How can we acknowledge the wounds of the past and build relationships grounded in respect and trust? That question shaped a Sept. 26 conference organized by the Fondation du Grand Séminaire de Montréal in collaboration with the Fondation Lucien-Labelle.

Part of the Dialogues et espérance (Dialogues and Hope) series, the gathering brought together two speakers, Lise Coocoo-Dubé and Mathieu Lavigne, to reflect on the history of relations between First Nations and Quebec and Canadian society, including the role the Catholic Church played in that history.

Acknowledging the wounds of history

The conference addressed the wounds left by colonization and the residential school system, whose effects continue to mark Indigenous individuals, families and communities.

Acknowledging this history is an essential step on the path to reconciliation. It means making room for historical truth, listening to Indigenous voices and recognizing past wrongs, without minimizing the suffering endured or its consequences today.

Dialogue as a path to reconciliation

Beyond the duty of remembrance, the reflection invites us to consider what a shared future requires. Listening, dialogue and mutual respect lie at the heart of this process, which calls for recognizing the rights of Indigenous peoples and fostering renewed relationships between communities.

Reconciliation looks to the past, and it also shapes how we choose to live together today and build a more inclusive society.

Carrying the conversation forward

By exploring the historical, human and relational issues at play between First Nations and Quebec and Canadian society, the conference invites us to continue the work of remembrance and to consider the actions that can help bring about reconciliation.

The Dialogues et espérance series seeks to nourish theological, pastoral and spiritual reflection on the major issues facing the Church today.

Watch the full conference

For a deeper look at these questions and the full discussion, “First Nations: From Wounded Memory to a Shared Future” is available in French.

➡️ Watch the conference on YouTube