Native rights supported

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In a moving speech to about 5,000 people gathered in Fort Simpson on the banks of the McKenzie River, Pope John Paul II told his Native followers they are entitled to self-government.

The Pope reconfirmed his earlier statements made in his last visit to Canada in 1984 when he fully endorsed Aboriginal rights.

"I pray with you that a new round of conferences will benefit and that, with God's guidance and help, a path to a just agreement will be found to crown all the efforts being made," said the Pope.

His speech surprised many spectators because it deviated from teh prepared speech that had been circulated before his arrival. The Pope added an extra paragraph fully endorsing self-government for Indian, Inuit and Metis people and urging the government to return to the bargaining table with Native leaders.

The Pope made the speech after meeting with Native leaders and representatives. Sam Sinclair, former president of the Metis Association of Alberta represented both the MAA as an Elder and the Metis National Council. Saskatchewan's Jim Sinclair also represented the MNC, Georges Erasmus represented the Assembly of First Nations and Louis (Smokey) Bruyere the Native Council of Canada.

The speech pleased the Native leaders in attendance. But, Bruyere felt the speech would not have nay effect on the federal government, though it may influence the more than 12 million Canadian Catholics.

Metis National Council representative, Jim Sinclair said he too was pleased with the speech, but felt it didn't go far enough.

"You have to remember the Pope received letters from all Native leaders and the government of Canada. (Bill) McKnight, (Minister of Indian Affairs) had a part in that speech," he said.

However, Sinclair fears the attention the Pope's speech had drawn will soon be forgotten by an uncaring federal government because the Meech Lake agreement will make it almost impossible for Aboriginal peoples to get the right to self-government entrenched in the Constitution.

"The government has dealt with Quebec and with the provinces, but Aboriginal people have been lost in the shuffle," he said.

The only criticism the leaders had with the Pope's speech was the fact that the pontiff did not apologize for the mistreatment of Native people by the church in the last century. The United Church recently made amends for similar short sightedness by its missionaries.

"I feel the Pope should have apologized," said Georges Erasmus. "The church caused a lot of misery. They outlawed the drum ... we were called pagans," he said.

In visiting Fort Simpson Sept. 20, the Pope fulfilled a promise to return after his 1984 visit was cancelled due to bad weather. The Pope also fulfilled promises made to Aboriginal leaders asking for his support of Aboriginal rights.