Fund for Reconciliation, Solidarity and Communion Contributes for Aboriginal Community-Based Initiatives
Wednesday, January 20 1999Ottawa — Twenty community initiatives across Canada will receive financial support from the Fund for Reconciliation, Solidarity and Communion. The Fund was initiated by the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops and financed through voluntary contributions from Catholic dioceses and other Catholic organizations across the country.
The twenty projects will receive a total of $109,350 and include support for community healing for harms experienced as a result of the Indian residential school system, programs for the revitalization and celebration of aboriginal languages, and projects which promote a broader understanding between aboriginal and non-aboriginal peoples in Church and society.
The Fund is administered by the Council for Reconciliation, Solidarity and Communion. The Council was initiated by Canada’s bishops as part of a commitment made to the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples to address in word and action all that continues to marginalize aboriginal peoples in Canada. It is focussed on strengthening the spiritual foundations to support reconciliation,solidarity and communion among Canada’s founding cultures.
Seven aboriginal Catholic leaders and two bishops make up the Council. They will meet again in June to examine new proposals and allocate funds for various projects submitted by aboriginal groups across Canada.
A list of the funded projects is attached.
Projects Approved
| ALBERTA | Amount Approved($) |
| St. Joseph’s Pilgrimage (Kehewin Cree Nation) | 5,000 |
| Residential School Legacy Forum (Blue Quills First Nations) | 2,500 |
| BRITISH COUMBIA | |
| Sulsila lelum Healing Centre Residential Schools Workshops (Musqueam Indian Band) | 5,000 |
| We Wai Kai People and our Neighbours (Youth focus) (Cape Mudge Band Council) | 2,000 |
| Frontline Worker Training and Professional Development (Laichwiltach Family Life Society) | 6,500 |
| ONTARIO | |
| Sharing Circle Project (Algonquin of Pikwakanagan First Nation Health Services) | 3,750 |
| Men’s Healing and Wellness Conference (Wikwemikong Health Centre) | 5,000 |
| Residential School Impact/Study (Anishnabeg Survivors of Residential Schools) | 5,000 |
| Expédition “Apollo” (École secondaire Ste. Marie) | 1,000 |
| Ochiichagwe’Babigo’Ining First Nation Reconciliation, Solidarity and Communion Initiative | 6,500 |
| Moosonee Community Support Team (Moosonee Native Friendship Centre) | 1,500 |
| Multi-media Cd-Rom Project (Grassy Narrows Education Authority) | 7,000 |
| Community Healing Conference (Peetabeck Health Services) | 10,000 |
| QUÉBEC | |
| Nemaska First Nation Wellness Program (Nemaska First Nation) | 10,000 |
| Winter Healing Initiative for Mohawks in Oka and Kanesatake (Oka United Church) | 5,000 |
| SASKATCHEWAN | |
| Cree Language Revitalization projects (Marcelin/Kihiw School) | 4,600 |
| Time to Break the Silence: Community Healing Circles (Yorkton Tribal Council) | 11,000 |
| Super Saturday Program (Saskatoon Tribal Council Advisory Board of Education) | 2,000 |
| NATIONAL | |
| Resource kit “As Long as the Sun Rises and the River Flows” (Aboriginal Rights Coalition-Project North) | 10,000 |
| Alternative Dispute Resolution Explanatory Dialogue (Assembly of First Nations) | 6,000 |