Thread by @AdamPOlsen

I've read the stories describing the apology tour of Pope Francis. On Monday after his first visit near Edmonton I decided to comment after the saga had unfolded. It was an emotional week for so many!
1/ #PopeFrancis #Canada #residentialschools #truthandreconciliation

We heard apologies, pleading forgiveness, more apologies, recognition of "cultural destruction" and finally on the flight home #PopeFrancis said "yes, it was a genocide, yes, yes, clearly. You can say that I said it was a genocide."
2/ #residentialschools
theglobeandmail.com/world/article-…

The genocide was justified by the #DoctrineOfDiscovery & while #PopeFrancis, #CatholicChurch, & Crown gov'ts are reluctant to rescind it, the actions I witnessed against the #Wetsuweten in their own territory are empowered by the Doctrine.
3/ #bcpoli #cdnpoli @bcndp @BCNDPCaucus

The Doctrine has meaning and it was used as a weapon of mass destruction against my ancestors by the Church & Crown gov'ts. If it's kept in the past tense, then everyone's absolved of responsibility. It's not past tense.
4/ #bcpoli #cdnpoli #DoctrineOfDiscovery #PopeFrancis

While @BCNDPCaucus sit on their hands, it's the source of power used by @bcndp gov't to continue the same use of force & mass destruction (raze forests, lay waste to land & water, gaslight #Indigenous people into submission) as the gov'ts before w/ the same excuses.
5/ #bcpoli

The Indian Act, Indian Reserves, #residentialschools & day schools, so-called resource benefits agreements. The land conflict. All flow from #DoctrineOfDiscovery and yet according to Church & Crown gov'ts, it doesn't really mean much.
6/ #bcpoli #cdnpoli #truthandreconciliation

If the #DoctrineOfDiscovery doesn't really mean much then get rid of it. Reluctant? Why? Because, maybe it is actually everything. The Doctrine is one of the many symbols of power of the Church and Crown gov'ts.
7/ #bcpoli #cdnpoli #PopeFrancis

Pulling on that thread undermines the power & exposes the lies that are the foundation that colonial and modern #BritishColumbia and #Canada have been built on. Calls into question the incredible wealth that has been accumulated.
8/ #bcpoli #cdnpoli #PopeFrancis

What follows the admissions & apologies?
How about @Pontifex start here:
Return the sacred #Indigenous items in the basement.
Redistribute the wealth that are the proceeds of genocide.
Turn over the records.
Be accountable.
9/ #bcpoli #cdnpoli #PopeFrancis #Justice

The @bcndp & @BCNDPCaucus say their different Time they show us.
Stop using injunctions & #RCMP to enforce corporate interests over #Indigenous constitutional rights.
Stop #deforestation.
Stop #Fracking.
Stop bldg #fossilfuel pipelines.
Protect #biodiversity.
10/10 #bcpoli