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DEH GAH GOT'IE KOE/FORT PROVIDENCE - Joachim Bonnetrouge of Fort Providence is representing the territory on a historic trip.

Bonnetrouge is one of 23 delegates, and the only one from the NWT, attending the Assembly of First Nations' meeting with Pope Benedict XVI in Vatican City. The meeting, which was scheduled to take place on April 29, was expected to result in the Pope making a statement to the survivors of residential schools for the role the Catholic Church played in the operation of residential schools and their subsequent legacy.

Bonnetrouge is the project co-ordinator for the Fort Providence Residential School Society. He spent a total of at least 13 years in four different residential schools.

Bonnetrouge, who spoke with Deh Cho Drum a day before leaving for the Vatican, said the Dene Nation contacted him about being part of the delegation.

"I was in a way pleasantly surprised. I was humbled," he said.

Bonnetrouge said the more he thought about it, the more he realized he will be part of a momentous occasion. The delegation was anticipating a statement of apology, he said.

"Wow, that's big," said Bonnetrouge.

During his 11 years with the Fort Providence Residential School Society, Bonnetrouge said he's supported the idea of an apology by a significant figure such as the Pope.

"An apology from the Pope will really validate our own people," he said.

The apology will help with the work the society is doing including raising awareness and helping people to heal, said Bonnetrouge.

Survivors also owe it to the younger generations to explain what happened in residential schools and the apology will help facilitate that, he said. Students were separated from their parents, their aboriginal culture and language and some were subjected to physical and mental abuse.

Before being invited to join the delegation, Bonnetrouge said he'd only heard the basics about the trip.

"Like everyone else I was curious and anxious about what was going to happen in Rome," he said.

When he accepted the invitation, Bonnetrouge said word quickly spread in Fort Providence.

"There are some people excited around town here," he said.

Members of the society have been supportive and encouraging, and it's really another feather in the society's cap for the work it has been doing, said Bonnetrouge.

Assembly of First Nations' regional chiefs were asked to put forward people from their regions to attend the event, said Don Kelly, communications directors for AFN.

The vast majority of the delegates are residential school survivors, Kelly said. The AFN delegation, along with a delegation from the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops, was to be part of a general audience with the Pope at St. Peter's Square on April 29.

Following that, five members from each of the delegations were scheduled to have a private audience with the Pope. At that time, AFN National Chief Phil Fontaine was going to express the importance of the Catholic Church making some sort of a statement to survivors and the Pope was expected to respond, said Kelly.

The five people allowed into the private audience were expected to include Fontaine and Tobasonakwut Kinew, an Anishinaabe elder from Ontario. The other three members were to be chosen in Vatican City.

All delegates were encouraged to wear traditional clothing. Bonnetrouge said he would be wearing a beaded stroud vest and a moosehide jacket made by his wife, Nancy Bonnetrouge. Some women also worked together to quickly finish a pair of new moccasins for him to wear.