You are here:
MEDIA ADVISORY
Remembering the Children
Aboriginal and Church Leaders’ Tour
begins in Ottawa March 2-3, 2008
Toronto: In early March the spiritual leaders of the Anglican, Presbyterian and United Churches, along with representatives of the Roman Catholic Church, and the National Chief of the Assembly of First Nations, will be participating in a multi-city tour to promote the work of the upcoming Indian Residential Schools Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC).
The Remembering the Children tour is scheduled to begin in Ottawa/Gatineau on Sunday, March 2 and will make stops over the next week in Vancouver, Saskatoon, and Winnipeg. Participating in the tour will be:
- Phil Fontaine, National Chief, the Assembly of First Nations
- The Rt. Rev. Dr. David Giuliano, Moderator, The United Church of Canada
- The Most Rev. Fred Hiltz, Primate, the Anglican Church of Canada
- The Rev. Dr. J.H. (Hans) Kouwenberg, Moderator, The Presbyterian Church in Canada
- The Rt. Rev. Mark MacDonald, National Indigenous Anglican Bishop, the Anglican Church of Canada
At various times throughout the tour, local Roman Catholic representatives, along with regional Aboriginal leaders, and representatives of both Inuit and Métis groups, will participate in major public events that are being planned in each city by local organizing committees.
The Ottawa/Gatineau event, which the general public is cordially invited to attend, will officially launch the Remembering the Children Aboriginal and Church Leaders’ Tour. The event is expected to draw a large crowd of indigenous, religious, and political leaders. It takes place from 5:00 p.m. to 7.30 p.m. at the Museum of Civilization in Gatineau, Quebec, across the Ottawa River from Ottawa.
Guests expected to attend Sunday’s launch include the President of the Aboriginal Healing Foundation, George Erasmus; the Interim Executive Director of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, Bob Watts; the Executive Director of the National Residential Schools Survivors Society, Ted Quewezance; and the Archbishop of the Diocese of Gatineau, Archbishop Roger Ébacher.
The colourful launch event, in the impressive Grand Hall of the Museum of Civilization, will involve both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people. It will include a Grand Entry Procession with drumming and music, an occasion to speak the truth about the residential schools, responses seeking reconciliation through liturgical dance, song, word and prayer, and end with a Round Dance with drummers, and feasting, for all those present.
Remembering the Children
Ottawa schedule
Official Launch and Public Event
Sunday, March 2, 2008
5:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
Grand Hall
Canadian Museum of Civilization
100 Laurier Street, Gatineau, Quebec
Members of the public wishing to attend
this free event should arrive by 5 p.m.
News Conference
Monday, March 3, 2008
10:00 a.m.
Charles Lynch Room
Room 130S Centre Block
Parliament Hill, Ottawa
For further information about the Aboriginal and Church Leaders’ tour, please visit:
www.rememberingthechildren.ca.
To arrange media interviews with church or Aboriginal leaders who are taking part in the Remembering the Children tour, please contact:
Mary-Frances Denis
The United Church of Canada
416-231-7680 ext. 2016 (office)
1-800-268-3781 ext. 2016 (toll-free)
mdenis@united-church.ca
Tash Cote
Assembly of First Nations
613-241-6789 ext. 274
tcote@afn.ca
--30--