First Nation, Catholic Church agree on residential school truths

There are some new details this morning about an agreement between the Vancouver and Kamloops Arms of the Catholic Church and the Tacoma Loops to Schweppmick First Nation. And these are details in an agreement that acknowledges the church's role in the harms caused by residential schools. Linda Ward has the details on what is in this document. Yes. So this is being called a sacred covenant. It was actually signed on Easter Sunday, so back in March, but we're just getting the documents now. This was signed by the to Kamloops, to Schweppe First Nation, the Archdiocese of Vancouver, as well as the Diocese of Kamloops and it's basically a set of agreed upon truths about what actually happened at the Kamloops former residential school there. Ground penetrating radar in 2021 found 200 potential burial sites there. So this document really acknowledges the harms that happened in that school, the role the church played in that, and outlines the path forward towards reconciliation. It reads in part, the Catholic Church now recognises that the consequences of Indian Residential Schools were profoundly negative and have had a lasting and damaging effect on Aboriginal culture, heritage and language. Yesterday, in a press conference, we heard from Cook B Roseanne Kazimir who spoke about the significance of this document. I'm pleased to know that the signing of this sacred covenant is a step in that right direction. I went there representing our people with the hope of building meaningful steps towards reconciliation, but also seeking justice. So this has been a very dark chapter and it is a crucial time in the history and that we all need to rebuild our relationships at every level and walk this journey together. Walk the journey together. We've heard that often and moments of of healing and reconciliation along this process, this particular written document, the covenant, as you say, What does it mean for the overall healing process? Well, it really means that the church is sort of promising to be a part of that healing and active part of that healing. So it makes a number of commitments here to helping to memorialize and honour the lives that were lost through doing things like, you know, giving them access to church archives and historians to work with the First Nation on figuring out just who these children were and specifically how they died as scientific experts as well. Technology if that is needed. And also providing mental health support for families who heard from the Archbishop yesterday on this as well. This sacred covenant, and we use the word sacred, is more than just a formal document, one of many that sort of are on bookshelves. It has become and I hope will increasingly become an instrument of further dialogue and accountability. It in that sense, it's not a finished document. It's a living, dynamic statement of moving to the future in hope, both the Archbishop and the First Nation here say. But they hope that this document can actually become more like a template for other diocese and other First Nations to use when they're sort of crafting their sacred covenants or equivalent going forward towards that path to reconciliation. Thank you for all of that this morning. Linda Ward here in studio with me.