Métis delegates were touched by their meeting with Pope Francis on Monday. Angie Crerar, a Métis knowledge keeper and elder, from Grande Prairie, and Gary Gagnon, Métis Rome delegate and educator from Edmonton, speak about the emotional and powerful recent hour-long encounter they shared with Pope Francis inside the Vatican on Monday morning.

Living in the Word is a series of bi-weekly reflections on Holy Scriptures by Priest and Religious in the Archdiocese of Edmonton.

Chief Wilton \'Willie\' Littlechild, of the Ermineskin First Nation, is a former Treaty Six Nations grand chief and former commissioner of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. Chief Littlechild has worked with the United Nations for more than 40 years advocating for indigenous peoples. He is a survivor of residential school. Chief Littlechild will be among the delegates traveling to Vatican City on March 28 to meet with His Holiness Pope Francis as part of national healing and reconciliation efforts.

Over the past months, our country has become keenly aware of the hardship and trauma endured by many Indigenous Peoples in this land, much of it stemming from the legacy of residential schools. We cannot erase history, but we can look forward to – and help create – a better…

We sat down with Fr. Cristino Bouvette of the Catholic Diocese of Calgary a couple months ago to talk about how we define reconciliation, and to learn from his unique perspective as a indigenous Catholic priest.

“We were taught the Church was universal. My parents taught us to love, to be united as a family, that the family that prays together stays together,” Angie recalled. “And the people who taught that same religion also changed my life forever – so it’s hard for me. But what’s most important is not what happened back then, it’s where we are today. To learn to forgive, it’s been a real challenge. But the love of my children, my husband and my friends is what has guided me… I know now it’s time for me to heal. I have to cross that line.”