The Lord's Distant Vineyard: A History of the Oblates and the Catholic Commentary in British Columbia (Book review)
https://archives.anglican.ca/link/article37532
- Author
- McNally, Vincent J. (Vincent Joseph), 1943-
- Reviewer
- Gresko, Jacqueline, 1947-
- Material Type
- Journal Article
- Journal
- Journal of the Canadian Church Historical Society
- Date
- 2001 Spring
- Reviewer
- Gresko, Jacqueline, 1947-
- Material Type
- Journal Article
- Date
- 2001 Spring
- Volume
- 43
- Issue
- 1
- Page
- 103-106
- Notes
- This title is a volume in the Western Oblate History Project series. The author "bases it mainly on Canadian Oblate archives but deserves credit for research done in other repositories. He presents an informative survey although his viewpoint is somewhat elitist and negative" (p. 103). "Although McNally titles the second part of his book 'Native People', he emphasizes social control style history. He argues that the Oblates saw 'Native culture as essentially "meaningless", if not evil'. (34) A more nuanced discussion of Oblate ministry might be possible if McNally drew on the work of Jacqueline Peterson in 'Sacred Encounters: Father De Smet and the Indians of the Rocky Mountain West' (University of Oklahoma Press, 1993). By casting the Natives as victims of Oblate missions McNally leaves some aspects of their history in shadows" (p. 104). "By looking at the missionaries as victimizers McNally obscures some of their history too" (p. 104). "McNally concludes that Catholic residential schools for Native children were, on the whole, destructive and racist institutions. He does not take into account the Catholic Sisters' role in establishing them. The Sisters took in 'orphan' Metis pupils at the families' requests. The woman sacrificed to make up shortfalls in funding, for clerics controlled missionary society funds and only 'status Indians' met government grant requirements" (p. 105). "Owing to problems with archival access McNally can only sketch out highlights of Catholic history in British Columbia after World War II. He has, however, indicated areas that merit further exploration, such as the relatively late development of missions to Asian immigrants. 'The Lord's Distant Vineyards' will be a great help to historians researching these topics" (p. 106).
- Subjects
- Oblates of Mary Immaculate - Missions - British Columbia - History - Book reviews
- Indigenous peoples - Canada - Missions - History - Book reviews
- Indigenous peoples - British Columbia - Missions - History - Book reviews
- Catholic Church - British Columbia - History - Book reviews
- Indigenous peoples - Canada - Catholic Church - History - Book reviews
- Location
- General Synod Archives