Truth and Reconciliation
The work of reconciliation is a journey and it takes both commitment and action. Let's do this together!
A Message from the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops:
On the Second Anniversary of the Papal Visit, Bishops of Canada Share Progress and Renewed Commitment to Reconciliation
OTTAWA, July 24, 2024 – On the two-year anniversary of Pope Francis’s penitential pilgrimage to Canada, the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB), in a “Letter to the People of God”, has provided an update on the steps that the Catholic Church in Canada has taken to respond to the Holy Father’s calls for a future of justice, healing, and reconciliation. It encourages Catholics across the country to continue to listen to and support residential school survivors and Indigenous communities on this journey.
“After years of listening, learning, prayer, and dialogue, the Bishops of Canada were deeply grateful for the Holy Father’s apology, and to the many Indigenous partners who shared their experiences and desires for a brighter future,” said Bishop William T. McGrattan, President of the CCCB. “We believe this was a meaningful step in the reconciliation journey – but the effects of the residential school system persist to this day. As we look back on the words of Pope Francis, we must continue to confront this painful legacy and to walk alongside the Indigenous Peoples in the spirit of solidarity and hope.”
In his various public and private addresses, the Holy Father not only expressed profound sorrow for the devastating effects of the residential school system on Indigenous communities, but also called on the Bishops of Canada to approach reconciliation through concrete actions and shared projects. Building on the important progress achieved in planning the penitential pilgrimage of the Pope, the Bishops of Canada took tangible steps in this direction in the years since the papal visit, including:
- Financial support for Indigenous priorities. In September 2021, following their national apology, the Catholic Bishops of Canada pledged $30 million for projects that support healing and reconciliation. These projects are identified by local Indigenous people and overseen by the Indigenous Reconciliation Fund (IRF). To date, the IRF has raised more than $15 million, and is therefore ahead of its five-year timeline. It has approved 166 projects determined in collaboration with First Nations, Métis and Inuit partners across the country.
- Transparent access to records. The Bishops of Canada have pledged to make their relevant records available to Indigenous researchers and communities, in order to help them find the truth that they seek. To support this work, the CCCB has approved a set of Guidelines to assist dioceses in developing policies for documentation and access to relevant records, including mission, sacramental and burial records, to help Indigenous Peoples identify the facts pertaining to their loved ones.
- Continuing to dialogue with First Nations, Inuit, and Métis Peoples. The Bishops have established structures within the CCCB to support local and national dialogues to foster greater understanding of Indigenous cultural, linguistic, and spiritual traditions and values. Discussions cover matters such as developing academic collaborations to understand the concepts commonly associated with the “Doctrine of Discovery”, as well as engaging with the Canadian government on shared concerns, such as the Indigenous belongings currently held at the Vatican museums.
The Bishops of Canada are deeply grateful for the relationships they have established with First Nations, Métis, and Inuit Peoples. As this journey of truth and reconciliation continues, the Bishops remain committed to walking in solidarity and listening to the experiences of Indigenous Peoples to guide the path forward. Encouraged by the presence, words, and gestures of Pope Francis, the Bishops of Canada continue to make meaningful progress in the significant work that lies ahead.
--Issued by the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops on Wednesday, July 24 2024
Indigenous Reconciliation Fund
As part of the Church's ongoing journey of reconciliation, the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops announced a financial commitment in the amount of $30 million dollars to support healing, knowledge sharing, and community building initiatives for residential school survivors, their families, and their communities. Each Diocese across Canada has pledged a sum of money to ensure that the national financial commitment will be met. The funds will be overseen by a local committee comprised of First Nations, Métis, and Inuit (“FNMI”) representation in collaboration with a National IRF Board of Directors. The Roman Catholic Diocese of Peterborough pledged the sum of $400 000.
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To learn more about the Indigenous Reconciliation Fund administered by the Diocese of Peterborough, please visit our IRF page.
Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada
| About the Truth and Reconciliation Commission |
About the Truth and Reconciliation CommissionThe Indian Residential Schools Settlement Agreement, the largest class-action settlement in Canadian history, began to be implemented in 2007. One of the elements of the agreement was the establishment of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada to facilitate reconciliation among former students, their families, their communities and all Canadians. The official mandate (PDF) of the TRC is found in Schedule "N" of the Settlement Agreement which includes the principles that guided the commission in its important work. Between 2007 and 2015, the Government of Canada provided about $72 million to support the TRC's work. The TRC spent 6 years travelling to all parts of Canada and heard from more than 6,500 witnesses. The TRC also hosted 7 national events across Canada to engage the Canadian public, educate people about the history and legacy of the residential schools system, and share and honour the experiences of former students and their families. The TRC created a historical record of the residential schools system. As part of this process, the Government of Canada provided over 5 million records to the TRC. The National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation at the University of Manitoba now houses all of the documents collected by the TRC. In June 2015, the TRC held its closing event in Ottawa and presented the executive summary of the findings contained in its multi-volume final report, including 94 "calls to action" (or recommendations) to further reconciliation between Canadians and Indigenous Peoples. In December 2015, the TRC released its entire 6-volume final report. All Canadians are encouraged to read the summary or the final report to learn more about the terrible history of Indian Residential Schools and its sad legacy. To read the reports, please visit the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation website. |
| Truth and Reconciliation Commission's Final Report |
The Truth and Reconciliation Commission's final reportThe Truth and Reconciliation Commission's Final Report is a testament to the courage of each and every Survivor and family member who shared their story. As part of the Indian Residential Schools Settlement Agreement, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau accepted the Final Report of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission on behalf of Canada. The Government of Canada continues to be committed to a renewed nation-to-nation relationship with Indigenous Peoples based on recognition of rights, respect, co-operation and partnership. The Government of Canada will work closely with provinces, territories, First Nations, the Métis Nation, Inuit groups and church entities to implement recommendations of the TRC and further reconciliation to the benefit of all Canadians. This will include the implementation of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. The Government of Canada also recognizes that true reconciliation goes beyond the scope of the commission's recommendations. The Prime Minister announced that Canada will work with leaders of First Nations, the Métis Nation, Inuit, provinces and territories, parties to the Indian Residential School Settlement Agreement, and other key partners, to design a national engagement strategy for developing and implementing a national reconciliation framework, informed by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's recommendations. As an important step in rebuilding Canada's relationship with Indigenous Peoples, the Prime Minister of Canada met with leaders of the National Indigenous Organizations on December 16, 2015, in Ottawa to continue the dialogue on reconciliation. At that meeting, the Prime Minister committed to National Indigenous Organizations that he would meet with them annually in order to sustain and advance progress on shared priorities. |
| Videos |
Videos |
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Truth and Reconciliation Calls to Action - Learning and Prayer Guide |
Truth and Reconciliation Calls to Action - Learning and Prayer Guide |
National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation - University of Manitoba |
Website - click HERE. |
MORE INFORMATION
| Indigenous Reconciliation Fund |
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Bishop Miehm's Letter about the Indigenous Reconciliation Fund, May 16, 2022
"I have a question that is not answered on this resource." Here is my question - send email.
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CCCB Media Release- Announcement, January 28, 2022
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| Delegation to the Holy See, March, 2022 |
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A Journey toward Healing and Reconciliation, March/April 2022
Prayer for Healing and Reconciliation
Pope Francis accepts the CCCB invitation to come to Canada
Announcement of the Delegation to the Holy See |
| CCCB Financial Pledge |
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Canadian Bishops Announce $30M National Financial Pledge to Support Healing and Reconciliation Initiatives Canada's Bishops Announce Indigenous Reconciliation Fund, January 28, 2022 |
| Doctrine of Discovery |
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Doctrine of Discovery
On March 30, 2023, the Dicastery for Culture and Education and the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development published a Joint Statement repudiating the Doctrine of Discovery. His Holiness Pope Francis has urged that “Never again can the Christian community allow itself to be infected by the idea that one culture is superior to others, or that it is legitimate to employ ways of coercing others.”
The Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops issued its own statement to accompany the Joint Statement from the two Discastries.
The links to both Statements are found below.
Catholic Response to the Doctrine of Discovery, March 19, 2016
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| CCCB Apology to Indigenous Peoples |
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Statement of Apology by the Catholic Bishops of Canada to the Indigenous Peoples of This Land |
| Residential Schools |
| Background Information for Catholics about Residential Schools |
| Our Lady of Guadalupe Circle |
| Our Lady of Guadalupe Circle |
| CCCB |
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Indigenous Peoples and the Church: Walking Together Toward Healing and Reconciliation |
| CCCB Articles and Interviews |
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Interview with Most Rev. Bishop Bolen CCCB Letter to Indigenous Peoples, March, 2018 Interview with Archbishop Richard Gagnon, Vice President, CCCB |
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Land Acknowledgement |
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LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT NOTE: A land acknowledgement recognizes the traditional lands of Indigenous peoples and is an appropriate way to show respect to Indigenous people of the region, their ancestors, and communities. Here are two versions of the Land Acknowledgement for use in the Diocese of Peterborough. Use one of them. Additionally, you may consider making connections with the Indigenous peoples in your parish area to localize the references more specifically or to use a land acknowledgement they offer to you.
VERSION 1 We respectfully acknowledge that we are on the treaty and traditional territory of the Mississauga Anishnaabeg. We offer our gratitude to the First Nations for their care for, and teachings about, our earth and our relations. May we honour those teachings. (Taken from MICHI SAAGIIG Protocol Guide Book, First Peoples’ House of Learning, Trent University)
VERSION 2 We acknowledge that the Williams Treaty and the Robinson-Huron Treaty territory on which we stand is the ancestral home of the Indigenous peoples of Mississauga Anishnaabeg and is a common home to everyone by virtue of God our Creator’s gracious gift. (Adapted from the Assembly of Western Catholic Bishops)
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Resources |
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Indigenous Protocol Guidebook, First Peoples House of Learning, Trent University, 2023
Michi Saagiig, Protocol Guide Book, First Peoples House of Learning, Trent University, 2019
Catholic Response to Call to Action 48, March 19, 2016
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