This information may be traumatic for residential school survivors, families, and community. If you are feeling pain or distress, please call the free 24-hour crisis line: 1-866-925-4419. You can also call the First Nations and Inuit Hope for Wellness Help Line at 1-855-242-3310. It’s toll-free and open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
The United Church is responding to the issue of unmarked burial sites with an initiative called Bringing the Children Home. It is rooted in our commitment to TRC Calls to Action 73–76; to reparation; and to our Duty of Care.
The Church’s Moderator, the Right Rev. Dr. Richard Bott, stated that “The United Church of Canada was an active participant in a system that ripped Indigenous families apart by forcibly removing the children from their homes (…) We played a critical role in this and we as a church need to be more action-focused in our commitment to reconciliation.”
A special meeting of the General Council Executive on July 20th, 2021 approved an initial three million dollars to fund this work.
For more details regarding Bring the Children Home, visit the United Church website at this link, or email BringingChildrenHome@united-church.ca