By Kiply Lukan Yaworski, Catholic Saskatoon News
A Diocesan Reconciliation Forum was held Feb. 29 at the Catholic Pastoral Centre in Saskatoon to provide information and updates about the Indigenous Reconciliation Fund (IRF) in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Saskatoon.
The evening “meet and greet” included the launch of three videos — one providing an overview of the fund itself, a second about the impact of one of the projects supported by the IRF, and a third about why to donate, from the perspective of one local couple.
The forum also included a presentation by Indigenous artist and knowledge keeper Linda Young, a Plains Cree woman and Residential School Survivor originally from Onion Lake First Nation, who shared her experiences, artistic vision, and insights from her own healing journey.
Myron Rogal of the diocesan Office of Justice and Peace, thanks guest speaker Linda Young, an Indigenous artist and Knowledge Keeper. (Photo by Kiply Lukan Yaworski, Catholic Saskatoon News)
Videos launched
In the first of the videos shown at the forum, Dr. Gordon Martell of the Indigenous Discernment Circle in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Saskatoon and Bishop Mark Hagemoen provided information about the Indigenous Reconciliation Fund (IRF) – the commitment by Catholic dioceses across Canada to establish a $30-million fund over 5-7 years. The diocese of Saskatoon’s portion is $1.25 million.
The national fund is a federally incorporated not-for-profit, registered charity with its own independent board of directors, all of whom are Indigenous. To date, the IRF has approved over 90 projects across Canada emphasizing healing and reconciliation for communities and families, supporting culture and language revitalization as well as education and community building, and promoting Indigenous spirituality and culture.
In the diocese of Saskatoon, a Discernment Circle was established to oversee the application and local granting process.
“The Discernment Circle serves as an accountable entity to ensure that our participation in the IRF advantages Indigenous community voice and participation,” explains Dr. Gordon Martell in the overview video. “We came together in prayer and ceremony to make sense of the opportunity that we had to effect positive change, and to seek guidance in making the best decisions possible.”
Bishop Hagemoen adds: “Our circle recognizes the sacred trust inherent in stewardship of Indigenous Reconciliation Fund resources and its role in fostering Indigenous community healing and development.”
What is the impact?
To date, $1,019,550 has been raised for the IRF in the diocese of Saskatoon, and in the first year, seven projects have been funded, totalling $256,800. This has included support for cultural and family healing programming at Haven Family Connections – the impact of which is described by participants in the second video launched at the forum.
In its first year, the IRF in the diocese of Saskatoon has also funded six other projects in the community. “The initiatives included fostering reconciliation among diverse peoples, supporting the protection and proliferation of Indigenous languages, providing cultural supports for children and families, and providing supports to those experiencing the intragenerational effects of residential schools,” says Martell.
Find a list of the projects supported in the first year of the IRF in the diocese of Saskatoon at – LINK
The application process continues to be open for funding other projects. “We invite applications to the fund, especially from Indigenous communities and organizations that address the inter-generational effects of residential schools, or that support the development of Indigenous languages and cultures,” says Martell. For more information about the critera and how to apply, see the diocesan website at – https://rcdos.ca/indigenous-reconciliation-fund/
Why donate?
In the third video, donors Shawna and Derrick Kunz of Holy Spirit Parish in Saskatoon explain why they decided to support the Indigenous Reconciliation Fund.
To make a gift to the diocese’s IRF efforts as part of its Catholic TRC Healing Response, visit: https://dscf.ca/trc/ or contact the Diocese of Saskatoon Catholic Foundation at (306) 659-5851.
Concluding words
“My dad was a residential school survivor and it’s his legacy that motivates my participation in this process,” notes Martell in the first video. “I want to ensure that we make the greatest impact on the greatest number of people over the course of our mandate. If we all do our part, we can help to change the narrative so that the children and youth of today live healthy, balanced and fulfilling lives.”
Hagemoen adds: “In the words of Pope Francis, who sums up that this journey as follows: ‘It is not easy to walk together, but it is possible.’ ….I thank our Discernment Circle and Granting Committee for their effort and leadership in helping our diocese take the long and steady journey of reconciliation and healing.”
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