Pope to Ft. Simpson before '89

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Indications are that Pope John Paul will keep his often-repeated promise to return to the Northwest Territories before 1989.

Almost three years have passed since his September 1984 Canadian tour.

In '84, the Pope was scheduled to visit Fort Simpson. People of all ages, including many Elders, made the trek to Fort Simpson to catch a glimpse of the religious leader. But heavy fog prevented flights in or out of the tiny community, and the Papal tour stopped, instead, in Yellowknife.

There was, and still is, much disappointment. But the Pope has often said he intends to make it to Fort Simpson some day. Still, many Elders have died since, others will not make it through to the return visit, says Albertine Rodh, a Metis member of the papal visit committee.

Meanwhile, Native delegations have been visiting the pontiff in Rome, most recently on May 7.

Vatican sources now say the Pope will spend a half day at Fort Simpson in 1988. No other community stopovers are expected.

Overtures by Jim Sinclair of the Metis National Council, which represents the western provinces, to have him visit Batoche, Saskatchewan have failed, according to Bernard Daly, a spokesman for the Conference of Bishops.

Batoche, the site of an armed Metis-Indian resistance in 1885, has historical significance for the Metis.

Daly, in an interview from Ottawa, said "the Vatican informed us yesterday (May 8) that the Pope has only committed to visit Fort Simpson sometime before the end of 1988."