RECTOR’S REFLECTION:  

If you have men who will exclude any of God’s creatures from the shelter of compassion and pity, you will have men who will deal likewise with their fellow men.
-              St. Francis of Assisi (1181-1226)

For a number of years, since the Indigenous Covenant of 1994, there has been a call for an apology for spiritual abuse endured by Indigenous Peoples through the era of colonial expansion across the Land, and particularly through the era of the Indian Residential Schools.

In the Apology to survivors of the Residential Schools delivered on August 6, 1993, Archbishop Michael Peers expressed his remorse on behalf of the Anglican Church of Canada that “we tried to remake you in our own image”.

Today, I offer this apology for our cultural and spiritual arrogance toward all Indigenous Peoples – First Nations, Inuit and Métis – and the harm we inflicted on you. I do this at the desire of many across the Church, at the call of the Anglican Council of Indigenous Peoples, and at the request and with the authority of the Council of the General Synod.
-              Archbishop Fred Hiltz (2019)

I was there in 2019 when Fred Hiltz, the head of the Anglican Church of Canada at the time, made this apology, a follow-up to the one made in 1993.

It was a powerful, humbling thing to witness.

September 30th is the National Day of Truth and Reconciliation. It is an important opportunity to remember this apology, to face the truth of the ways in which the Church and society have harmed and continue to harm the Indigenous peoples of this land and to take action to make amends for the damage done.  

What I appreciate about this apology, is that it specifically names part of what was at the root of what was done in residential schools and beyond - ‘cultural and spiritual arrogance.’

I think this is important to name because it is this same arrogance which has led, I believe, to the exploitation and abuse of the land, of God’s good creation.

As St. Francis says, our care for creation and for our fellow human beings are wrapped up together.
And so, Indigenous justice is connected to climate justice.

Part of the healing of the earth is the healing that comes through Truth and Reconciliation.

I implore you, in this season of creation, to take September 30th seriously as an opportunity for prayer and confession, education and action, reflection and solidarity. There are events and opportunities at the Squamish-Lilwat Cultural Centre in Whistler, at the Museum of North Vancouver in Lonsdale Quay, there is a march and program at O’Syiam pavilion in downtown Squamish on Monday from 12.30 to 5 pm. There are resources on the Diocese of New Westminster or Anglican Church of Canada’s website, and beyond.

May we, with God’s help and with humble and contrite hearts engage in this work that is part of the Dream that God has for us and for this world.

Thanks be to God!

 

CG+
 

 

For Archbishop Fred Hiltz full apology:


https://www.anglican.ca/news/an-apology-for-spiritual-harm/30024511/
For more resources on the Diocese of New Westminster’s website:
https://www.vancouver.anglican.ca/programs/indigenous-justice