HEALING AND RECONCILIATION FOR COMMUNITIES AND FAMILIES
Our Journey Continues
History was made in 2024 after the Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc, the Archdiocese of Vancouver and the Diocese of Kamloops came together to put pen to paper and create the Sacred Covenant.
The Covenant’s purpose is to meet the demand for communities looking for answers about the fates of children who attended residential schools.
This moment marked a milestone in the journey towards reconciliation, truth and healing between three groups that have a complex and contentious past.
Over the last year, gatherings to deepen trust and mutual understanding between Elders, Catholic leaders and community members have taken place. Survivors have publicly shared personal, powerful stories of resilience and leaders from each group have reaffirmed their commitment to continue walking the Covenant’s path together. Now, the three groups are looking to begin the next phase of the project. The initiative is expanding to include joint archival research between Knowledge Keepers, Elders, historians and church representatives who are seeking answers and clarity about the children who never returned home.
This matter is sensitive and requires a careful approach. The Indigenous Reconciliation Fund (IRF) is honoured to contribute to this initiative and will be funding events and site visits to the Provincial Archives in Victoria and the Oblate Archives in Quebec. The IRF understands that this work is critical to uncovering missing records, identifying burial sites and bringing families long overdue answers. This delicate and necessary work must proceed with care and integrity while remaining grounded in the principles of the Sacred Covenant – mutual respect, accountability and truth.
Archdiocese of Vancouver
