President Pruden to Attend Inaugural Mass of Pope Leo XIV, Calls for Return of Métis Artifacts from Vatican Museum
OTTAWA, ON, May 15, 2025 /CNW/ - President Victoria Pruden of the Métis National Council (MNC) will travel with the Canadian Delegation to Vatican City this Sunday to attend the inaugural Mass of His Holiness Pope Leo XIV.
As the Catholic Church enters a new chapter, the MNC is renewing its call for the return of Métis cultural artifacts held in the Vatican's Anima Mundi Museum. These items are not simply historical objects, they are part of the living identity, memory, and spirit of the Métis Nation.
"We are asking the Vatican to work with Métis knowledge-keepers, historians, and experts to identify which items in their collection belong to our people and to return them," said President Pruden. "These artifacts were taken during eras of profound injustice. Their return is an essential step in advancing reconciliation and repairing the deep harms caused by colonial policies, including the role the Church played in the residential school system."
President Pruden emphasized that the legacy of residential schools continues to affect generations of Métis families. "Many of our Survivors are still waiting for justice. Others have already passed without seeing the Church live up to its responsibilities. Returning these sacred items would be a concrete act of accountability, one that aligns with the Church's rejection of the Doctrine of Discovery and its stated support for the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples."
The MNC stands ready to engage in this work in partnership with the Catholic Church, the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops, and Indigenous leaders across the country.
Since 1983, the Métis National Council has been the national and international voice of the Métis Nation within Canada. Through national research and policy development, the MNC advocates to advance the rights and interests of Métis Governments, including the implementation of the Métis Nation's inherent right to self-determination and self-government. The MNC is committed to accountability and transparency within its operations, and to its relationships with its Governing Members and other partners.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Winnipeg Free Press
an hour ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
Alberta resumes buying U.S. alcohol, months after pause meant to fight tariffs
EDMONTON – Alberta is buying American alcohol and gambling machines again, three months after Premier Danielle Smith announced restrictions aimed at fighting back against U.S. tariffs. Service Alberta Minister Dale Nally says the move signals a 'renewed commitment to open and fair trade' with the United States. Smith said in March that the province would no longer buy U.S. alcohol and video lottery terminals, or sign contracts with American companies. That came a day after U.S. President Donald Trump slapped heavy tariffs on Canadian goods and energy. Nally says the decision to resume buying U.S. alcohol and gambling machines 'sets the stage for more constructive negotiations' ahead of a renewal of the Canada-U.S.-Mexico trade agreement. The minister says Albertans are encouraged to continue supporting local producers, even as more U.S. options return to store shelves. Nally said in April that the province was pausing its policy around procurement from U.S. companies 'in the spirit of diplomacy.' Monday Mornings The latest local business news and a lookahead to the coming week. He said since the province's retaliatory measures were first announced in early March, the Trump administration had put a hold on further tariffs. This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 6, 2025.
Toronto Star
5 hours ago
- Toronto Star
Carney defends inviting Modi to G7 as probe of Nijjar's killing continues
OTTAWA - Prime Minister Mark Carney is defending his decision to invite Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the G7 summit later this month — despite the fact that security officials have linked Modi's government to the murder of a Canadian man two years ago. Carney extended the invitation to Modi during a phone call Friday morning and Modi accepted. The summit runs from June 15 to 17 in Kananaskis, Alta. During a Friday afternoon press conference on Parliament Hill, Carney said that the G7 summit will focus on forging partnerships with emerging and developing nations. He said it makes sense to have India at the table because it's one of the world's largest economies and plays a key role in global supply chains. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW 'Bilaterally, we have now agreed importantly to continued law enforcement dialogue. So there's been some progress on that. That recognizes issues of accountability,' Carney said. 'I extended the invitation to Prime Minister Modi in that context and he has accepted.' 'As vibrant democracies bound by deep people-to-people ties, India and Canada will work together with renewed vigour, guided by mutual respect and shared interests. Look forward to our meeting at the summit,' Modi said in a social media statement. Modi's comment did not mention the 'law enforcement dialogue' cited by Carney. India's ministry of external affairs issued a statement Friday with similar wording to Modi's comment. Both congratulated Carney on his recent electoral victory. The invitation prompted an angry reaction from the World Sikh Organization of Canada, which wrote to Carney in May asking him not to invite Modi. Tensions have been high between Canada and India since then-prime minister Justin Trudeau told the House of Commons in September 2023 that 'agents of the Indian government' had been linked to the murder of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Canadian activist for Sikh separatism shot to death outside a gurdwara in Surrey, B.C., in June 2023. Balpreet Singh, legal counsel and spokesman for the World Sikh Organization of Canada, said Carney's invitation to Modi is a 'betrayal of Canadian values.' ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW 'The summit to which Mr. Modi is being invited falls on the anniversary of the assassination of Hardeep Singh Nijjar two years ago,' he said. 'So for us, this is unacceptable, it's shocking and it's a complete reversal of the principled stand that Prime Minister Trudeau had taken.' At the time of his death, Nijjar was organizing a non-binding referendum in Canada on establishing a Sikh state in Punjab, to be called Khalistan. The Indian government rejected Trudeau's accusation and said Canada was supporting 'Khalistani terrorists.' In May 2024, four Indian nationals were arrested and charged in connection with Nijjar's death. In October 2024, the RCMP said it had evidence linking agents of India's government to homicides and other criminal acts in Canada, including coercion and extortion. Soon after, the federal government announced it had expelled six Indian diplomats and consular officials in relation to what it called 'a targeted campaign against Canadian citizens by agents linked to the Government of India.' ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW In a media statement, Global Affairs Canada said it had asked India to waive diplomatic and consular immunities 'and to co-operate in the investigation,' but India declined. India responded in kind by expelling six diplomats, including Canada's high commissioner. On Oct. 17, 2024, the U.S. Justice Department announced criminal charges against an Indian government employee in connection with an alleged foiled murder-for-hire plot targeting a Sikh separatist leader in New York City. Asked about his decision to invite Modi as unanswered questions remain about Nijjar's death, Carney said that it's never appropriate for a leader to talk about a legal process while it is ongoing. Singh said that the World Sikh Organization wrote Carney a letter on May 21 asking that Modi not be invited to the G7. While India is not a G7 member, the country has been invited to the summit by the host nation every year since 2019. 'We didn't want to make this into a public issue but there was no response. There was no acknowledgment of receipt. But this is, it really boggles the mind,' Singh said. 'How can a country that has engaged in criminal operations in Canada, which is engaged in multiple murders, extortions, receive a red-carpet welcome?' ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW When asked what his message is for people who are worried about Modi's invitation, Carney said the 'rule of law is proceeding as it should in Canada, and I am not going to disrupt that process.' Naresh Raghubeer, a Canada-India relations expert, said that it's important for Carney to attempt to reset the relationship with the Modi government. 'Let policing matters be dealt with at the policing level, and bilateral relationships that transcend those other matters should be dealt with bilaterally. They're more important considerations,' Raghubeer said. 'I think at the end of the day, a relationship with the world's fourth largest economy, the world's most populous nation, a democratic ally that shares our values, is quite important.' Last week, former prime minister Stephen Harper urged Canada to forge a new path with India during a speech at an event in Brampton, Ont. During a press conference, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre said 'we need to work with India and other countries on trade and security.' ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW 'So we as Conservatives understand that the invitation is necessary and that we want to see the government work on addressing security issues at the same time as they have when the prime minister has those conversations with the Prime Minster Modi,' Poilievre added. During the final days of the federal election campaign, former NDP leader Jagmeet Singh said that in December 2023 he was put under heavy police protection due to a credible threat to his life. He said the RCMP did not identify a specific source for the threat but the implication was that it originated with a foreign government. NDP national security critic Jenny Kwan and foreign affairs critic Heather McPherson condemned the invitation in a joint statement and said they stand with the Sikh community. 'Canadians expect the government to stand in solidarity with Canadians who have expressed their concerns about the (Bharatiya Janata Party) government's record and human rights violations in India,' said McPherson. 'Some of these Canadians live in fear of threat of reprisal against themselves and their families. Canada must stand on the side of human rights, justice, and accountability not diplomatic expediency.' ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW Kwan said that the government 'must explain how justice and human rights are being upheld through this invitation.' Balpreet Singh said the World Sikh Organization doesn't plan on sending further correspondence to the prime minister about Modi's invitation. 'What's the point? I mean, we sent something out on May 21 and received no response,' he said. 'And clearly, our voices don't matter to him.' Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum are among the other non-member world leaders invited to the summit. As of May 28, Sheinbaum had not said whether she would attend. — With files from The Associated Press This report was first published by The Canadian Press on June 6, 2025. Politics Headlines Newsletter Get the latest news and unmatched insights in your inbox every evening Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. Please enter a valid email address. Sign Up Yes, I'd also like to receive customized content suggestions and promotional messages from the Star. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Politics Headlines Newsletter You're signed up! You'll start getting Politics Headlines in your inbox soon. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page.
