For more than three decades, the Anglican Church of Canada has been on a journey of listening, truth-telling, repentance and healing with Indigenous Peoples, both within and outside the church. We offered our first apology for our involvement in the Residential School System in 1993 followed by an apology for spiritual harm in 2019. We have complied fully with all investigations and reparation payment requirements. Within our church there is a National Indigenous Bishop, an Anglican Council of Indigenous Peoples and we are on the road towards a fully self-determining Indigenous, Anglican Church!
Local Action:
Our Anglican Diocese of Kootenay gave its refund ($30,000) from the residential school settlement fund to UBCO to support a cultural safety curriculum addressing barriers facing Indigenous people’s access to health care.
Here’s a short video: Donation leads to Expanded Cultural Safety Program.
When the Okanagan Peoples were not included in the historical signage display next door to the church, St. Andrew’s offered the Snceweps Heritage museum signage space on our property to say whatever they deemed appropriate about the history of their people in the area. This signage was written and installed in 2019.
Learn More:
Visit our Truth and Reconciliation Toolkit, an extensive resource to help us learn the history, build relationships, and practice reconciliation.
Videos:
Doctrine of Discovery: Stolen Lands, Strong Hearts (1 hour, 6 mins)
Dancing the Dream (31 minutes)
Every Child Matters, Grace Will Lead Them Home (17 minutes)
Reclaiming Our Spiritual Wholeness: Our Journey to Self-Determination (32 minutes)