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau apologised Friday for "harmful government policies" and did not rule out a criminal probe after hundreds of unmarked graves were discovered at a former indigenous residential school in western Canada. The public mea culpa for the policy of indigenous assimilation and other historical wrongs comes one day after the Cowessess First Nation said it had found at least 751 unmarked graves at the former Marieval Indian Residential School in Saskatchewan province. It was the second such discovery in less than a month. Also read | Hundreds of unmarked graves found at another Indigenous school in Canada "This was an incredibly harmful government policy that was Canada's reality for many, many decades and Canadians today are horrified and ashamed of how our country behaved, about a policy that ripped kids from their homes, from their communities, from their culture and their language and forced assimilation upon them," Trudeau told a news conference in Ottawa. "To the members of the Cowessess community and Treaty Four communities, we are sorry," he said. "It was something that we cannot undo in the past, but we can pledge ourselves every day to fix it in the present and into the future." The graves some of which may at one time have been marked were found through ground-penetrating radar mapping. Excavations at the Marieval school, about 150 kilometres (90 miles) east of the provincial capital Regina, began at the end of May, after the discovery of the remains of 215 schoolchildren at another former indigenous residential school in Kamloops, British Columbia. Also read | Remains of 215 children of Kamloops Indian Residential School discovered Since the grim find in Kamloops, searches have also started at other such former boarding schools across Canada, with government help. Nearly Can$5 million (US$4 million) would be made available to the Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations (FSIN), which represents 74 tribes in Saskatchewan, to search for more burial sites in the province, Trudeau said Friday. 'What happened' Pressed about whether a criminal probe demanded by indigenous leaders was warranted, Trudeau said: "I think people want to properly understand what happened." "We are open to taking whatever steps are necessary to learn the truth," he added in French, and to "ensure that there are consequences for organizations, institutions, and perhaps in some cases individuals." The FSIN, the former chair of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, Murray Sinclair, and others have called for an independent investigation to determine if any crimes occurred at the schools. Until the 1990s, some 150,000 Indian, Metis and Inuit children were forcibly enrolled in 139 of these residential schools across Canada, where they were isolated from their families, language and culture. Many were subjected to ill-treatment and sexual abuse, and more than 4,000 died of disease and neglect in the schools, according to a commission of inquiry that concluded Canada had committed "cultural genocide." Today those experiences are blamed for a high incidence of poverty, alcoholism and domestic violence, as well as high suicide rates, in indigenous communities. Trudeau said he has asked Pope Francis to come to Canada and apologize for abuses at the government-funded, Catholic church-run schools. "I have spoken personally directly with His Holiness Pope Francis to impress upon him how important it is not just that he makes an apology, but that he makes an apology to indigenous Canadians on Canadian soil," he said. Also read | Trudeau says Pope should apologise on Canadian soil for church's role in residential schools The Catholic church's leadership, he said, "is looking and very actively engaged in what next steps can be taken." In the meantime, the Missionary of Oblates of Mary Immaculate, the religious order that operated 48 indigenous residential schools in Canada, including those in Kamloops and Marieval, is committed to disclosing all historical documents in its possession to help shed light on the student deaths. "We remain deeply sorry for our involvement in residential schools and the harms they brought to indigenous peoples and communities," the group said in a statement.

Trudeau doesn't rule out criminal probe of indigenous school graves

Ontario announced Tuesday Can$10 million (US$8 million) to search for and look after unmarked graves of indigenous residential school students in the Canadian province, after burials were discovered elsewhere in the country.

"Like all Ontarians, I was heartbroken by the tragic news that a burial site was found at a former residential school in Kamloops, British Columbia," Ontario Premier Doug Ford told a news conference.

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"We grieve for the 215 children that lost their lives (in Kamloops), as well as their families and the communities that they were taken from," Ford said.

"This is a moment to recognize the painful legacy of Canada's residential school system, and of the damaging lasting effects it has had on survivors and indigenous communities."

