Pope Francis’ new ambassador to Canada has often defended the rights of Indigenous peoples around the world and earlier this year noted they were being hard hit by the ongoing COVID pandemic. The pope has named Archbishop Ivan Jurkovič the new apostolic nuncio to Canada, a position that had been…
Terry O\’Neill Canadian Catholic News When the Chief of the Kamloops Indian Band announced on May 27 that researchers had located the remains of 215 children in unmarked graves near the former Kamloops Indian Residential School, she said the discovery confirmed what she and her people had long known, that…
Exclusive interview with Chief Wilton \”Willie\” Littlechild and Archbishop Richard Smith on reconciliation Chief Littlechild, former Grand Chief of the Confederacy of Treaty 6 First Nations, attended 3 different residential schools over a span of 14 years. He was also a commissioner of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, a member…
Chief J. Wilton \”Willie\” Littlechild and Archbishop Richard Smith met this week in Maskwacis, and are offering this joint statement on the Kamloops Residential School discovery, and on reconciliation. Chief Littlechild is a former Grand Chief of the Confederacy of Treaty 6 First Nations. He was also a commissioner of…
OFFICE OF THE ARCHBISHOP June 4, 2021 Dear Faithful People in Christ, In recent days, the people of Canada have been shaken by the news that what is believed to be the remains of 215 children were found on the grounds of the former Kamloops Indian Residential School. No one,…
The people of the Archdiocese of Edmonton share the deep pain felt by Indigenous Peoples, and indeed all Canadians, arising from the disclosure that what is believed to be the remains of 215 children were found at the former Kamloops Indian Residential School in B.C. The painful legacy of residential…
Dear Parishioners and friends of Sacred Heart Church of the First Peoples, The discovery of the remains of two hundred and fifteen children buried in unmarked graves at the former Kamloops residential school reawakens our hurt, grief and anger at the injustice Indigenous people have suffered in Canada. For those…
We have been working closely with Father Susai of Sacred Heart Church of the First Peoples, which is a National Catholic Parish for indigenous people. Sacred Heart parish elders will be hosting a pipe ceremony – a high honour among First Nations – at 3 p.m. on Thursday, June 3. The ceremony is…
Read MoreArchbishop Smith speaks on Kamloops Residential School site discovery