Canadian Bishops Outline Plans for Reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples

Crux ^ | 2/17/23 | John Lavenburg

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NEW YORK – With 26 commitments across three separate pastoral letters, the Canadian bishops have, albeit only in broad strokes, outlined how they plan to honor a pledge to embark “into a new era of reconciliation” with the nation’s indigenous peoples.

The pastoral letters, released by the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops on Feb. 8, were sent to the First Nations, the Inuit of Canada, and Métis Indigenous Peoples. The commitments made vary slightly from letter to letter, but largely focus on deepening dialogue, working with community leaders to address social challenges, education, engaging indigenous youth and supporting advocacy efforts.

Also expressed in the letters was a pledge to fulfill a 2021 financial commitment to donate $30 million over a five year period to “support healing and reconciliation initiatives for residential school survivors, their families, and their communities.”

To date, about $9.35 million has been raised through the Indigenous Reconciliation Fund.

Collectively titled “That We May Walk Together,” the letters are the result of months of listening sessions and dialogue between Canadian Catholic leaders and Indigenous Peoples, the Canadian Indigenous delegation visit to the Vatican last April, and Pope Francis’s trip to Canada last July, according to the CCCB. The title stems from the “Walking Together” theme of the Holy Father’s trip.