Truth and Reconciliation Resources
Truth and Reconciliation Commission
Reconciliation is a cornerstone of the Catholic faith. We must continue to learn, listen and support our First Nations, Métis and Inuit brothers and sisters. A first step in accomplishing this is developing a thorough understanding of and commitment to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission report. Below you can find the report's Calls to Action. You can read the full report and explore supporting materials at the TRC website HERE.
TRC Calls to Action English
An important part of understanding and appreciating our Indigenous communities, is acknowledging their stewardship of the land we call home. Land Acknowledgements are an important practice that are becoming part of our collective consciousness. There is still much more work to be done however. If you are hosting an event, or meeting within your parish or your community, consider learning more about the land on which you are standing, and acknowledging those who have cared for it. You can learn more about Land Acknowledgements through the below websites:
Native Land
https://native-land.ca/
Canadian Association of University Teachers
Caut.ca
Ontario Federation of Indigenous Friendship Centres
http://www.ofifc.org/
Jesuit Forum for Social Faith and Justice
New Dialogues Guide from the Jesuit Forum for Social Faith and Justice
The Jesuit Forum has released their newest dialogue resource which focuses on our relationships with Indigenous communities and how to support avenues of reconciliation. This important resource fosters small group discussion (not debate) and supports productive dialogue that bring us closer to shared understanding and unity. You can order this and other dialogue resources HERE.
Yellowhead Institute
First Nation-led research centre based in the Faculty of Arts at Ryerson University in Toronto.
The Yellowhead Institute aims to foster education and dialogue on First Nation governance across different fields of study, between the University and the wider community, and among Indigenous peoples and Canadians. They offer relevant, peer-reviewed, well-researched information on policy, governance and issues impacting Indigenous communities in Canada. Recently, they released a report highlighting the progress made thus far on the 94 Calls to Action of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. You can see the summary below and access more information HERE
Our Lady of Guadalupe Circle
Our Lady of Guadalupe Circle is a Catholic coalition of Indigenous people, bishops, clergy, lay movements and institutes of consecrated life, engaged in renewing and fostering relationships between the Catholic Church and Indigenous Peoples in Canada.
One of the purposes of the Our Lady of Guadalupe Circle is to assist Catholics in engagement with the Truth and Reconciliation process and its Calls to Action. The Circle seeks first to understand Indigenous Peoples and Spiritualities and their relationship to the Catholic Church. It is by honouring Indigenous peoples, cultures and spiritualities and by acknowledging with sadness the many failures of the past that the work of reconciliation can move forward.The Circle recognizes that understanding and education must lead to action for reconciliation.
Learn more HERE.