Truth and Reconciliation
Julian of Norwich Anglican Church acknowledges the location of its worship and community space on the traditional, unceded territories of the Algonquin nation.
The Anglican Church of Canada, along with the Presbyterian Church in Canada, the Roman Catholic Church, and the United Church of Canada were partners with the Government of Canada in running Indian Residential Schools. These schools, in policy and practice, were an assault on Indigenous families, culture, language and spiritual traditions. Great harm was done.
We continue to acknowledge and regret our part in that legacy, and to respond to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s 2015 Calls to Action in fostering new and just relations with Indigenous peoples.
The Anglican Church acknowledges the significant responsibilities arising from its role in residential schools, and the need for a continuing and active commitment to reconciliation.
As a national body, the Anglican Church of Canada appointed Mark MacDonald as the first National Indigenous Anglican Bishop and Melanie Delva as the Reconciliation Animator to develop reconciliation as a spiritual practice built into who we are.
Through the Anglican Healing Fund, the Church continues to financially support local, community-led healing projects that encourage and initiate programs to help heal, educate, and recover Indigenous language and culture.
Joining with the National Church and parishes throughout the country, Julian of Norwich also prioritizes its participation in a continued journey of reconciliation.
Responding as a Church to the TRC’s Calls to Action
Call to Action 59 calls on churches to: develop ongoing education strategies to ensure that congregations learn about their church’s role in colonization, the history and legacy of residential schools, and why apologies to former residential school students, their families, and communities were necessary. (Sourced from Christ Church Cathedral, Vancouver.)
We are responding to this call through various activities including the hosting of the Journeying as Allies Book Study, weekly acknowledgment of the land before our 10 a.m. service, addition of prayers for reconciliation throughout the year, and the celebration of National Indigenous Day in June each year.