CCBI News – Whole-Person Healing, Penitential Pilgrimage; Indigenous Wellness—For and With Indigenous

July 25, 2022

Dear Friends of CCBI,

Walking Together for Healing: A ‘Penitential Pilgrimage’

This is such an important week for Canadians, especially for Indigenous peoples, as the Pope arrives in Canada! Archbishop Smith of Edmonton is at the forefront of Catholic and world news as the leader of the team welcoming the Pope on his historic visit to speak with representatives and attendees about the Church’s responsibility for the abuse of so many young students at residential schools. Pope Francis calls his visit a ‘penitential pilgrimage.’ We know now that victims of abuse deal with physical, psychological and spiritual issues for decades, if not for ever, and often succumb to using drugs and alcohol to deaden their pain and suffering. Physical and mental violation also destroys trust and reliance on others, and, while some victims respond fairly well to counselling, psychological and spiritual, others do not.

In Catholic bioethics, the power of prayer is seen as essential in contributing to the healing of body, mind and soul. Physical healing is, of course, essential, but whole-person healing is the goal. It is perhaps unfair to place too much responsibility on the shoulders of the Pope, but experience has shown he is authentically appalled at the atrocities committed and has already responded to indigenous representatives in an open and caring way. He is leading the way in the ‘walking together’ which the rest of us must now do. We must acknowledge the wrongs and continue to right them. Personal responsibility is not the point: this matter calls for the use of the major pillar of Catholic Social Teaching in action – solidarity. Archbishop Smith calls on us to pay attention to the theme of “Walking Together,” the theme of the Pope’s Visit. “This is what we understand we need to do right now: Walk together, find pathways to mutual understanding, to mutual respect, mutual help and healing.” He reminded us that many of us now have “…the sense of wanting to take this issue on fully and move forward in a way that will bring healing to everybody that needs it….”

Health Care for the Indigenous with the Indigenous

The new Director of Indigenous Wellness at Unity Health, Dr Janet Smylie, recently outlined her priorities for health care for the indigenous in an internal hospital publication. She noted that not only do Indigenous peoples have a legal right to be involved in matters that affect them, but that it simply makes sense to work with them in ways that respect their cultural and societal norms. This approach is developing in many forms of working together / journeying together and is also the approach used by Pope Francis in calling us towards a synodal Church: walking together, or, in a more populist vein, “Nothing about us without us!” As Dr Smylie says:”No one knows what Indigenous people need more than the Indigenous community,” and society and the Church have been slow to recognize that. It will be interesting to see if the Pope refers to these aspects while he is here.

There are approximately 90,000 First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples living in Toronto and about 90 per cent are living under the low income cut off. Many of these individuals are young people or single caregivers, which can make it difficult to access care. For example, Dr Smylie notes that if a person needs to take the TTC with multiple children in-hand to access care, this makes it much more difficult than if you have a car and childcare. Another barrier, perhaps the biggest one according to her, is a lack of trust in the health care system. There is fear among many Indigenous peoples that they will be treated differently simply because they are Indigenous. Dr Smylie plans to build ‘Indigenous care pathways’ to aid navigation through the system and to build trust, sadly lacking and illustrated by the shocking treatment and death of Ms Joyce Echakwan, who died in a Quebec hospital after staff did not believe her when she told them her symptoms, but instead mocked and ridiculed her as she lay dying.

Bishop of Edmonton looks ahead to Pope’s penitential pilgrimage – Vatican News
Meet Dr. Janet Smylie, the new Strategic Lead of Indigenous Wellness, Reconciliation and Partnerships at Unity Health Toronto – Unity Health Toronto

Pope Francis’ Intention for the Month of July

We pray that, in social, economic and political situations of conflict, we may be courageous and
passionate architects of dialogue and friendship!

Let us pray for Pope Francis and all involved in the papal visit, that the journey towards reconciliation and healing be continued by all Canadians!

Moira and Bambi