Archbishop asks for continued support for Sept. 8 Healing and Reconciliation collection

This story was updated on Sept. 4. Some funding amounts have been updated to reflect the amount that was actually approved, rather than applied for. 

Archbishop J. Michael Miller has issued a letter in advance of the Sept. 8 Healing and Reconciliation special collection, thanking the faithful for their ongoing generosity.

The collection, now in its third year, supports the Indigenous Reconciliation Fund, a national initiative of the Catholic Church in Canada which was established to fund local Indigenous initiatives focused on healing, education, and cultural revitalization. The Archdiocese has committed $2.5 million over a five-year period that began in 2021. 

In 2022, a grant committee was formed in the Archdiocese to review project applications from local First Nations and Indigenous groups before recommending them to the IRF.

In his letter, dated Aug. 31, 2024, Archbishop Miller expressed deep gratitude to the faithful for their ongoing generosity. He emphasized that the prayers, actions, and donations of the Catholic community have been crucial in building meaningful relationships with Indigenous peoples.

“Your support over the past year has made a significant impact, launching over 20 local and Indigenous-led projects,” the Archbishop wrote.

Among the projects highlighted in his letter is the implementation of new cultural wellness practices at the Dr. Peter Centre in Vancouver, which provides care for individuals living with HIV and other complex health needs. Last year, a healing pole at the centre was funded with grant money from the Archdiocese to help with the integration of Indigenous cultural practices into the centre’s care programs.

Another project noted by the Archbishop is the film The Cost of Silence, which addresses the trauma of sexual abuse and has been shown in 35 communities, empowering survivors to share their stories and seek healing.

One of the most significant developments this year has been the signing of a Sacred Covenant with the First Nations in Kamloops, the Archbishop said.

“This Covenant formalizes our ongoing relationship, ensuring that our journey together is grounded in truth, mutual respect and justice,” he wrote.

The Archbishop encouraged the faithful to participate in the upcoming collection, offering prayers, involvement, and financial contributions, knowing that each donation “makes a profound difference.”

Archbishop Miller closed his letter with prayers and prayers for all who contribute to this important cause.

Donations can be made through the Healing and Reconciliation donation page.

The Archdiocese of Vancouver has pledged $2.5 million to local Indigenous healing and reconciliation initiatives over five years as part of a $30 national commitment by Canada’s bishops. 

Since 2021, the Archdiocese has distributed $1.1 million in grants. Here are some of the more recent projects.

• St. Paul’s Squamish Language Classes: inspired by parishioners, classes were offered to build solidarity and understanding with Indigenous communities. The budget of $25,000 for Squamish language classes began in Fall 2022 and ran for about eight weeks. The need for the project evolved out of the parish’s synodality meetings in which many parishioners expressed their desire to walk with their Indigenous brothers and sisters in greater solidarity and understanding. This was a continuation of an initial pilot project begun a year earlier when parishioners asked for language classes and cultural mentorship. The project is a joint effort with the parishioners of St. Paul in North Vancouver and the Squamish Nation.
• N’Quatqua’s Gathering: This community hosted a multi-day cultural event in May 2024, including traditional activities and a “Unity Ride” to celebrate and preserve Indigenous culture. A budget of $22,700 and an additional $30,000 helped provide a variety of traditional food to feed 500 people, three meals per day, for the four-day event.
• Dr. Peter Centre: Provides Indigenous-led support and activities for Indigenous people living with HIV and other complex health needs. Cultural staff and programming integrate Indigenous culture into programs. Funding of $65,000 last year and $65,000 this year was provided.
• Coast Salish Pole and Garden: A Coast Salish Pole and public garden will be created at the former Chehalis Indian Day School site to promote wellness and health for the Sts’ailes people. The cost is $30,000.
• Syiyaya Reconciliation Movement: This $80,000 initiative addresses intergenerational trauma from St. Augustine’s Residential School in Sechelt through cultural restoration, healing ceremonies, and the unveiling of a new reconciliation pole, which was unveiled this summer. Part of the history shared at the ceremony included a religious sister who received special permission to be buried in the First Nations cemetery because of her close relationship with the people. The pole symbolizes the Shishalh people’s journey of reclaiming traditions and culture from the residential school era to the present. It depicts significant aspects of Shishalh history, including St. Augustine’s Residential School and the representation of the four Shishalh clans. The unveiling was attended by elders who experienced the school, their descendants, and youth dancers in regalia representing the Clans. The pole was carved by over 1,700 hands under the guidance of Shishalh Master Carver ?antuni Anthony Paul. 
• Coqualeetza Cultural Centre: The Coqualeetza Cultural Education Centre marked its 50th anniversary with hundreds of people gathering at the Qw’oqw’elith’a (Coqualeetza) longhouse and grounds in Chilliwack on July 12 to celebrate the centre’s history. A full day of events was hosted to heal, celebrate presence, and assist in learning about family connection and histories, with food and activities to engage children, youth, elders, and families. The grant amount was $49,800. 

