The spiritual leader of the Anglican Church told survivors gathered in a Saskatchewan First Nation on Saturday that he regretted the church had allowed a “terrible crime” to occur in residential schools. The Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, 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 Indians, including James’s in Saskatchewan. “I want to recognize, for me and my colleagues, the level of pain you are willing to endure so that your story can be heard,” Welby 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.” Survivors from all over Saskatchewan shared their stories of how the housing school system tore families apart, created problems of self-esteem and self-doubt, and left them with trauma as a result of sexual and physical abuse. Many spoke of how they did not blame the church, but those who acted on behalf of the church. 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)
After hearing their stories, Welby apologized. “The grace you showed by saying that it was not the church that did this – I guess it’s a great grace. I guess I mean that’s probably the only thing I doubt. It was not the church that did it but it was the church that did it. “It allowed it. It allowed it. It turned a blind eye to it. And it still does, sometimes,” Welby said. “And for this horrible crime, sin, the evil of conscious stupidity – because evil is stupid. To build hell and put children in it. And to staff it. I’m more sorry than I could ever be. “I’m starting to express myself … I’m sorry. I’m more sorry than I could say. I’m ashamed. I’m terrified.” He said that understanding the pain of the survivors would be impossible, but that he hoped to move from “unconscious ignorance” to being deeply aware of their experiences 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. Dennis Sanderson, left, was among those who greeted Welby when he arrived at the James Constant Cree Nation Bernard Constant Community School on Saturday. (Bryan Eneas / CBC)
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. 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, Welby visited 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, though 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 addressed 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. Support is available to anyone affected by the school’s prolonged impact on homes and to those affected by the latest reports. A national Indian housing school crisis line has been set up to provide support to school survivors and others affected. People can access emotional and crisis referral services by calling the 24-hour national crisis hotline: 1-866-925-4419.