At a July 8 press conference demanding Justice Minister David Lametti, Canada’s attorney general, investigate crimes against Indigenous people, both Nunavut MP Mumilaaq Qaaqaq, MP and Timmins - James Bay MP Charlie Angus brought black and white poster-sized photos.
The photos were of Father Johannes Rivoire and Father Arthur Lavoie. Both men were Oblate priests responsible for untold sexual abuses within the residential school system. Both have never been prosecuted.
Angus and Qaaqaq want that to change with the appointment of an independent special prosecutor to investigate the crimes against Indigenous people in Canada.
“Together with Charlie Angus, I'm calling on Attorney General David Lametti to appoint an independent, special prosecutor immediately,” said Qaaqaq. “We cannot trust the [Ministry of Justice] to do this without an independent special prosecutor and international observers. Not only has the [ministry] protected perpetrators like Revoir in the past and kept criminal documents sealed to the public, but they have contributed to the ongoing crimes of genocide. How can a perpetrator of mass crimes investigate themselves? What would we say if this was happening in another country, or in a non-Indigenous community?”
It is such an enormous issue that Qaaqaq said the map of Canada is covered with crime scenes; the unmarked graves that have shocked so many Canadians are just the tip of the iceberg, she said.
“We have been saying this for generations, and it's time for Canada to face the truth,” said Qaaqaq.
“Indigenous people need truth and justice. Not only about individual abusers like Revoir, but about the hellhole of all genocidal residential school systems that the churches and the federal institution used in their attempts to destroy us and take our lands.”
Qaaqaq recently announced she would not be running for MP again because of the racism she faced in the house of commons since she was elected. She said it’s time to recognize the ongoing nature of the issue.
“It's time we treat this as a crime of genocide that continues to happen here in Canada today,” Qaaqaq said.
It is also time for someone independent of the Canadian institution to investigate, the MP said.
“Indigenous people need truth and justice, not only about individual abusers like Revoir, but about the hellhole of all genocidal residential school systems that the churches and the federal institution used in their attempts to destroy us and take our lands,” Qaaqaq said. “We need an independent investigation that has the power to shine a light on every facet of this national crime. And one that has power to bring perpetrators to justice.”
The priest Qaaqaq refers to, Fr. Johannes Rivoire, was a serial sexual predator in Nunavut during the 1960s. He is currently living in France.
“Attorney General David Lametti and the Liberal government are doing nothing to bring him to justice,” said Qaaqaq. “This man raped children, the abuse at his hands has caused generations of trauma.”
Qaaqaq said the government of Nunavut demanded that Lametti bring Revoir to justice, but Lametti refused.
“Instead of facing justice for his crime, Revoir is living a luxurious retirement in a home for priests in Strasbourg, France, and the federal institution is doing nothing about it,” said Qaaqaq.
Not only was Qaaqaq passionate and emotional, tearing at some points and stating her points emphatically, but she also took issue with several reporters who tried to ask about other issues, like the Assembly of First Nations elections and recent announcements from other politicians. On this, Qaaqaq was clear.
“I am hear to talk about the rape of Indigneous children” she said, repeating herself several times to drive the point home.
“Almost everyone I know has been affected by the trauma from the violence of the residential school system,” said Qaaqaq. “And the perpetrators, who used it (the system) to abuse children in some way, the cycles of violence that started when children were stolen, stolen from their families continue to this day.”
She said not only do Indigenous people need truth and justice, but also healing.
“And don't tell me that a phone number is enough,” said Qaaqaq, referring to the survivors' phone line that has accompanied many residential school announcements of late. “There cannot be reconciliation without truth. There cannot be reconciliation without justice. So today, we're calling for truth and justice.”
Qaaqaq said the federal government and people like Revoire destroyed childhood and continue to do so today. “What began with institutions that were designed to annihilate us continues to haunt our communities today,” she said. “We need a special prosecutor and an independent, independent investigation into crimes against humanity and genocide.”
She also had a warning for Lametti.
“Don't you dare say you do not have the authority, you do, you just refuse to use it. And that needs to end today.”
Angus announced the specific aspects that should be included in the investigation. He stated that the federal government needs to end their “collusion” with the Catholic Church.
“Canadians learned so much from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission,” said Angus. “But what we learned from the implementation of the Indian residential school settlement agreement is that the Catholic Church and the federal government were focused on one shared objective: limiting their liability.”
He and Qaaqaq, on behalf of the New Democratic Party, “are calling for this cover up to end.” They are demanding the appointment of a fully funded special prosecutor to investigate the historic policies, crimes and the cover ups of abuse that were committed against indigenous people. As well, that special prosecutor needs to have a mandate to seek advice and guidance from the International Criminal Court.
“Because we're talking about crimes against humanity and serious breaches of international law,” said Angus.
This prosecutor also must have the right to demand all relevant documents and historical documents of each church and religious order. This would include school records, the personnel files held by the relevant church institutions in the various orders.
As well, said Angus, the prosecutor must have the right to access the names and records of every criminal perpetrator that Canada has on file under litigation privilege, as well as any of the relevant documents on the policies that protected these men and allow them to carry out their crimes.
“This authority of the special prosecutor must include the right to make this information public,” said Angus. “Because the days of protecting and giving privacy to these perpetrators are over.”
