Alexis Nakota hosts campers visiting the Pope at Sioux Nation Lac Stay. Anne Pilgrimage – Edmonton | Globalnews.ca

Marie Trottier is one of the many campers who have traveled Alexis Nakota Sioux Nation The Pope is expected to be seen on Tuesday.

“It’s a blessing to allow us to come here, to open up for us to come and camp here for very little money,” Trottier said.

She traveled from northern Saskatchewan to the Alexis campsite, about 10 kilometers from the Lac St. Anne pilgrimage site where the Pope would be.

“If I get a chance to see them even from a distance, I would be very grateful and thank God for giving me this opportunity,” Trottier said.

Camping is not permitted at the pilgrimage site for the Pope’s visit, and so the nation decided to open its grounds to visitors.

“We want to support the pilgrims who come here every year,” said Tony Alexis, chief of the Alexis Nakota Sioux Nation. “It’s been two years since the pilgrimage and they were eager to come here and camp and visit the site.”

Welcome to the campsite until July 27 at a $20 flat rate. More than 70 campers have been set up at the campsite so far, but there is room for about 300 – and more spots keep filling up.

“We have people from across the states, people from all over North America who come to Lac Ste. Anne Pilgrimage,” said Chief Alexis.

Adam McDonald is also staying at the Povo Grounds. He had come from Fort McMurray and hopes that his visit will not only bring a glimpse of the Holy Father.

“We need that reconciliation. We need words from him. We need healing,” McDonald said.

“For us, we are taking the healing initiative and we are working very hard on that internally. The apology is a confirmation of the damage done to the people of the First Nation.”

As for Trottier, he hopes the Pope’s visit will help him and others heal.

“Healing lies deep within us. We need to forgive each other,” she said.

2:21Pope Francis will visit Maskavosis on Monday