Truth and Reconciliation Healing Initiatives
Archdiocese of Regina
February 2, 2022
For Immediate Release:
On Friday, January 28, the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops released further details regarding the $30 million financial commitment from Catholic dioceses across the country, initially announced in September of 2021. These include the establishment of an Indigenous Reconciliation Fund for the creation and support of reconciliation initiatives in Canada, under Indigenous leadership.
Over the past months, a Truth and Reconciliation Committee within the Archdiocese of Regina was set up, with First Nations and Métis representatives, including Survivors of residential schools and children of Survivors. As committee members, we have been meeting regularly to reflect on how we in this region can take part in this national initiative in a good way. We welcome the announcement from the CCCB and look forward to continuing to walk with and build right relationships with Survivors and their communities.
We are pleased to share that, since August of 2021, parishioners and supporters of the Archdiocese of Regina have donated more than $720,000 in gifts and pledges towards this commitment. We remain deeply grateful for the encouragement, generosity, and support of Indigenous and non-Indigenous people on the journey thus far.
With additional funds that will be made available, over $1.5 million is now set aside for this work, which is a very significant part of the $2 million commitment over the next 5 years that the Archdiocese of Regina has made towards reconciliation. Funds coming from the Archdiocese of Regina, while counting towards the $30 million national commitment, will be available to be allocated for projects and initiatives within the Archdiocesan boundaries.
Funds will be allocated in response to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission Calls to Action #60, 61, and 73-76. This includes:
- Healing and Reconciliation for communities and families;
- Survivor-directed work related to cemeteries on sites of former residential schools;
- Language, culture, education and community support
- Support that recognizes and validates the spiritual life and practice of Indigenous Peoples.
We are committed to making good use of the resources received so that they can directly benefit residential school Survivors and their families and communities. To that end, we have held many circles and had conversations with Indigenous Peoples over the past months, and have heard a strong request that we be Indigenous-led, and consult with groups of Survivors to provide direction.
Our Truth and Reconciliation Committee has identified the following as next steps:
- Developing relationships with the 25 First Nations communities and with Métis communities within the Archdiocese of Regina;
- Assisting where able with the four First Nations communities where there was a Catholic-operated residential school, and supporting communities where requested as they undertake ground penetrating radar, seek to identify children buried in unmarked graves, and deal with the trauma of this experience.
- Working with First Nations communities and individual First Nations and Métis Survivors to access records in our Archdiocesan or parish archives that might be helpful in gaining a deeper understanding of the history of residential schools and of the students who attended them.
- Education of clergy and laity on the Church’s past role in colonization, residential schools and the lasting effects of intergenerational trauma on Indigenous peoples and their communities.
- A Regina project, including work in areas of language, culture, education, knowledge, and spirituality.
We are very much looking at these efforts as a means to build trust and right relations between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people as we walk together in the spirit of reconciliation.
+Donald Bolen and Susan Beaudin, co-chairs of the Truth and Reconciliation Committee of the Archdiocese of Regina, on behalf of its members
For more information please contact:
Director of Communications:: Deacon Eric Gurash, [email protected] or (306) 352-1651.
