First Nation, dioceses move forward together – The Catholic Register

April 12, 2024

The journey to the Easter Sunday signing in Kamloops of a sacred covenant between the Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc (Kamloops First Nation) and Catholic bishops from Vancouver and Kamloops took several years, and it was the efforts of two men that began the process, say Kamloops Chief Rosanne Casimir and Vancouver Archbishop J. Michael Miller.

Both leaders credited former Kamloops Chief Manny Jules and former Assembly of First Nations Chief Phil Fontaine for what Casmir said was “the seed of the idea that was planted” in 2021.

Casimir offered a “special, special thank you” to the two for drafting the initial Sacred Covenant, “and for the many, many hands that continue to shape it and nurture it to bring it to this signing.”

Miller and Kamloops Bishop Joseph Nguyen took part in the signing ceremony Easter Sunday. At the ceremony, Miller offered his appreciation to the two former chiefs, who became involved after reports in 2021 of missing children at the site of the former Kamloops Indian Residential School.

Read More: https://www.catholicregister.org/item/36657-first-nation-dioceses-move-forward-together