The spiritual leader of the Anglican Church visited a Saskatchewan First Nation on Saturday to listen to survivors of Canada’s residential school system, against whom he said “terrible injustices were committed.”
Rev. Justin Welby, the Archbishop of Canterbury, started his visit at James Smith Cree Nation, east of Prince Albert, around midday, when he met dignitaries from Indigenous governments from James Smith and the Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations, which represents 74 First Nations in Saskatchewan.
“I want to recognize, for myself and my colleagues, the level of pain that you are willing to undergo, so that your story is heard,” the archbishop said.
“I will say that I come in ignorance, needing to hear each and every shame, needing to signify that shame, and respect those on whom such terrible injustices were committed.”
Welby said his purpose was to “enter the shames” of those who wronged residential school survivors and honour their pain and grief.
He said understanding their suffering would be impossible, but that he hoped to move himself from “unconscious ignorance” to being deeply aware of the survivors’ experiences, and to move himself to humility before those gathered.
Survivors like Dennis Sanderson gathered in James Smith to share their stories with the archbishop.
Sanderson attended Gordon’s Indian Residential School, about 100 kilometres northeast of Regina, for three years before attending the All Saints Residential School in Prince Albert. Both were operated by the Anglican Church.
“It’s a good thing for them to come and say ‘I’m sorry,’ too, you know? It makes you feel good and hopefully it makes our community members feel good,” Sanderson said Saturday morning.
Sanderson said he was able to deal with the trauma 11 years of residential school left him with by exploring his culture, his ceremonies and his First Nations way of life.
The Anglican Church was part of his life growing up outside of residential schools; Sanderson said his dad was actively involved in Anglican Church activities in James Smith Cree Nation.
Several survivors shared stories with the archbishop on Saturday about the abuses they experienced at residential schools and their lasting impacts and trauma.
Between 1820 and 1969, the Anglican Church ran roughly three dozen residential schools in Canada, and also ran more than 150 Indian day schools, according to a list compiled for the Federal Indian Day School class action.
The Anglican Church apologized for its role in residential schools in 1993 and in 2019. It has also paid $15.7 million in compensation.
The church was also refunded $2.8 million, which it said it invested into Indigenous ministry programs, after a different compensation formula was negotiated with the Roman Catholic Church.
Earlier this week, survivors and advocates questioned the purpose of the visit, and whether it will result in meaningful action.
Further Canadian visits planned
Welby, who as archbishop is the religious leader of the Church of England, though not the head of the church (a title that belongs to the British monarch) also plans to travel to Prince Albert on Sunday, before heading to Toronto.
His visit coincides with the 50th session of the Provincial Synod, which is being hosted by the Diocese of Saskatchewan in Prince Albert until Sunday. Delegates from Saskatchewan, Alberta and Manitoba, as well as the Northwest Territories and Nunavut, will attend.
At 2 p.m. on Sunday, Welby will gather with Anglican and non-Anglican Indigenous leaders.
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