The Government of Yukon is offering $180,000 in funding to support eligible Yukon First Nations and transboundary Indigenous governments and groups who wish to send a delegation to attend the Papal visit to Canada later this month.
Pope Francis will travel to Alberta, Quebec and Nunavut from July 24 to 29, 2022. It is expected that during his visit, the Pope will expand on an apology delivered from the Vatican last spring for the role of the Roman Catholic Church in residential schools.
The funding will support Yukon First Nations and transboundary Indigenous governments and groups whose children attended residential schools in the Yukon and British Columbia. The funding will be offered as a reimbursement for expenses, up to $10,000 per eligible Indigenous government or group.
Students from Yukon First Nations and transboundary Indigenous governments and groups attended five residential schools in the Yukon and one in British Columbia: Chooutla Residential School, Coudert Hall (predecessor to Yukon Hall), Whitehorse Baptist Mission, Shingle Point School (predecessor to All Saints in Aklavik), St. Paul’s Hostel and Lower Post Residential School in British Columbia.
The Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s 58th Call to Action is the need for a Papal apology for the Roman Catholic Church’s role in residential schools in Canada. The Papal visit to Canada is an important opportunity for Yukon First Nations and transboundary Indigenous groups to advance healing and see first-hand the Roman Catholic Church be held accountable for the atrocities that residential schools inflicted on Indigenous people across the country, including here in the Yukon.
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Funding is available to each of the 14 Yukon First Nations and four transboundary Indigenous governments and groups whose children attended residential schools in the Yukon – the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation, Taku River Tlingit First Nation, Daylu Dena Council and the Gwich’in Tribal Council.
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To improve accessibility, the events and comments will be translated into Indigenous languages.
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The Indian Residential Schools Resolution Health Support Program hotline remains available to help residential school survivors and their relatives suffering trauma invoked by the recall of past abuse. The number is 1-866-925-4419. Visit Indigenous Services Canada to learn more about the program.
Jacob Wilson
Cabinet Communications
867-332-7627
jacob.wilson@yukon.ca
Rachel Veinott-McKeough
Communications, Executive Council Office Aboriginal Relations
780-916-6995
rachel.veinott-mckeough@yukon.ca