The Presbyterian Church in Canada has apologized to First Nations peoples for its two residential schools.
“It is with deep humility and in great sorrow that we come before God and our aboriginal brothers and sisters with our confession,” said Rev. George Vias, head of the church, at a healing ceremony in Winnipeg on Oct. 8.
The Presbyterian Church ran a residential school in Britle, Man. from the 1880s to the late 1960s and the Cecilia-Jaffrey residential school in Kenora. Some 12,000 students passed through the doors of the Britle Industrial Training School.
“We regret that there were those who are deeply scarred by the mission and Ministry of the church,” said Vias.