Following the announcement last week that a mass grave had been found with the remains of an estimated 215 children at the Kamloops Indian Residential School, Vancouver's archbishop has issued an apology for the church's role.
In a series of tweets J. Michael Miller offers an apology and condolences to the families affected by the news.
"The Church was unquestionably wrong in implementing a government colonialist policy which resulted in devastation for children, families and communities," he says in one tweet.
The Archdiocese of Vancouver is the top level of the Roman Catholic Church in B.C. Miller notes the church made records from the school available to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.
He also offers the church's help with support and counselling for those "whose loved ones may be buried on the site of the former Kamloops Indian Residential School." Assistance with technological and professional needs in order to "honour, retrieve and remember their deceased children" is also offered.
4. We commit to supporting the same process and resources to all Nations in whose territories Catholic-run residential schools were forcibly located, and which fall within the historical boundaries of @archvancouver. 12/14
— Archbishop Miller (@archbmiller) June 2, 2021
It's not the first time Miller has made such an apology; in 2013 and 2015 he made similar statements during the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC).
While one of the calls to action issued by the TRC several years ago is for the Pope to apologize, he has not.
It is not known how many children died while at Catholic-run residential schools, but the TRC recorded evidence that at least 4,118 children never returned home after being taken from their families. Experts have suggested higher numbers may be more accurate.
For anyone needing support, resources from a variety of organizations are available.
