June, 2021

Dear Friends,

We are writing to you today, not about the campaign but about something very important: what has come to light about the Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc First Nation Residential School grave site near Kamloops, B.C. This is a deeply painful time for our Indigenous sisters and brothers, and for all people of faith who care about God’s little ones. This is also a time for penitence, soul-searching, and listening, for our church and our country.

Archbishop Don Bolen, Sr. RéAnne Letourneau and others have been walking with and learning from the Indigenous community, especially survivors and intergenerational survivors of residential schools, and Elders and community leaders, in light of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action:  http://trc.ca/assets/pdf/Calls_to_Action_English2.pdf

To inform yourself further, see below for articles and resources.

-Your Rebuilding Our Church Campaign team

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1) Abp. Don’s Statement: https://archregina.sk.ca/news/2021/06/02/statement-archdiocese-regina-regarding-tk%E2%80%99eml%C3%BAps-te-secw%C3%A9pemc-first-nation 

2) An article featuring Abp. Don re: the Pope and Canadian Indigenous Peoples: https://cruxnow.com/church-in-the-americas/2021/06/pope-and-canadian-indigenous-sorry-must-fit-the-level-of-suffering/

3) An article featuring Abp. Don and Indigenous leader Susan Beaudin: https://regina.ctvnews.ca/the-church-needs-to-listen-to-indigenous-people-archdiocese-of-regina-looks-at-ways-to-reconcile-1.5457212 

4) An article about the CCCB’s planned delegation with Indigenous leaders to speak to Pope Francis directly: https://www.catholicnews.com/canadian-bishops-indigenous-delegation-to-meet-with-pope-by-end-of-2021/

The Canadian Catholic Bishops’ Statement about the delegation:

English  https://www.cccb.ca/announcement/cccb-statement-delegation-to-the-holy-see/

En Français https://archregina.sk.ca/sites/default/files/news/CCCB%20statement%20on%20Delegation%20to%20the%20Holy%20See%20-%2010%20June%202021%20-%20FR.pdf

5) An article from a Jesuit journal, which mentions our archdiocese in the final paragraphs: https://www.americamagazine.org/politics-society/2021/06/06/pope-francis-colonial-mentality-buried-indigenous-children-canada 

6) Archdiocese of Regina Indigenous Relations page:  https://archregina.sk.ca/indigenous-relations

7) The Archdiocese of Regina’s Facebook page:  https://www.facebook.com/ArchdioceseofRegina