The Chief of Tk’emlúps te Secwepemc is still hoping that that Pope Francis will find a way to visit Kamloops during his trip to Canada in July.

Kukpi7 Rosanne Casimir says visiting British Columbia would be a “meaningful, symbolic, and historic trip” for the Pope.

“Knowing that Pope Francis does have the final say in his journey to Canada, I hold to a very little bit of hope that maybe he makes that trip to British Columbia because it matters, and your truths matter, and all of us in British Columbia we also matter,” she said.

Speaking during Monday’s ceremony honouring Le Estcwicwe̓y̓ (The Missing), Casimir said her trip to the Vatican earlier this year was in the hopes of building meaningful steps towards reconciliation while also seeking some reparations from the highest level of the Catholic Church.

“That meaningful apology has to address that role that the Roman Catholic Church had with residential schools,” she said. “It is also speaking to the spiritual, the cultural, the emotional, the physical, and the sexual abuses and the role of the church at that system.”

“There are many next steps that need to occur with the church, and that’s from the Pope to mandate through the Catholic Bishops of Canada right down to the local diocese and working with First Nations as we seek truth, as we move forward, as we seek fundraising, as we seek all those steps that are listed on the Truth and Reconciliation Calls to Action.”

While Pope Francis has apologized for the Roman Catholic Church’s role in the residential school system, survivors have made it very clear that he needs to make a similar apology to them on Canadian soil.

“This has been a very dark chapter in our history and we need to rebuild our relationships at every single level,” Casimir added.

“My hope is for reconciliation, and I am going to hold on to that hope, and that reparations are mandated from the highest levels, and that leadership and everyone participates in that journey.”

The Pope is set to make stops in Edmonton, Quebec City, and Iqaluit during a week-long visit this summer that starts on July 24.

“Knowing I gave him an invitation and that British Columbia isn’t taken into consideration, it is kind of disappointing in the fact in that it would be extremely meaningful,” Casimir told NL News earlier this month, adding she was disappointed Kamloops was not part of the itinerary.

She reiterated those statements Monday afternoon.

“I am disappointed that the Pope is not coming here. I really am. I advocated very hard but what I am not disappointed is that he is coming to Canada,” Casimir said. “He is going to be on Canadian soil. He is going to be meeting with so many of our Indigenous people in his stop throughout the nation.”

“I know we are still seeking ways to bring our people to wherever he may be for that opportunity. Those are still in the works.”