[ti:Pope Francis Visits Canada for Apology to Native Peoples] [by:www.51voa.com] [00:00.00]更多听力请访问51VOA.COM [00:00.04]Pope Francis visited a small community in the Canadian province [00:04.76]of Alberta on Monday to offer an apology [00:08.84]for the Roman Catholic Church's mistreatment of native people. [00:14.32]The main native groups of Canada [00:17.60]include the Metis, First Nation and Inuit. [00:22.92]The apology was described as "long-awaited." [00:28.36]Francis is following through on a decision he made last April. [00:33.56]That is when a group of indigenous people [00:36.92]went to the Vatican to speak with the church leader. [00:41.48]After the meeting, the Pope called [00:45.16]the treatment of Canada's native people "deplorable," [00:49.96]and asked for forgiveness and promised to make his July visit. [00:57.48]When he arrived at the event in the small community of Maskwacis, [01:02.36]he said: "I humbly beg forgiveness for the evil [01:06.84]committed by so many Christians against the Indigenous peoples." [01:12.80]The Pope spoke in his native language of Spanish [01:16.88]and his words were translated into English. [01:20.68]Many of those in attendance wore traditional clothing [01:24.72]decorated with beads and feathered head coverings. [01:29.72]The Pope arrived in a wheelchair and watched [01:33.24]traditional songs and dances from a raised platform. [01:38.92]Maskwacis is the location [01:42.08]where the Ermineskin Indian Residential School once stood. [01:48.04]It is about 100 kilometers south of the city of Edmonton, Alberta. [01:55.40]The schools were set up by Roman Catholic missionaries [01:59.40]to educate the children of indigenous groups in Canada. [02:03.64]Missionaries are religious people who go to other countries [02:08.48]and try to get people to join their religion. [02:12.52]In their work, the missionaries set up religious schools [02:16.92]that operated for about 100 years, ending in the 1970s. [02:22.36]However, native children were separated [02:26.08]from their families at the missionary schools. [02:29.24]Because they were away from home, [02:31.88]the children were not able to learn [02:34.24]traditions from older family members and community leaders. [02:39.08]While they were at the schools, [02:41.20]some of the children were treated badly. [02:44.24]Some were physically abused by school leaders [02:47.76]and others were sexually abused. [02:51.28]About 150,000 young people went to the schools over the years. [02:57.76]The Canadian government has also talked about its part [03:01.80]in permitting the schools and harming the children. [03:06.16]The Canadian government admitted [03:08.32]the children were given physical punishment [03:11.04]for speaking their native language while at the schools. [03:15.20]Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau [03:18.52]was also in Alberta with the Pope. [03:21.16]He offered an apology [03:23.12]for an "incredibly harmful government policy" last year. [03:29.60]Native leaders say they believe the bad treatment of the children [03:34.32]prevented them from doing well as adults. [03:38.52]While Catholics operated most of the residential schools, [03:42.20]others were led by Protestants. [03:45.36]Protestants are another Christian religious group [03:48.44]different from Catholics. [03:52.16]In addition to the abuse, [03:54.60]thousands of children died from disease, fires and other causes. [04:01.32]Investigators say they have found locations at the schools [04:05.76]where children who died may have been buried. [04:10.20]The Pope took responsibility [04:12.68]for the church's cooperation with the Canadian policy [04:16.68]of mixing native people into Canadian society. [04:22.08]The Pope called it "cultural destruction." [04:25.48]He also said the missionaries of the time were [04:28.76]only going along with the policy of the Canadian government. [04:34.40]He went on to say that remembering the bad actions [04:38.12]of the Catholic missionaries and the Canadian government [04:41.68]could cause sadness and anger. [04:44.60]But he said it was "necessary." [04:46.92]He said it was "right to remember" the bad things that happened [04:50.80]because forgetting leads to indifference. [04:56.04]He also said that asking forgiveness is [04:58.64]only the first step in the healing process. [05:02.52]He promised an investigation into the past [05:06.20]and research into ways the Catholic Church can help survivors. [05:12.60]Francis apologized for not being able to visit [05:16.68]all of the indigenous people of Canada who have invited him, [05:20.68]noting the size of the country. [05:25.24]Organizers wanted to make sure [05:28.12]as many native people as possible could be present. [05:32.80]Maskwacis is a center for four groups of Cree people. [05:38.48]It is now home to a school that is run by local people [05:43.16]and supports the study of native culture. [05:47.88]Greg Desjarlais is a leader of a local native group. [05:51.88]He said there are "mixed emotions" across Canada [05:56.44]about the Pope's visit. [05:58.76]He said the visit brings up sad feelings [06:02.76]about the young people who died at the schools, [06:06.16]but also offers hope [06:08.28]that people might start to feel better after an apology. [06:13.16]"Our people have been traumatized," he said. [06:16.16]"Now I hope the world will see why our people are so hurt." [06:23.68]On Monday, the Pope also visited a Catholic church [06:28.00]whose members are mostly indigenous people. [06:32.08]The church includes native languages and traditions [06:36.04]in its religious ceremonies. [06:39.72]Fernie Marty is a religious leader called an elder. [06:43.40]Marty said: "I never in my life thought [06:47.60]we would see a pope here at Sacred Heart Church." [06:52.56]Francis will also visit other native groups in Canada. [06:56.60]His six-day trip includes visits to other sites in Alberta, [07:01.92]a visit to the province of Quebec and to the territory of Nunavut. [07:08.80]I'm Dan Friedell. 更多听力请访问51VOA.COM