• Stólō Nation Research: The project focuses on researching residential school students and historic graves at St. Mary’s Residential School to compile a comprehensive cemetery map and database. Funding of $73,000 ($53,000 in 2023 and $20,000 in 2024) is being used to help First Nations communities learn more from any historical documents and research sources currently under the auspices of the Catholic Church in Vancouver, to assist in understanding the operations of St. Mary’s Residential School, particularly anything that will help provide information to the survivors and local First Nations communities regarding missing children and unmarked graves. To assist with this work, financial support will contribute to research, historians, archives, and any other consultants needed to work with existing records. This project will focus primarily on identifying all burials of Indigenous peoples at the Oblates of Mary Immaculate (OMI) Cemetery located at the former St. Mary’s Mission Residential School (now part of the Fraser River Heritage Park) and any other Catholic cemetery in the Fraser Valley that may have graves of residential school students. To support this work, the project team will identify and examine archival records in a variety of media, such as historical documents, pictures, oral histories, etc., to create a map and databank of these cemeteries.
• Stólō Commemorative Gathering: A memorial service for former St. Mary’s Residential School students, fostering healing and unity through traditional protocols among Indigenous groups in B.C. was held in 2023 with $100,000 granted from the IRF. The commemoration ceremony at Fraser River Heritage Park took place Sept. 29 to Oct. 1, 2023, at the former site of St. Mary’s Residential School. The Stó:lō leadership want to host commemoration ceremonies at former residential school sites to honour children who never returned home, including institutions in Chilliwack and Yale. As the Stó:lō come from an oral tradition, cultural protocol and the traditional language are taught through gatherings such as these. Funding supports event planning, communication, grant writing, and on-site coordination, as well as cultural and ceremonial items, such as blankets, scarfs, and food, spiritual items including a canoe and memorial dolls, as well as mental health and cultural/spiritual support.
• Indigenous Healing Society: The Uut Uuštukyuu Indigenous Healing Society i provides trauma-informed, culturally grounded support, blending traditional and Western practices, ensuring the continuation of its services across B.C. The society has been operational for three years under the fiscal host arrangement of Ahousaht First Nation. Located in the Archdiocese of Victoria, it serves clients in the Lower Mainland and recently expanded to Squamish, where a Traditional Practitioner has relocated. Using $50,000 per year for two years, the network provides traditional medicines and healing services, embedding mentorship and guidance for individuals and communities to provide culturally appropriate health care and wellness services in communities. The team includes over 30 Traditional Practitioners and two co-directors. Traditional Practices can work effectively alongside Western approaches, to support Indigenous people to heal with their biomedical and mental health needs, all through a culturally-based framework. The purpose is to contribute to the reawakening of Indigenous medical systems as primary care in this land. 

• Powwow Society Arbour Roof: Funding of $37,350 will support construction of a 3,000-person multi-use event space on St’at’imc territory, enhancing the ability to host traditional and community events.
• IndigenEYEZ: Offers training that combines Indigenous principles with modern change-making tools, empowering participants with confidence, cultural identity, and skills for positive community transformation, contributing to success in education, employment, and leadership. Funding of $49,444 is being provided.

• Healing on the Water, offered by All Nations Outreach, provides trauma-informed, healing experiences for vulnerable Indigenous populations from Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside, facilitating cultural connection and personal reflection through boating trips led by Elders and Indigenous facilitators. The program serves participants twice a month, helping them reconnect with nature and their cultural heritage as a path to healing and recovery. It was granted $47,916 in July 2024.
• NIB Trust Fund: Future Generations Foundation 
  The Future Generations Foundation, formerly known as the National Indian Brotherhood (NIB) Trust Fund, manages funds to support educational programs focused on healing and reconciliation among First Nations communities. The NIB Trust Fund was established as a trust in 1975. As a result of the Indian Residential Schools Settlement Agreement of 2007 (IRSSA), compensation was provided to survivors for their experiences at residential schools. The NIB Trust Fund received $206 million through this settlement to manage and allocate in accordance with the IRSSA. The NIB Trust Fund is the administrator of the remaining funds from the IRSSA settlement. $50,000 was approved for education programs that address the long-lasting impacts of the Indian Residential Schools system, focusing on initiatives that facilitate healing across generations, strengthen connections to elders and cultural knowledge, boost mental health through cultural reconnection, and improve outcomes in education, employment, income, and standard of living. Each year, between $11-15 million is disbursed to residential school survivors, their descendants, and organizations working to benefit First Nations peoples. The settlement imposes restrictions that limit the potential impact of the funds. As a result, the NIB Trust Fund has launched the Beyond Reconciliation campaign, a $100 million fundraising effort – the largest of its kind led by and for First Nations in Canada. If successful, the campaign will increase the reach of the fund by 15 per cent, benefiting at least 1,500 more individuals annually through various programs.

• Metis Knowledge Partnership Project: This project will facilitate research by Metis community-based researchers into the Catholic Church’s archives in B.C., focusing on recovering lost Metis history and lived experiences from the early 19th century. Funding of $50,000 is being provided for the project, which is expected to conclude next summer. Our plan is to facilitate research in this collection for four of our community-based researchers who will include a research primer, travel to and from Victoria, three days in the archives, and on-site research support. Findings will be translated and entered into the existing BC Metis Federation database and shared with local communities through meetings and social media posts.

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