Truth and Reconciliation

Catholic TRC Healing Response

On July 13, 2021, the Bishops of Saskatchewan announced a new province-wide Appeal for Support of Healing and Reconciliation – sponsored by our dioceses and eparchy here in Saskatchewan. The overall goal of this campaign is to support Indian Residential School survivors and their communities, and to engage more deeply in our own ongoing commitment and response to the Truth and Reconciliation process.

APPEAL GOAL: To support Indian Residential School survivors and their communities, and to engage more deeply in our own ongoing commitment and response to the Truth and Reconciliation process.

More information - and a link for donations - can be found on the Catholic TRC Healing Response website.

More information on what the Archdiocese is saying and doing can be found on their Indigenous Relations page.

Statement from the Archdiocese of Regina regarding the Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc First Nation Residential School Grave Site Near Kamloops, BC.

From Archbishop Donald Bolen:

We have all heard the devastating news that has come out of Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc First Nation with the discovery of 215 children found buried at the Kamloops Indian Residential School in unmarked graves. There is an outflowing of emotion: outrage, dismay, profound grief. And we have questions, many unanswered questions that need to be asked in the coming days and weeks. This shared history of residential schools profoundly impacts residential school survivors, and indeed all Canadians.

Here in the Archdiocese of Regina, we have a responsibility to look anew to the four Catholic operated Indian Residential Schools within our diocese: the Marieval Indian Residential School on the Cowessess First Nation, the Lebret Indian Industrial Residential School on the White Calf First Nation, the Muscowequan Residential School near Lestock on the Muskowekwan First Nation, and the St. Philip’s Residential School near Kamsack on the Keeseekoose First Nation. There are cemeteries at these schools as well.

Read the rest here (PDF).

Truth and Reconciliation - Ways to Educate Yourself

This a resource (PDF) that can help educate and build relationships between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people, especially how to put the TRC Calls to Action into action personally and collectively. The information contained in the resource will also be on the Archdiocese website and will be added to in the coming weeks and months. Check the website for the most up-to-date version.