A picture taken during the Pope's visit to Lac Ste. Anne. (Submitted/Jim Lemaigre)

By Nigel Maxwell

Historical events

Northern Sask. MLA reflects on trip to see Pope

Jul 29, 2022 | 1:00 PM

An MLA from northern Saskatchewan is describing his experience seeing the Pope this week as highly emotional.

Jim Lemaigre, MLA for Athabasca, and a few dozen residents from his constituency were among those in attendance at Lac Ste. Anne, west of Edmonton. The trip was organized by Metis Nation — Saskatchewan.

“Seeing some of the people there, the emotions were raw as people digested the apology. This was a long time coming for a lot of people,” Lemaigre explained, when speaking with paNOW on Thursday.

With respect to his own thoughts and feelings seeing the Pope, Lemaigre said his mind wandered to thoughts of his father and other family family members who had attended residential schools.

He also explained his role in the trip was to help and support his constituents, many of whom attended residential schools and suffered varying degrees of physical and emotional abuse, and “listen when they wanted to talk,” he said.

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Jim Lemaigre made a short stop in Prince Albert on Thursday. (Nigel Maxwell/paNOW Staff)

With respect to the Pope’s apology, Lemaigre acknowledged that it resonated with him, adding the best way to acknowledge when a wrong had been committed is to take responsibility for it and apologize.

“To me the church did that and we’ve seen over history there have been gestures in improving the relationship, but to actually have the head of the Catholic Church come to Canada and to apologize and to take ownership for us to move on, I think it was felt and resonated as I watched people show their emotions,” Lemaigre said

It’s no coincidence the Pope chose to visit the area near Lac. Ste. Ann to make his apology, knowing the spiritual and healing significance the site represents for Indigenous people, and thousands of people attend every year as part of an annual pilgrimage.

Moving forward, Lemaigre explained everybody who attended residential school had different experiences, whether it’s generational or other, and so will have to process this apology on their own.

“Everybody is at a different level in their healing journey but I think this is a step forward that would show people that the church is serious about repairing the relationship,” he said.

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nigel.maxwell@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @nigelmaxwell