Residential Schools | News & Updates

Updates

• CCCB message on "The Holy Father's Apostolic Visit to Canada: Looking Back One Year Later" (July 26, 2023)
• CCCB statement on "Doctrine of Discovery" (March 30, 2023)
• Vatican statement on "Doctrine of Discovery" (March 30, 2023)
• Indigenous Reconciliation Fund (IRF) Website is now online
• CCCB on the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation (Sep. 30, 2022)
• CCCB deepen their commitments to  healing and reconciliation (Sep. 29, 2022)
• All about the Papal Visit 2022
• Pope Francis asks forgiveness from Indigenous People (July 25, 2022) 
• Why is the Pope Going to Canada? (Fr. Federico Lombardi, SJ)
• "Doctrine of Discovery" and Terra Nullius  (CCCB, 2016)
• The Catholic doctrine of discovery is already null and void (The Hub)
• Pope Francis issues an apology to the Indigenous People (April 1, 2022)

Going forward

• Walking Together: Into One Beat (July 2023) features interviews with members of the First Nations, Métis, and Inuit in Alberta, Quebec, and Nunavut, who share their heartfelt stories as they prepare for the Holy Father's arrival. After the visit, they offer their reactions, impressions, and hopes for this country of many nations moving forward, as one, on the journey of reconciliation. Watch now
• Indigenous Reconciliation Fund (IRF) Website is now online
• CCCB on the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation (Sep. 30, 2022)
• CCCB deepen their commitments to  healing and reconciliation (Sep. 29, 2022)
• How Indigenous Catholic clergy reckon their culture with their faith (National Post)
• Fr. Cristino Bouvette spoke about how we define reconciliation, 
• My kokum blessed what the world said was incompatible: I became an Indigenous priest (CBC)
• A personal testimony from Fr. Cristino Bouvette - on being both a Catholic Priest, and Indigenous heritage. Watch video

Statements & Resources

• Joint Statement of the Dicasteries for Culture and Education and for Promoting Integral Human Development on the “Doctrine of Discovery”
• An update on the Indian Residential School Settlement Agreement
• Indigenous Reconciliation Fund to Support Projects Across Canada
• $30M National Financial Pledge to support healing and reconciliation initiatives
• Apology by the Catholic Bishops of Canada to the Indigenous Peoples 
• Bishop McGrattan meets with Siksika Nation Chief & Council
• Commitment and contribution of our Diocese to reconciliation and healing
• CCCB on Saskatchewan “Catholic TRC Healing Response Appeal”
• A pastoral message from Pope Francis | Bishop McGrattan  | CCCB ​
• Joint video statement from Chief Littlechild and Archbishop Smith. Statement
• 2014 Pastoral letter from Catholic Bishops of Alberta and the NWT 
• CCCB Resources:  Past  statements | Encounter with the Popes | Initiative​
• ​FAQ re: Kamloops Residential School from Oblates of Mary Immaculate & ​Archdiocese of Vancouver

Residential Schools within the boundaries of the Diocese of Calgary

There were 25 residential schools in the Province of Alberta. See: Residential Schools in Canada Map. Four of them operated by the Oblates of Mary Immaculate (OMI) were within the boundaries of the Diocese. The Roman Catholic Diocese of Calgary did not run any residential schools. Below are links to the four residential schools:

• St. Joseph’s Residential School (Crowfoot) - Cluny, Alberta (1900-1968) operated by the Oblates of  Mary Immaculate (OMI) and Sisters of Providence
• St. Mary’s Residential School (Kainai) - Cardston, Alberta (1898-1988) operated by the Oblates of Mary Immaculate (OMI) and Grey Nuns of Montreal
• Sacred Heart Residential School (Peigan) - Brocket, Alberta (1887-1961) operated by the Oblates of Mary Immaculate (OMI)  and Grey Nuns of Montreal
• St. Joseph’s Industrial School (Dunbow) - East of Okotoks, near the junction of the Bow and Highwood Rivers  (1884-1922) operated by the Oblates of Mary Immaculate (OMI) and Grey Nuns of Montreal​​​

Learn about Residential Schools

• The History of Canada's Residential Schools (First Things)
• History of Residential Schools (CBC) 
• Perspective on death and graves in residential schools
• The policy battle that set the stage for a century of residential school death
• Documentary: A National Crime 
• Clarification on unmarked graves​
• Where are the children buried? (A report from Dr. Scott Hamilton, featured on NCTR)
• Canada's Trudeau Fans the Flame of Blame (NCR Register)
• Unmarked graves were documented years ago but most of us looked away (B. Liley, Toronto Sun)
• Guilt, Responsibility, and Purgatory: How traditional Catholic teaching can help us think about truth, reconciliation, and reparations (Church Life Journal)

Truth & Reconciliation Commission

• Reports (2015)
  • Honouring the truth, reconciling for the future
  • What we have learned
  • The Survivors Speak
  • Missing Children and Unmarked Burials
  • Canada's Residential Schools: The History, Part 1 (origins to 1939)
  • Canada's Residential Schools: The History, Part 2 (1939 to 2000)
  • Canada's Residential Schools: The Legacy
  • Canada's Residential Schools: Reconciliation
• A Catholic response to Call to Action 48 of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission

​A brief guide about Treaty & Alberta Treaty Map (Alberta Teachers Association)

​​​​Crisis line for Indian Residential School survivors and family: 1-866-925-4419