FSIN looking for $25 million in compensation from Roman Catholic Church

The Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations (FSIN) is asking for $25 million from the Roman Catholic Church.

In a release Sunday, the FSIN said the funds are for the historical harms and crimes committed against Indigenous people by the church, priests, nuns and clergy.

Also in Sunday’s ask by the FSIN: Reiterating that residential school survivors deserve an apology from Pope Francis.

“(As well as) compensation for all the extreme harms that occurred in those torturous institutions. We demand the records of these institutions be released immediately and justice be served to every living priest and nun who committed crimes against our innocent children,” FSIN Chief Bobby Cameron stated in the release.

Cameron noted the church vowed to raise $25 million in the past, committed to survivors and their descendants.

Within the release, the FSIN also asked the church to ensure that “justice is served for all living priests, nuns and clergy.”

“(Those) who committed first degree murder on children attending their institutions with intent on annihilation of First Nations children and culture. We demand justice,” the release states.

The calls come following the discoveries of 215 unmarked graves at the site of a former residential school in Kamloops and 751 unmarked graves at a residential school near Cowessess First Nation in June. Another 182 were found at another B.C. residential school site Friday.