(Ottawa, ON) – September 30, 2021– The Legacy of Hope Foundation (LHF) wishes to sincerely commend the Catholic Bishops of Canada and their assembly, the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops for their issuance of an apology for their participation within the Residential School System, and their commitment to donate $30 million to assist in Reconciliation efforts.

Established by the Canadian Government and operating from the 1880s up until 1997, the Residential School System was designed in order to “kill the Indian in the child.” Over 150,000 Indigenous (First Nations, Inuit, and Metis) children were torn from their families and forced to attend these schools, where their traditional language and culture were forbidden, and they were subject to horrific abuse and neglect. The Catholic Church, along with other churches across Canada, ran these schools, and contributed to the tremendous hurt that continues to be felt by the Survivors, their families, and their communities.

“The Legacy of Hope Foundation is pleased with the steps that the Catholic Bishops of Canada is taking to redress the harm that they have caused for countless Survivors and their families” said Teresa Edwards, Executive Director and In-House Legal Counsel of the LHF. “Through the Residential School System, the Catholic Church and their dioceses have inflicted grave wounds upon Indigenous Peoples, and this meaningful apology, along with their financial commitment towards Reconciliation, will help towards the healing of these wounds. Although more still needs to be done, I am optimistic that the Catholic Church and the Catholic Bishops of Canada will fulfill their obligations towards Survivors and Intergenerational Survivors of Residential Schools, and that the spirit of compassionate partnership can continue to usher in healing and Reconciliation.”

“The Catholic Bishops of Canada have made a very important step towards helping to make amends towards Survivors and others who were severely impacted by this horrific system” declared LHF Board President, Adam North Peigan. “We remain hopeful that the Catholic Bishops of Canada, along with all other Canadians, can continue to walk together towards the path of true Reconciliation. We also hope that this will lead to an apology from the Pope as well.”

The LHF is celebrated their 21-year anniversary as a national, Indigenous-led, charitable organization that has been working to promote healing and Reconciliation in Canada. The LHF’s goal is to educate and raise awareness about the history and existing intergenerational impacts of the Residential and Day School System, Sixties Scoop, and other colonial acts of oppression on Indigenous (First Nations, Inuit, and Metis) Peoples. The LHF has 25 exhibitions that are available for loan for free. The LHF is working on making several of their exhibitions available online.

LHF also has curriculum from K-12 and for adults, along with Activity Guides, Workshops and Training, and podcasts aimed at educating Canadians about Indigenous history and the shared history of Residential and Day Schools, the Sixties Scoop, and the links to issues such as the high rates of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls, etc. The LHF tries to develop empathy and understanding so as to eliminate racism and foster Reconciliation.