The discovery of the remains of 215 children at a former residential school in&nbsp;Canada&nbsp;has reopened wounds for survivors of the system, they said, as the government pledged to spend previously promised money to search for more unmarked&nbsp;graves.

The Tk'emlúps te Secwépemc indigenous nation in British Columbia announced last week it had found the remains of 215 children, some as young as three, buried at the site of the Kamloops Indian Residential School, once&nbsp;Canada's largest such school.

Between 1831 and 1996,&nbsp;Canada's residential school system forcibly separated about 150,000 children from their homes and subjected them to abuse, rape and malnutrition at schools across the country in what the Truth and Reconciliation Commission in 2015 called "cultural genocide."

Run by the government and church groups, the schools' stated aim was to assimilate indigenous children.

Amid growing outrage, the federal government said on Wednesday it will urgently disburse money promised two years ago to indigenous communities that want to search former school sites for the remains of children.

A truth and reconciliation commission has identified 17 former residential schools in Ontario, and 12 possible unmarked burial sites.

The British Columbia coroner is working with the Tk'emlups te Secwepemc tribe to identify the remains and causes of deaths of the 215 pupils at the Kamloops school, while pressure is mounting on the Oblates of Mary Immaculate who ran the school on behalf of the federal government to release their records.

Searches have also turned up more unmarked student gravesites in Manitoba and Saskatchewan provinces.

In 2019, the government promised C$33.8 million ($28.1 million) over three years to support, among other things, locating the bodies of children who attended the schools. Of that, C$27.1 million has yet to be spent.

(With inputs from agencies)

Ontario announced Tuesday Can$10 million (US$8 million) to search for and look after unmarked graves of indigenous residential school students in the Canadian province, after burials were discovered elsewhere in the country.

Ontario announced Tuesday Can$10 million (US$8 million) to search for and look after unmarked graves of indigenous residential school students in the Canadian province, after burials were discovered elsewhere in the country. "Like all Ontarians, I was heartbroken by the tragic news that a burial site was found at a former residential school in Kamloops, British Columbia," Ontario Premier Doug Ford told a news conference. "We grieve for the 215 children that lost their lives (in Kamloops), as well as their families and the communities that they were taken from," Ford said. "This is a moment to recognize the painful legacy of Canada's residential school system, and of the damaging lasting effects it has had on survivors and indigenous communities." The discovery of the remains of 215 children at a former residential school in Canada has reopened wounds for survivors of the system, they said, as the government pledged to spend previously promised money to search for more unmarked graves. The Tk'emlúps te Secwépemc indigenous nation in British Columbia announced last week it had found the remains of 215 children, some as young as three, buried at the site of the Kamloops Indian Residential School, once Canada's largest such school. Between 1831 and 1996, Canada's residential school system forcibly separated about 150,000 children from their homes and subjected them to abuse, rape and malnutrition at schools across the country in what the Truth and Reconciliation Commission in 2015 called "cultural genocide." Run by the government and church groups, the schools' stated aim was to assimilate indigenous children. Amid growing outrage, the federal government said on Wednesday it will urgently disburse money promised two years ago to indigenous communities that want to search former school sites for the remains of children. A truth and reconciliation commission has identified 17 former residential schools in Ontario, and 12 possible unmarked burial sites. The British Columbia coroner is working with the Tk'emlups te Secwepemc tribe to identify the remains and causes of deaths of the 215 pupils at the Kamloops school, while pressure is mounting on the Oblates of Mary Immaculate who ran the school on behalf of the federal government to release their records. Searches have also turned up more unmarked student gravesites in Manitoba and Saskatchewan provinces. In 2019, the government promised C$33.8 million ($28.1 million) over three years to support, among other things, locating the bodies of children who attended the schools. Of that, C$27.1 million has yet to be spent. (With inputs from agencies)

After discovery of children's remains, Canada announces search for unmarked indigenous graves