Phil Fontaine named Manitoba delegate to meet with Pope Francis about residential schools

The former head of provincial and national First Nations groupswill represent Manitoba First Nations in a meeting with the Pope in December to talk about the Catholic Church's role in residential schools.

Phil Fontainewas named the Manitoba delegatefor a meeting with Pope Francis by regional Chief Cindy Woodhouse of theAssembly of First Nations.

"Mr. Fontaine will participate in discussions regardingreconciliation with First Nations, ... the role of the Catholic Church in the administration of the former Indian Residential Schools and the need for an official apology from the Pope on behalf of the Catholic Church," Woodhouse said in a news released issued on Wednesday.

The meeting comes as Indigenous groups across Canada have begun searches for unmarked graves belonging to children who died at residential schools.

Fontaine served as Grand Chief of the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs and was elected three times to lead the national body, the Assembly of First Nations.

A survivor of Fort Alexander Indian Residential School, heledthenegotiationsthat resulted inthe2006Indian Residential Schools SettlementAgreement.

The agreementincluded provisions for a common experience payment for survivors of residential schools, an independent assessment process for individual abuse claimsand education funding, as well asthecreation of a Truth and Reconciliation Commission.

Fontaine was also presented with a citation by Prime Minister Stephen Harper in 2008 on the day he apologized for the federal government's role in what some call genocidal institutions.

"Today is the result of the righteousness of our struggle," Fontaine said at the time.

Indigenous leaders will be in Rome Dec.17-20,and are scheduled to meet with the Pope during that time.

Phil Fontaine talks about his upcoming meeting with Pope Francis

3 years ago

Duration 6:05

CBC's Janet Stewart talks to Phil Fontaine, the former grand chief of the Assembly of First Nations and Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs, about being named Manitoba's representative at a meeting with Pope Francis, where First Nations leaders will petition for an official apology for the Catholic Church's role in the residential school system.

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