Manitoba Mtis Federation president to ask Pope to revitalize churches in Mtis communities

The president of the Manitoba Mtis Federation (MMF) says itwill haveitsownmeeting with the Pope, separate from theMtisNational Council (MNC), andplanstoaskfor a revitalization of churches in Mtis communities.

"Come back into our communities again, revive the churches, because our people need to have faith, our people need to have a place to be a place to go," said MMF president David Chartrand.

"There are people out there mentally stressing out and struggling. We're still very strong believers in Christianity and the whole issue of the Catholic Church."

In two weeks, the Assembly of First Nations, Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami, and the MNCare scheduled tomeetwith the Pope.

Chartrand said the MMF will have its own 40 member delegation separate fromtheMNCandwill get an opportunity to meet with Pope Francis.

He said many of the churchesin Mtis communities are losing members and he's concerned with how difficult it is to find priests to officiate atfunerals, weddings and regular church services.

"I will be taking my message to the Pope not to give up on us and we won't give up on him," he said.

As a child, Chartrand attended a day school in his home community of Duck Bay, Man., and said he was strapped and physically abused by nuns for speaking Saulteaux.

He saidMtis communities have a longstanding relationship with the Catholic church and that he "has no doubt" the Pope will apologize for what has happened to Indigenous people in Canada in regards to residential schools and day schools.

Chartrand saidhe would still like for abusers from the church to be held accountable.

"I would remind him of those individuals that represent the church, what they did to people, and they did so much damage," he said.

MMF to ask for Manitoba visit

Anotherof Chartrand'spriorities during his trip to the Vatican will be to try and convince Pope Francis to visit Manitoba and more specifically, the gravesite of Mtis leader Louis Riel.

"I want to bring them to the gravesite of Louis Riel, given Riel believed so much in the church and I'm going to ask them to come to bless Riel's gravesite."

Desiree Orvis, one of the MMF's youth delegates, has grown up in the church and is also a fancy shawl powwow dancer.

"It's a great big honour," she said.

"It's giving me the chance to represent my family and Indigenous youth."

She said shewould like to gift the Vatican a Mtis sash.

MNC President Cassidy Caronsaid theorganization plansto tell the Popeabout the experiences that Mtis peoplehad atresidential and day schools.

"We decided that the best way to spend our one hour with the Pope was to share the stories of the Mtis nation and the direct impacts and experiences from Mtis residential and day school survivors, what their unique experiences were and the impact of residential and day schools on our Mtis communities," said Caron.

The MMF's delegation will be at the Vatican from Dec. 14 -21 and iswaiting fordetails on whatday and time they will be meeting with the Pope.