And now:[EMAIL PROTECTED] (S.I.S.I.S.) writes: NATIVE LEADER HOLDS SECRET MEETING WITH POPE Canadian Press, January 10, 1998 [S.I.S.I.S. note: The following mainstream news article may contain biased or distorted information and may be missing pertinent facts and/or context. It is provided for reference only.] REGINA (CP) - Canada's top native leader had a private audience with the Pope to lay groundwork for further talks about Canadas aboriginal people. A source told The Canadian Press that Assembly of First Nations Grand Chief Phil Fontaine met with John Paul at the Vatican on Dec. 2. The source would not reveal what was discussed, except to say the meeting was to pave the way for a more formal, detailed discussion in the future. A Vatican spokeswoman in Ottawa confirmed the meeting but said a date hasn't been set for any future meetings. Fontaine was to have met with the Pope in November. The meeting was abruptly cancelled after it was reported Fontaine intended to appeal for an apology and financial compensation from the Roman Catholic Church for its role in Canadas residential school system. Fontaine was one of the first Indian leaders to go public almost 10 years ago with his story of the sexual and physical abuse he endured at a Manitoba school run by the Catholic church. More than 1,400 former students have filed lawsuits against the federal government alleging sexual and physical abuse at the more than 80 residential schools that existed in almost every province. The last ones were shut down in the mid 1980s. "One of the great strengths of Canada and Saskatchewan is the co-operative relationship First Nations and other aboriginal leaders have shown in the last years, recognizing that history has been very difficult for them," said Saskatchewan Aboriginal Affairs Minister Berny Wiens. "But they want to move on to create a new and positive future. So I'm encouraged that Phil has had that meeting and wish he and the church well in their future discussions." :-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-: In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. section 107, this material is distributed without profit or payment to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving this information for non-profit research and educational purposes only.
