'A long journey': Reconciliation happening day by day, one year after Pope's apology

Phil Fontaine has had a year to reflect since he heard an apology from the head of the Roman Catholic Church, something the former Assembly of First Nations national chief fought much of his life to have delivered on Canadian soil.

Pope Francis said he was sorry for the Roman Catholic Church's role in the cultural destruction and forced assimilation of Indigenous people, which culminated in residential schools. An estimated 150,000 Indigenous children were forced to attend residential schools. More than 60 per cent of the schools were run by the Catholic Church.

"We received the apology each in our own way as individuals," Fontaine says. "And we decide as individuals whether we want to forgive." Pope Francis asked Canadian Catholics to commit to four things: to ensure history is told in a truthful way; to support Indigenous language, culture and traditions; to be an ally in the pursuit of justice; and to appreciate Indigenous wisdom to care for the land and environment.Bolen reflected on what the church accomplished in the last 12 months. Many dioceses, including his own, have been working on providing access to archives.

Gareau, who is Metis and from the Batoche Homeland in Saskatchewan, says he felt "gobsmacked" watching Francis participating in the Lac Ste. Anne pilgrimage wearing a red Metis sash around his neck.

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