The Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations Executive says it demands the Catholic Church and Pope Francis apologize for the wrongs and genocide committed in residential schools against the First Nations people and generations of First Nations children at the hands of their church.

FSIN Chief Bobby Cameron says, “This was genocide, and it should be acknowledged as such by the perpetrators, the Church, the Government, and the RCMP.” He says. “Survivors and their families deserve an apology for the wrongs committed against them during decades of abuse at federally and church-run residential schools”

Cameron says they must also preserve and release all residential school records, so that true reconciliation and healing can begin and the United Nations can conduct an investigation. He says litigation against the release of these records contradicts Canada’s claim that their most important relationship is with the First Peoples of these lands.

The executive wants survivors and their families, Elders, and knowledge keepers to write the Catholic Church, Pope Francis, Canada, the RCMP and all other institutions involved with Residential Schools to preserve and release the records to the public.