United Church congregation acts out reconciliation efforts

As the momentum of the upcoming Truth and Reconciliation Commission event was building both nationally and locally, members of Edmonton’s St. Andrew’s United Church wanted to get involved.

“We recognize the contribution of the First Nations in Canada’s development but we also were painfully aware of the legacy that the residential schools left on several generations,” said Rev. Geoffrey Wilfong-Pritchard, the minister at the west end church. “With the United Church being one of the institutions that operated some of the notorious schools, we felt that we wanted to participate in whichever way we could.”

With the Edmonton event being the last in a series of national events which were conducted over the past four years, the 200-member congregation had heard of the emotional sessions in other locations around the country. And as soon as they were told of some practical activities in which they could participate, they jumped at the chance.

“We have some marvellous sewers and knitters amongst us and it wasn’t long before many members were making prayer shawls and lap quilts,” said Wilfong-Pritchard. “And when the call came out for cupcakes and birthday cards, it was answered enthusiastically as well.”

But perhaps the activity that had the most impact on the congregants was the address by Rev. Cecile Fausak, who is an Alberta-based preacher but is also the national staff person as liaison minister for residential schools for nine years, helping the United Church to live out apologies which were offered in 1986 and 1998.  The first apology addressed issues related to the church’s role in imposing European culture on First Nations’ peoples and the second addressed the harm caused by Indian residential schools more specifically. The apologies were recognized and acknowledged by the Elders, but the church was challenged to live out the words by actions of reconciliation before they would be accepted.

“There is no doubt that there has been a breach between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples in this land,” she told the attentive audience. “First the treaties were not honoured and then the pressure grew to clear the lands for settlement. The Indians were viewed as a problem. The children were taken from their families and home communities to facilitate assimilation.”
The apologies were the beginning, and the United Church took up the challenge to “walk the talk” and begin the healing. As the morning service continued, Fausak’s words, the prayers she led, and the drums that beat, left the St. Andrew’s members with a new understanding and a new resolve to do their part to facilitate the reconciliation in any way they could. Many clustered around her after the service, asking questions and engaging in conversations about racism.

Many St. Andrew’s members also made plans to attend the four-day event. “We are looking forward to continuing a dialogue with the Aboriginal community in the future,” said Wilfong-Pritchard. “As Cecile said, there is still much more work to do.”

Photo caption: “I have been affected because of people in my family who attended residential school and because of our whole nation so I try to come and learn and to be part of the healing we want to take place,” said Anglican Reverend Lily Bell from Haida Gwai, who took in the United Church display at the TRC event.