The Most Reverend Justin Welby, Archbishop of Canterbury, began his visit to the James Smith Creek Nation, east of Prince Albert, around noon, when he met with officials from the governments of the United States and Nations in Saskatchewan. “I want to acknowledge, for me and my colleagues, the level of pain you are willing to endure so that your story can be heard,” the archbishop said. “I will say that I come from ignorance, I need to hear every shame, I must declare this shame and respect those who have been subjected to such terrible injustices.” Welby said his goal was to “shame” those who wronged school survivors and to honor their pain and grief. Dennis Sanderson of James Smith Cree Nation shared his experiences in residential schools before the Archbishop of Canterbury visited the community on Saturday. (Bryan Eneas / CBC)
He said that it would be impossible for him to understand their sufferings, but that he hoped to move from “unconscious ignorance” to being deeply aware of the experiences of the survivors and to move in humility in front of those gathered. Survivors like Dennis Sanderson gathered at James Smith to share their stories with the archbishop. Sanderson attended Gordon’s Residential School, about 100 miles northeast of Regina, for three years before attending Prince Albert All Saints Residential School. Both were operated by the Anglican Church. “It’s good for them to come and say ‘sorry’, you know? It makes you feel good and we hope it makes our community feel good,” Sanderson said Saturday morning. Sanderson said he was able to cope with the trauma of 11 years of schooling by exploring his culture, his ceremonies and his way of life in the First Nations. The Anglican Church was part of his life growing up outside of residential schools. Sanderson said his father was actively involved in the activities of the Anglican Church in the James Smith Crew Nation. Dennis Sanderson, left, was among those who greeted the archbishop when he arrived at the James Constant Cree Nation Bernard Constant Community School on Saturday. (Bryan Eneas / CBC)
Several survivors shared stories with the archbishop on Saturday about the abuse they experienced in home schools and their lasting effects and injuries. Between 1820 and 1969, the Anglican Church ran about three dozen residential schools in Canada and also ran more than 150 day schools in India, according to a list compiled for Federal Indian Day School group action. St. Stephen’s Anglican Church in the James Smith Cree Nation in Saskatchewan. On Saturday, the Archbishop of Canterbury, the spiritual leader of the Church of England, will visit the community, located southeast of Prince Albert. (Richard Agecoutay / CBC)
The Anglican Church has apologized for its role in boarding schools in 1993 and 2019. It has also paid $ 15.7 million in compensation. The church was also reimbursed $ 2.8 million, which it said it had invested in indigenous service programs after negotiating a different compensation formula with the Roman Catholic Church. Earlier this week, survivors and lawyers questioned the purpose of the visit and whether it would lead to effective action.

Further visits to Canada are planned

Welby, who as archbishop is the religious leader of the Church of England, although he is not the head of the church (a title held by the British monarch), also plans to travel to Prince Albert on Sunday before heading to Toronto. His visit coincides with the 50th session of the Provincial Synod, which is hosted by the Diocese of Saskatchewan at Prince Albert until Sunday. Representatives from Saskatchewan, Alberta and Manitoba, as well as the Northwest Territories and Nunavut will attend. The Archbishop of Canterbury is scheduled to address the crowd at the James Constant Cree Nation Bernard Constant Community School on Saturday afternoon. (Bryan Eneas / CBC)
At 2 a.m. Sunday, Welby will gather with Native and non-Native American leaders.