Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB) President Bishop William McGrattan today reaffirmed the Catholic Church’s commitment to reconciliation with Canada’s Indigenous peoples to mark the second anniversary of Pope Francis embarking upon his penitential pilgrimage to Canada.

In a CCCB communique called a “Letter to the People of God,” the bishops outlined the financial support, record-sharing, dialogue events and other initiatives launched to address the pontiff’s call for justice, healing and understanding. The message also reprised the call for Catholics nationwide to engage in these efforts.

McGrattan reflected upon the impact of Pope Francis’ visit, especially the historic apology in Maskwacis, Alta., before elders and residential school survivors, and the importance of accompanying Indigenous peoples shoulder to shoulder.

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“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 McGrattan, the Bishop of Calgary. “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.”

The letter called for the Catholic community to embrace “the path of unity and hope” at a time when there are “many difficult conversations taking place around the country regarding our painful legacy.”

The correspondence expressly refers to a building chorus for “more rigourous investigations into reports of unmarked burial sites.” Skeptics of the unmarked graves narrative point to how several previous high-profile excavations have not uncovered any bodies.

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“Let us keep in mind that this deep desire for truth and transparency resides first with Indigenous communities and residential school survivors,” asserted the CCCB. “Decisions to study this history are best made locally by Indigenous leaders, who have the most direct understanding of the needs of their respective communities.”

The Bishops also shared how dioceses and archdioceses have raised $15 million for the Indigenous Reconciliation Fund (IRF) to date, which puts the Canadian Catholic Church on pace to achieve the $30-million target ahead of the five-year deadline. The IRF backs projects that stimulate the revitalization of Indigenous culture and languages, foster communities and empower educational pursuits.

Rosella Kinoshameg of Ontario’s Wikwemikong Unceded First Nation, the chair of the IRF, explained the principles directing the charity’s grant decisions.

“Drawing strength from our experiences and using that understanding to help others guides us in assessing proposals, and grounds our efforts in the traditional teachings and ways of healing that are so important for Indigenous people,” said Kinoshameg.

Offering transparent access to any record that sheds light on the residential school system remains a paramount objective for the CCCB. Indigenous Elders are provided with any mission, sacramental and burial record that could aid them in their respective truth-seeking journeys.

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The letter also touted the CCCB's establishment of "structures to support dialogues and foster greater understanding of Indigenous cultural, linguistic and spiritual traditions and values.”

There is a future desire to “develop academic collaborations to understand the concepts commonly associated with the ‘Doctrine of Discovery,’ as well as to engage with the Canadian government on shared concerns, such as the Indigenous belongings currently held at the Vatican museums.”