Campus Christian Educational Communities Affirm Commitment

As members of the University of Saskatchewan community, the College of Emmanuel & St. Chad, Lutheran Theological Seminary, Saskatoon, St. Andrew’s College, and St. Thomas More College, affirm the statement issued by the University on January 13^th regarding the announcement from Star Blanket Cree Nation: “The University of Saskatchewan stands with Star Blanket Cree Nation following the discovery of human remains and many potential unmarked graves at the site of the former Qu’Appelle Indian Industrial School near Lebret, Saskatchewan.”

As four Christian educational communities, who are located on Treaty 6 Territory and the Traditional Homeland of the Métis, we mourn with those who are mourning at this time of painful discovery. We are committed to shared work to reveal histories of complicity and to contribute to the project we must all take up: to decolonize ourselves and our institutions as one faithful step towards reconciliation. Our faith tradition reminds us that in being present to one another, the power of lament reveals our interconnexions and responsibility to one another. In this moment, when Star Blanket Cree Nation finds their lost and missing family, we recommit to the shared work of reconciliation.

For our Indigenous kin and friends on campus, please know that there are support systems for you as members of the University, which can be found here: https://indigenous.usask.ca/resources/wellness-resources.php. For those beyond the University of Saskatchewan, the Federal Government’s Hope and Wellness Help Line can be found here: https://www.sac-isc.gc.ca/eng/1576089519527/1576089566478