ANISHINABEK NATION HEAD OFFICE (May 2, 2018)— The Anishinabek Nation Grand Council Chief Patrick
Madahbee would like to commend the Members of Parliament on all sides of the House of Commons who voted
in favour of extending an invitation to Pope Francis to apologize in-person to Indigenous peoples for the decades
of abuse in residential schools across the country.
“Miigwech to the hundreds of MPs who did the right thing and voted yes for this motion in the House of
Commons,” says Grand Council Chief Madahbee. “We only hope that the Catholic Church and their leader will
see to reason and do the right thing by accepting the invitation—and to do what is long overdue— and apologize
to the victims and survivors in-person. An apology from the Catholic Church and acknowledgement for its
barbaric and monstrous abuse is the least it can do for the lifetime of pain and suffering it has inflicted upon its
victims, survivors, families and the many generations that still feel the effects today. Our people need peace and
healing. Our people have suffered enough!”
New Democratic Party member Charlie Angus and residential school survivor Romeo Saganash introduced the
motion on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Tuesday, May 1, 2018. The motion passed by a margin of 269-10. As
Angus stood to vote, he held a feather as he cast his vote.
“Chi-miigwech to Charlie Angus and Romeo Saganash of the New Democratic Party and for the survivors of St.
Anne’s for making the introduction of this important motion possible,” adds Grand Council Chief Madahbee.
This motion is a result of the Pope’s unfavourable decision in early March to forego an apology to residential
school survivors and their families for the role the Roman Catholic Church played in the operation of the schools
and abusesthe students suffered.
A papal apology is #58 of the 94 Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) recommendations.
Anishnabek Grand Council Chief Commends MPs who voted in favor of papal apology
