More than six months after the signing of a Settlement Agreement between the federal government, and the Anglican Church, the author, General Secretary of General Synod, reflects on the involvement of the Anglican Church with indigenous peoples over the past 10 years and enumerates a number of important things that the Church has learned. "We have learned that the abuse of indigenous peoples in the schools, whether physical, sexual, or through a more insidious denial of culture and language, was real, devastating and profound. We have come to understand that current conditions in aboriginal communities with their poverty, unemployment, high suicide rates, drug and alcohol addiction, family dysfunction -- are often rooted in the experiences of the schools." "We have learned that government is often slow, insensitive and ineffective on aboriginal issues." "We have learned first-hand of the complexity, slowness and adversarial nature of the legal system in this country." "We have learned that communications is a key factor in the life of the church". "We have learned that Anglicans are compassionate and generous people". "Finally, we have learned that the church must give priority to ongoing struggle for justice for indigenous people in Canada."
As of January 30, 2003 18 dioceses had ratified the agreement. Describes the efforts of Archbishop Peers and Archdeacon Boyles to explain the agreement and the materials available. Page 3 has a chart of each diocese's situation.
Article reports on the synods of a number of the dioceses as they ratify the agreement. Chart on page 2 lists each diocese and the amount they are responsible for.
Lay Canon Bud Smith has sharply criticized the settlement with the government because he believes it limits the church's ability to press for redress over cultural abuse.