Documentary series on the meetings between the Indigenous in Canada and Pope Francis

Vatican News

Salt + Light Media has completed a documentary on the historic meetings that took place in the Vatican in March and April 2022 between Pope Francis and the delegations of Canada's Indigenous. The hour-long documentary comes just days before the Pope travels to Canada on what he described as a "penitential pilgrimage."

The documentary

The documentary offers background on the experiences of representatives of the Assembly of First Nations, the Métis National Council, and the Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami, who met with Pope Francis about abuses against the Indigenous, especially within the Canadian residential school system. The documentary "will help Canadians appreciate the broader story of the journey toward meaningful reconciliation," says Fr. Alan Fogarty, SJ, Executive Producer of the documentary and CEO of Salt + Light Media. “Every Canadian and person of faith is called to participate in this journey" he adds, "today, and well into the future. We know that by documenting and sharing these testimonies, especially leading up to the Pope's Apostolic Journey to Canada, we can play a vital role in the healing process.”

The production

Produced, directed and narrated by Pedro Guevera-Mann, the film features interviews with Wilton Littlechild, former Grand Chief of the Confederacy of Treaty Six First Nations and Member of Parliament; Natan Obed, President of the Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami; Cassidy Caron, President of the Métis National Council; and other Indigenous delegates, as well as bishops from Catholic dioceses in Canada. It also contains footage of the meetings that took place at the Vatican last spring and of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission process that preceded the meeting. “Reconciliation is not a checkmark we put on a box,” says Pedro Guevara-Mann. “It's an ongoing journey of relationships that requires hard work. I'm honoured to be part of this journey."

A series of three

The film is the first in a series of three documentaries that Salt + Light Media has committed to producing on residential schools, the Indigenous and people of faith, and the truth and reconciliation process. The second is in the production phase and should be completed by late autumn 2022. The documentary is now available for free on Salt + Light Plus, the channel's subscription-based streaming service, and online at slmedia.org/slplus. The French, Chinese and Italian subtitled versions are being finalized and will be released shortly.