-  The Bishops of Canada apologized on September 24, 2021.

-  They also announced their commitment to raise national funding with a target of $30 million.

-  September 30, 2021, was the first National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.

-  The Pope has agreed to visit Canada as part of a historic pilgrimage of healing and reconciliation.

-  In order that as many of the faithful as possible accompany the delegation on its journey of reconciliation, the CCCB has created educational resources, including homilies for the Sundays of Christ the King and Advent.

-  Indigenous residential school survivors, Elders, knowledge keepers and youth representatives took part in the Rome Delegation that met with the Holy Father during the week ending Friday, April 1, 2022.

-  A series of meetings with Pope Francis culminated Friday, April 1, with the Holy Father offering apologies on behalf of the Catholic Church and himself. He then expressed to the Indigenous people who were present his “shame” and “indignation,” finding that the Catholic Church was guilty “of abusing and disrespecting these people’s identities, their culture and even their spiritual values.”

In the journey of healing that is being pursued between the Church and Indigenous peoples, these apologies mark an important step and open new horizons of hope for reconciliation. The objective is not to forget a historical reality that continues to impact the present, but rather “to walk together” into new territory defined through dialogue.

Click here to read the Conference of Canadian Catholic Bishops’ communiqué published at the conclusion of this historic meeting:
https://www.diocesemontreal.org/en/news-and-info/latest-news/canadas-catholic-bishops-welcome-pope-francis-apology-indigenous-peoples

To view the press conferences following the meetings during the week, visit Salt + Light Media at: www.slmedia.org.

For more information concerning the Delegation and related activities, see: www.cccb.ca 

Indigenous in Montreal?

Looking at the map of Quebec’s Indigenous communities, we see that none are situated within Montreal. However, 16,820 people living in the territory served by the Diocese of Montreal declared themselves as Indigenous, according to the 2016 census. In the territory of the Montreal metropolitan region, there were 34,750. From this number, 15,455 declared themselves as Métis, nearly double the number according to the 2011 census. These numbers should be viewed with some scepticism, since many Indigenous do not participate in the census; and the Métis at heart are not are not considered as such according to the Canadian system. The off-reserve population is growing, as the statistics for Quebec show; some of this population is in Montreal. Others who are not permanently settled are not counted (studies, temporary work, illness...).

What efforts are being made towards reconciliation?

The City of Montreal has changed its flag to include a symbol of the city’s Indigenous presence; last year the street called Amherst was changed to Atateken; also last year, a strategy for reconciliation was adopted: https://montreal.ca/en/articles/2020-2025-strategy-reconciliation-indigenous-peoples-7760

Find out about these strategies and how you can participate according to your interests and abilities.

The Montreal Canadiens hockey team has decided to make an announcement of territorial recognition before each home game: https://www.nhl.com/canadiens/news/canadiens-to-feature-land-acknowledgement-at-home-games/c-326898474. These statements of recognition have already become the practice in universities and many organizations. The statement can be adapted in order to emphasize our belonging jointly to common territory and our mutual responsibility for its protection; as well as through the inclusion of the Anishinaabe Nation (formerly called ‘Algonquin’), who constitute another protector of the territory.

And in the Church, how can we take part in reconciliation?

Prayer and the sacraments are important sources of reconciliation, opening the heart and calling for peace. Since the earliest days of Ville-Marie, communications were held between the settlers and the Indigenous populations, and those relations have continued down to this day. Some of the interactions were positive, while others were less so.

• Religious communities are helping to promote awareness and appreciation of Indigenous cultures. Several of these religious communities are parties to the Indian Residential Schools Settlement Agreement and have paid substantial amounts in compensation. The Sulpicians have been accused by the community of Kanehsatà:ke of having dispossessed the latter of their land. The Jesuit Archive, located in Montreal, is an important source for tracing the Wendat language.
   
• A Montreal organist, Bernardin Houle (1923-2020) took the bus from St. Leonard every Sunday for 62 years accompanying the choir of the St. Francis Xavier community in Kahnawake. Many others among the faithful have stories of such social friendship to tell...
   
• Mission chez nous, founded and supported by the Bishops of Quebec and chaired by Archbishop Christian Lépine, raises funds for Catholic Aboriginal communities and promotes awareness of the issues facing these nations. The radio broadcast Confluents can be heard Mondays at 1:30 p.m. on Radio VM.
   
• On September 30, the Archbishop installed a new statue of St. Kateri Tekakwitha at the Cathedral with faithful from Kahnawake and the diocese in attendance: https://www.diocesemontreal.org/en/news-and-info/latest-news/blessing-statue-saint-kateri-tekakwitha-mary-queen-world-cathedral
   
• Each year on December 12, the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops issues a message calling on all people to pray in solidarity with Indigenous Peoples.

The Social Action Office promotes initiatives towards reconciliation on the part of numerous groups, such as:

• The Kairos blanket exercise, adapted by ROJEP (Réseau œcuménique justice, écologie et paix); Centre Saint-Pierre will be offering one the evening of January 25, 2022 - register here; you can also contact the Social Action Office to organize one in your area, in French or in English: social@diocesemontreal.org. 
   
• The Carrefour Foi et spiritualité – ‘Crossroads of Faith and Spirituality’ - offers an evening encounter on November 11: À la découverte étonnante d’un peuple autochtone
   
• A series of 11 meetings, Listening to Indigenous Voices is an experience for small groups.
   
• The Centre for Justice and Faith is offering a training session on November 12 to facilitate these meetings; waiting list: https://cjf.qc.ca/
   
• Retour à l’esprit and Journées Semences de réconciliation
   
• The Social Action Office participates in the Montreal Indigenous Community Network as a supportive ally: http://reseaumtlnetwork.com/
   
• Working with Development and Peace, the Social Action Office promotes solutions for protecting our common home and encourages demonstrating solidarity with those who defend their territories: https://www.devp.org/en/campaign/people-planet-first/
   
• St. Kateri au centre-ville is planning an event for the National Day of Prayer in Solidarity with Indigenous Peoples in December. This day, organized by the Canadian Catholic Indigenous Council, can be integrated into the December 12 community prayers: https://www.cccb.ca/indigenous-peoples/prayer-and-spirituality/national-day-of-prayer-in-solidarity-with-indigenous-people/
   
• In solidarity with ACAT (Action by Christians for the Abolition of Torture) the Social Action Office calls for prayer and action in the cause of freeing Leonard Peltier, imprisoned in the United States for 46 years.