Each year, September 30 marks the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.
The day honours the children who never returned home and survivors of residential schools, as well as their families and communities. Public commemoration of the tragic and painful history and ongoing impacts of residential schools is a vital component of the reconciliation process.
What is reconcilation? Father Cristino Bouvette explains in this video prior to the 2022 Papal Visit to Canada. Father Cristino is a priest for the Diocese of Calgary. He is of mixed Cree-Métis and Italian descent. Father Cristino is committed to fostering healing and reconciliation among Indigenous people and the Catholic Church. He was the National Liturgical Coordinator for the Papal Visit to Canada.
What can we do?
PRAY
Pray that our journey of Walking Together with Indigenous Peoples will continue to heal wounds and nurture a path that fosters healing and reconciliation.
The Catholic faithful of Canada are invited to enter into this day with a spirit of charity and compassion, as followers of Jesus Christ, members of his “living body of reconciliation,” so that together with all Canadians, we may continue to walk forward with Indigenous Peoples on the path of truth, justice, healing, reconciliation, and hope.
Let us recall the words of the Holy Father during his 2022 postolic Voyage to Canada: “The Church is the house where we ‘conciliate’ anew, where we meet to start over and to grow together. It is the place where we stop thinking as individuals and acknowledge that we are brothers and sisters of one another.”
ATTEND EVENTS
Sacred Heart Church of the First Peoples, the national Indigenous parish in the Archdiocese of Edmonton, invites you to join us in celebrating National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. The day will beegin with Eucharistic celebration followed by a discussion on the meaning of truth and reconciliation,, as well as smudging, drumming, singing and a soup and bannock lunch. The truth and reconciliation speakers include:
- Candida Shepherd, a member of the Metis Nation of Alberta Region 4. She is a teacher and a First Nations, Metis, Inuit Lead at Bev Facey Community High School. She is also a long time member of Sacred Heart Church of the First Peoples.
- Bernadette Iahtail, executive director of the Creating Hope Society She is a registered Social Worker and executive director of Creating Hope Society, a society founded for the survivors of the 60s and 70s scoop of aboriginal children in care.
Creating Hope Society would like to invite you to our Truth and Reconciliation Day 2024. This year we have broken up the day into two (2) parts.
11 a.m. Metro Cinema (Garneau) 8712 109 Street
- Pipe Ceremony – 11 a.m. with Elder Dale Simon
- Documentary Viewing by Dr. Jules Koostachin “WaaPaKe – Tomorrow”
- Panel Discussion – Healing Families
Light snacks will be provided
5 p.m. Round Dance Boyle Street Plaza 9538 103A Ave
- Start – 5 p.m.
- Giveaway – 9:15 p.m.
- Closing – 9:45 p.m.
Emcee – Adrian LaChance
Please come out and enjoy the day
SUPPORT HEALING AND RECONCILIATION
The Archdiocese of Edmonton had made a commitment of $3.2 million over five years by supporting 34 programs and initiatives for healing and reconciliation in communities and families, culture and language revitalization, education and community building and promotion of Indigenous spirituality and culture.
The local Indigenous Reconciliation Fund is part of a commitment by Canada’s Catholic Bishops to raise $30 million over five years through the Indigenous Reconciliation Fund, To date, the IRF has raised $15,087,459.70 putting the fund on schedule to exceed its commitment.
LEARN MORE
Learn more about National Truth and Reconciliation Day through the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation.