Inuvialuit corp. declines Iqaluit papal invite because it's 'unclear if a formal apology will be made'

The Inuvialuit Regional Corporationwill not be attending the papal visit to Iqaluit and instead invited the church and the Canadian Catholic Bishops to "reflect upon their role in the colonization of Inuvialuit Nunangat," the Inuvialuit homeland.

In a news release, the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation (IRC) said itrespectfully declined the invitation to attend the event scheduled forJuly 29,"as it remains unclear if a formal apology will be made or not."

The Roman Catholic Church operated three residential schools in the Inuvialuit Settlement Region, according to the corporation, including the notorious Grollier Hall residence in Inuvik and the Immaculate Conception hostel and day school in Aklavik.

In a private meeting with the Pope in the Vatican in late March,Natan Obed, a national Inuit leader and president of Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami,called for specific actions including the Pope delivering an apology in Canada. Obed also called for theCanadian Catholic Bishops to follow itslegal obligations under the Indian Residential Schools Settlement Agreement, whichincludes paying$25 million in financial restitution to survivors of residential school.

The settlement also requires the church to provideimmediate access to relevant documentsthat are necessary to identify Inuit children who may have died while at residential schoolsand who need to be "posthumously reunited with their families and communities."

The IRC said itrecognizes the papal visit, butwill withhold any involvement "while the church continues to withhold any settlement payments, despite promises made in the Indian Residential School Settlement Agreement."

"Inuvialuit continue to bear the burden of intergenerational trauma stemming from residential schools and will never forget these atrocities," the IRC release said.

The IRCsaid it would expect a commitment from the church to work closely with Inuvialuiton a real approach to reconciliation.

The press release said the IRCunderstandssome Inuvialuit will attend the events as part of the papal visit.

"While not participating itself, IRC wishes Inuvialuit survivors and families healing as they continue their journey."