General News and Announcements

The Truth and Reconciliation Commission's fourth national event, to be held in Saskatoon from June 21 (National Aboriginal Day) to June 24, promises to be the biggest one yet. Tens of thousands of Indigenous and non-Indigenous people are expected to gather in that city's Prairieland Park for four days of sharing testimony from the survivors of Indian Residential Schools and their families, and of healing together.

We'd like to invite you to attend, if possible, or at least to watch some of the proceedings on live webcast. Even better, arrange to watch it with some folks from your church community and discuss it together afterwards. Aboriginal-themed worship resources are available on our Aboriginal Day of Prayer page; prayers related to the residential schools legacy are at Worship by Theme.

Events like the Saskatoon TRC are wonderful and challenging opportunities for all of us to learn first-hand about what our church and others (all working with the Canadian government) did to First Nations, Inuit, and Metis children and their families—all in the name of Christianity and civilization.

It's a painful history, but thankfully, it’s a story that can have a redemptive ending, with healing and reconciliation for us all. The TRC process is an invitation to all Canadians to join that journey toward redemption. Please pray for the success of the Saskatoon TRC event, and for all the people engaged in it.

Visit the Truth and Reconciliation Canada website to find out more. Or contact:

• John Bird
  Program Coordinator for Aboriginal Justice and Right Relations
  The United Church of Canada
  Tel: 416-231-7680 ext. 4045
  Toll-free: 1 800-268-3781 ext. 4045
  E-mail: John Bird