Indigenous Reconciliation Fund – A Catholic Commitment to Healing and Reconciliation
The Indigenous Reconciliation Fund was established to accept donations from 73 Catholic entities across the country, and to advance healing and reconciliation initiatives, fulfilling the $30 million financial commitment made by Canada’s Bishops in September, 2021. The fund seeks to support projects that are determined locally, in collaboration with First Nations, Métis and Inuit partners.
The Indigenous Reconciliation Fund has established the following criteria for grant applications:
- Healing and reconciliation for communities and families;
- Culture and language revitalization;
- Education and community building; and
- Dialogues for promoting indigenous spirituality and culture.
The fund has been designed to meet the highest standards of transparency and good governance and is overseen by a Board of Directors made up of Indigenous leaders.
The Indigenous Reconciliation Fund Board Directors have been appointed to oversee the fund’s management and approve disbursement of money to successful applicants. These directors bring a range of governance experience, as well as a history of advocating for Indigenous Peoples.
The Indigenous Reconciliation Fund has raised $8,447,581.87 to date, putting the fund on schedule to exceed its five-year $30 million commitment.
Join Canada’s Bishops in supporting a more hopeful future for Indigenous Peoples of the land. Visit www.irfund.ca for more information and to make a contribution to this fund.
AN ACTION PLAN ON BEHALF OF THE DIOCESE OF SAULT STE. MARIE IS FORTHCOMING – MORE DETAILS TO FOLLOW
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INVITATION to Listening to Indigenous Voices – A Dialogue Guide on Justice and Right Relations
Schedule for Gatherings of Listening to Indigenous Voices
A group of Indigenous residential school survivors, Elders, knowledge keepers and young people accepted the invitation of Canada’s Catholic Bishops to meet with the Holy Father at the Vatican. The delegation included small group meetings with Pope Francis as well as a larger final audience with all participants.
Pope Francis Apologizes – Final Audience between Pope Francis and Indigenous Delegates: View Full Video Here
We invite you to pray for all participants that these gatherings will help provide a foundation for a future Papal Visit to Canada as part of the ongoing journey of healing and reconciliation.
Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops – Indigenous Delegation: 17-20 December 2021 to Vatican City – LINK TO RESOURCES HERE
Advent Video Series on Healing and Reconciliation – LINK HERE
“Apology by the Bishops of Canada to the Indigenous Peoples of this Land.” LINK HERE
The CCCB has created an Educational Work Group (EWG) created to prepare for the meeting of the indigenous Delegation to Rome and the eventual coming of Pope Francis to Canada.
Part of the work of the EWG is the preparation of homilies for each Sunday of Advent with connections to the issues of colonization and reconciliation, presented by Bishop Don Bolen in very short videos. The homily themes from the Feast of Christ the King to date are: Solemnity of Christ the King: Early Missionaries and the Encounter of Worldviews; First Sunday of Advent: The Spirit of the Treaties; Second Sunday of Advent: Residential Schools.
You can find these videos and future posted at the following LINK
National Day for Truth and Reconciliation – September 30, 2021
The Pro-Cathedral of the Assumption Parish in the Diocese of Sault Ste. Marie, resides on the Nipissing (Nbiising) First Nation traditional Territory, alongside a long-standing community of Anishinaabeg Peoples located along the shorelines of Lake Nipissing in Northern Ontario.
The Nbiising Anishnaabeg are part of the Anishinaabeg Peoples, a grouping of people speaking Algonquin languages, which includes the Odawa, Ojibwe, Potawatomi, and Algonquin.
We are part of the Robinson-Huron Treaty of 1850.
The community of the Pro-Cathedral is committed to thoughtful, honourable dialogue between our Church and First Nation Indigenous Peoples in response to the call to reconciliation and right relations.
For more information on this First Nation Community and related organizations please visit the following:
Link to Nipissing First Nation: Home » Nipissing First Nation (nfn.ca)
Link to North Bay Indigenous Friendship Centre: NBIFC.ORG
Link to Assembly of First Nations: AFN.CA
Link to Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada: TRC.CA
Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada: 94 Calls to Action
For information of Catholic organizations working on Reconciliation and Right Relations please visit:
Link to Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops in relation to Indigenous Peoples: https://www.cccb.ca/indigenous-peoples/indigenous-pastoral-initiatives-since-the-origins-of-the-cccb/
Link to the Our Lady of Guadalupe Circle: https://ourladyofguadalupecircle.ca/
Regarding the Discovery at the Former Residential School in Kamloops, BC
