Canadian Indigenous Tourism Leader on What the Pope's Apology Misses
Photo Caption: Indigenous Tourism Association of CanadaKnowledge-Keeper Julie Pellissier-Lush (pictured here on the beach on Prince Edward Island) said the Pope's apology is just a stepping stone. Patricia Bourque
Skift Take
The Pope recently visited Alberta to apologize for the abuse of Indigenous people in Canadian residential schools. While apologies don't always do the job, it's better than nothing. Still, Julie Pellissier-Lush of Indigenous Tourism PEI called it just a stepping stone.
The rich stories of various Canadian Indigenous groups are slowly being uncovered and told with more and more pride after years of trauma. As the first inhabitants of Canada, it is important to raise awareness and help them gain more representation while also paying attention to the healing process.
On Prince Edward Island, Indigenous peoples make up two percent of the population, and one of the more widely known is the The Mi'kmaq (Mi'kmaw, Micmac or L'nu, “the people” in Mi'kmaq) who have been living on the land for at least 12,000 years.
Indigenous Tourism PEI is working hard to mend the severed ties between Indigenous groups and other folks who call the island home. The Knowledge-Keeper Julie Pellissier-Lush is not only PEI’s Poet-Laureate, but also the author of the best-selling novel, "My Mi'kmaq Mother." She writes, acts, and helps promote the bountiful experiences within Mi'kmaq culture.
Pellissier-Lush was born in Summerside, PEI, and then moved around a lot with her father after her mother died of lymphatic cancer. She didn’t come back to the island until 2005 and by that time she had three children to bring with her. She’s been on the island since, and said “once you’re here and you’re born here, it’s really hard to push it away. You always end up coming back.”
Dorothy Stark, Pellissier-Lush’s grandmother, married David Bernard who was a residential school survivor. They had a difficult life, but loved each other a
