Indigenous dancer from Saskatchewan reflects on emotional Vatican experience

Kevin Haywahe has danced for many audiences around the world over the years, but says his recent trip to the Vatican was one to remember.

Haywahe, a member of the Carry the Kettle Nakoda Nation in Saskatchewan, dancedduring the historic meeting between Pope Francis and Indigenous Peoples who had travelled from Canada toaskfor an apology for the Church's role in Residential Schools.

Haywahe said that during his dance, he locked eyes with the Pope and believes he saw tears.

"It was very spiritual, very emotional. Another veryepic moment there, historic moment," Haywahe said. "I wanted to make them feel that spirit of our people, which it did."

Haywahe saidtheemotional scene helped lift the skepticismsome Indigenous elders had during the trip, and their concerns that the Pope wasn't actually going to apologize. Sure enough, the next day Pope Francis apologizedand told the group he plans to come to Canada in September.

The Pontiffapologized for the role of some members of theRoman Catholic Church,but not the church's overall involvement in creating the residential school system. Still, many believe thevisit was an important step in the reconciliation journey of people who've suffered abuse andintergenerational trauma due to residential schools in Canada.

WatchHaywahe performing in the Vatican for the Pope:

Indigenous dancer from Saskatchewan performs for Pope

2 years ago

Duration 3:34

Kevin Haywahe from Carry the Kettle Nakoda Nation danced in the Vatican for the Pope and survivors of residential schools.

Many of Haywahe's family members were forced to attend residential schools. He himselfattended the Sacred Heart Day School in Montmartre, Sask. He said thatas he danced at the Vatican, he prayed to God for direction, and for the priests and bishops to understand the pain his ancestors went through during their years at the school and beyond.

"Tome, in his eyes, he felt that pain. He felt thehumility of it," Haywahe said.

To me, in his eyes, he felt that pain. He felt the humility of it."- Kevin Haywahe, Indigenous Dancer

Haywahewasinvited to travel to Rome as part of a delegation with the Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations. At the Vatican, he performed a northern traditional warrior dance, one he's knownsince he was a young boy.

The FSINposted about the dance on its Facebook page, saying Haywahe"was dancing forevery residential school survivor in that room, and around the world, that needed to hear the drum and heal that morning." Italso thanked Haywahefor allowing peopleto witness "the most powerful message ever delivered to the church that committed genocide upon our people for generations."

Haywahe said thatwhen the dance was over, he didn't feel like he needed to shake the Pope's hand, as some of the others hand done.

"The spirit was there. The spirit of our Creator and our relatives. Each and every one," Haywahe said. "We're now in a process of a healing journey. He is at the beginning of it."