Pope Francis has admitted to a group of journalists that what has happened to Aboriginal Peoples in Canada, and dare I say in America, The South Asian continents and Africa was a form of “genocide”.
A deliberate plan had been formed hundreds of years ago, during the time of mass European Colonization. A plan on how European Authorities, with the help of the “Church” would force Aboriginal Peoples to be transformed into petit models of Europeans culturally, religiously and socially. The authorities realized that while the elderly would pass in time, the young were prime candidates for assimilation, transformation and education. into the colonist’s image.
We all know by now how this was done. Take the children to residential schools far from their communities. Isolate the communities on desolate unwanted lands. Limit any governmental investment in the betterment of the Aboriginal Community, so that through time members would leave their reservations and enter the greater population. Those who stayed on reservations lacked proper contemporary education, housing, training in the trades, control of their lands and even clean drinkable water to this very day.
Genocide is defined as the deliberate and systematic destruction of a racial, political or cultural group. The Aboriginal Peoples of the global have more in common with the Armenian Diaspora(who suffered a genocide) than the average American, Australian or New Zealander. Where ever a first nation existed, colonial oppression did happen, leaving deep historical scars within contemporary Aboriginal Families and Communities.
So while Pope Francis, as head of The Vatican and the Catholic Church did speak these words, calling historical wrongs done to the native peoples of Canada a genocide, we need to ask ourselves where this will proceed. What will the Church do to rectify the wrongs done over hundreds of years? Is the Church responsible for what happened centuries ago in partnership with the colonial and present-day governments? Like the process of treaty management, this can be answered over time. The religious authorities of The Anglican and Catholic Churches, with present-day governments, could take their time as they have done in the past. More survivors of the residential schools will pass away. Money will be offered in time and the surviving offspring will snatch what is offered up quickly. Money is money after all. What about justice for those oppressed, assaulted, manipulated and wounded? I think it depends on how much money is offered. These past decades both churches have shown to the world how lack lusted their efforts were to seek justice for those sexually assaulted by clergy. A process of ignoring accusations, denying involvement, hiding the accused, offering limited services to the victims and finally accepting the role of the police. If an accusation is presented, the clergy are required to go to the police.
That is of course good, but the victim often stands alone, while the predator/accused has the moral and financial resources of the most powerful organization in the world.
Plans should be devised by now on how a partnership between the Aboriginal Community and the Canadian Government will respond to the church’s future offers of compensation. No plans from the church have been given as of yet. Lawyers representing the church are surely hard at work trying to find a way to avoid the ultimate financial inquisition that is coming. The Catholic Church has paid out @$4 Billion for its part in global sexual allegations levied against the church since the 1980s. There are presently Nearly 1,700 priests and other clergy considered as credibly accused of sexual abuse living under the radar with little or no oversight from the religious authorities or law enforcement. The average legal penalty they may be charged of sexual assault is 2-5 years, and they are often released on their organization’s recognizance.
The 1st Nations of this land and many others must prepare for the ultimate challenge to come. What do you want from your abuser? What level of justice do you demand? The pressure is upon your shoulders as it has been for all time. Choice wisely, intelligently with an open heart and seek your place within this world. Seek and take what is truly yours.
Steven Kaszab
Bradford, Ontario
[email protected]