Winnipeg Free Press
6 hours ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
UN ambassador travels to Peguis to learn about repeated floods
Canada's ambassador to the United Nations has promised Peguis First Nation he will convey their concerns about repeated flooding to the Manitoba and federal governments. Bob Rae, who went to the flood-prone community this week as part of his role as president of the United Nations Economic and Social Council, said he was shown examples of buildings that had been damaged by flooding as well as destruction from a wildfire this spring. 'They've got this challenge of basically living on a flood plain and there has been a lot of flooding in the past 20 years,' Rae said about the community 170 kilometres north of Winnipeg. SUPPLIED UN Ambassador Bob Rae (left) with Peguis First Nation Chief Stan Bird. 'It keeps happening consistently. So they are looking for some longer term solutions, which we talked about in broad terms. I was interested in listening to the expertise of a number of experts and people who have been working with the community for some time. 'I committed to sharing what I saw and what I heard with both the government of Manitoba and the government of Canada… I think we're going to just try to see if we can find some solutions that point the way to where things should go.' Rae, a former premier of Ontario, interim leader of the federal Liberal party, and both a longtime federal MP and Ontario MPP, was appointed ambassador to the United Nations by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in 2020. Rae was elected president of the UN council last year, only the second Canadian to hold the position, and only the third Canadian — former prime minister Lester Pearson was one — to be chosen in their personal capacity to preside over a UN Charter body. Rae said he has an interest in Indigenous issues, noting that earlier in his career, from 2013 to 2018, he was chief negotiator for the Matawa Tribal Council in northern Ontario, which represents nine First Nations. He said that's why when he met Mike Sutherland, the director of consultation and special projects at Peguis, at the UN's Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues last month, he agreed to travel to the community. 'It was important for me to see it,' Rae said. 'There is nothing like being there first-hand.' Rae was told about several past floods in the Peguis, including in 2009, when 3,000 people were evacuated and there was $40 million in damage; and in 2010, when 300 homes were damaged and most residents were forced to leave. Rae noted flooding has been occurring for decades and the community has commissioned several studies on how to prevent them. He was intrigued by how the community was located in that area. Rae said the community had been near Selkirk, on 'prime farmland,' until 1906, more than 30 years after a treaty was signed, 'they were moved off it there and basically forcibly displaced.' SUPPLIED A destroyed home is seen on the Peguis First Nation. 'Where they are now is in a very low-lying territory and when the rivers overflow there are serious challenges… they have a lot of expert advisers, reputable engineering firms of significant experience, and I think they are pointing the way to some practical solutions.' He said that must guide discussions with both levels of government on how to mitigate flooding. Sundays Kevin Rollason's Sunday newsletter honouring and remembering lives well-lived in Manitoba. 'It is not for me to dictate the solutions. It is just for me to do this role in a way that allows people to come up with some responses.' Peguis Chief Stan Bird was unavailable for comment. In a statement, the band said both Bird and the band council 'spoke openly (to Rae) about the human rights violations that continue to impact Peguis, from repeated evacuations to unsafe housing and inadequate infrastructure.' 'Ambassador Rae listened with great empathy and engaged in meaningful dialogue about the need for justice and long-term solutions… we are grateful for his visit, his willingness to listen, and his commitment to sharing our story on the world stage.' Kevin RollasonReporter Kevin Rollason is a general assignment reporter at the Free Press. He graduated from Western University with a Masters of Journalism in 1985 and worked at the Winnipeg Sun until 1988, when he joined the Free Press. He has served as the Free Press's city hall and law courts reporter and has won several awards, including a National Newspaper Award. Read more about Kevin. Every piece of reporting Kevin produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the Free Press's tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press's history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates. Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber. Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.
