Resources

Kateri Native Ministry is a locally based ministry that has been committed to the healing, reconciliation and spiritual growth of Indigenous people for over 20 years. They are headquartered in eastern Ontario and serve in communion with the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Ottawa-Cornwall. With their Outreach Missions they are now touching the hearts of people across Canada.

Kateri Native Ministry is a key collaborator in the Archdiocesan Indigenous and Non-Indigenous Relations Committee providing

• leadership
• knowledge
• wisdom
• guidance.

The National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation contains many good resources to get a better understanding of the Residential Schools. The following are some of the reports that might be of interest.

• Official reports from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission
• Report regarding the burial of Indigenous children in cemeteries on Residential School grounds.  “Where are the Children Buried?” by Dr. Scott Hamilton provides a detailed account of the history of the Residential School system and addresses the issue of the burial of indigenous children.

Our Lady of Guadalupe Circle is a Catholic coalition of Indigenous people, bishops, clergy, lay movements and institutes of consecrated life, engaged in renewing and fostering relationships between the Catholic Church and Indigenous Peoples in Canada.

A lay lead initiative, Catholics for Truth and Reconciliation has opportunities for donations, education and a chance to commit to further action so that the reconciiation efforts are ongoing and not just a one-time event.

This newly released book by Sister Eva Solomon provides new paths for the Church and Indigenous Peoples to engage in dialogue. It offers a look into the use of the Medicine Wheel as a framework and dance as a means of healing. It is the first in a series called: New Paths for the Churches and Indigenous Peoples.

Solomon, E. (2022). Come Dance With Me: A Medicine Wheel Practice of Anishinaabe Catholic Interculturation of Faith. Novalis. https://en.novalis.ca/products/come-dance-with-me/
 

The Jesuit Forum engages people in deeper thinking and sharing on what’s going on in our globalized world, starting with their own experience. 

The forum has released a resource book, available in English and French, “Listening to Indigenous Voices: A Dialogue Guide to Justice and Right Relationships”.  This book is intended for use as an educational resource. It was developed with Indigenous leaders and is a good resource for a parish study group.

Kairos Canada is a Canadian ecumenical program administered by the United Church that focuses on faithful action for ecological justice and human rights. One of the programs Kairos helps to facilitate is the Blanket Exercise that exposes participants to a condensed history of indigenous peoples from many perspectives that ends with a talking circle for participants to share their experience. Unfortunately, due to Covid-19 restrictions, Kairos has temporarily suspended hosting Blanket Exercises but plan to resume when conditions allow.