A delegation of Inuit from Canada arrived in France this Monday, September 12 to obtain the extradition of Joannes Rivoire, a priest accused of sexual assault on at least 5 children.
The facts would have occurred more than 30 years ago, in the 60s and 70s, when this missionary officiated in the Canadian Far North. Last August, Ottawa officially asked Paris to hand over Johannes Rivoire. But since then, nothing has changed.
Steve Mapsalak crossed paths with Johannes Rivoire when he was 13. Half a century later, he still finds it difficult to talk about it: “ I’m a survivor. I have suffered for many years. What Father Rivoire did to us is serious, very serious. I thought I was his only victim. But this is not the case. We need to heal. And for that, he must answer for his actions in court. “.
” Not getting justice was torture”
Marius, Tanya Tungilik’s father, never managed to recover from what he had suffered. He sank into alcoholism and committed suicide. So today, his daughter implores the French authorities to extradite the priest. ” Not getting justice has been a torture for my father all his life and for us too. Nazi war criminals over the age of 90 like Rivoire have recently been brought to justice. Age doesn’t matter when you’ve committed heinous crimes.”he believes.
But more than the age of Johannes Rivoire, what poses a problem is his nationality. In general, France does not extradite its nationals but the priest is also Canadian, answer the Inuits. This is what they will put forward this Tuesday at the Ministry of Justice where they will be received. Especially since in Francea trial is impossible because the facts are time-barred.
This time, the Canadian Inuit are hopeful that their request will succeed because, according to them, times have changed.
There is the Pope’s recent trip to Canada and then the unmarked graves that have been discovered. Finally, this awareness that every child counts and this imperative need for reconciliation with the indigenous peoples. All of this means that now is the time for the great nations to take strong decisions and act in favor of the indigenous peoples. We implore the French to pressure their government to take quick action and return Johannes Rivoire to Canada.
Aluki Kotierk, president of the Nunavut Tunngavik organization which represents the Inuit