Let's stop violence in Canada!

In recent weeks, local riots have erupted in various places in Canada time and again: disgruntled people set churches on fire, toppled statues of British queens and staged protest marches. Eyewitnesses managed to film two women throwing orange paint at St. Jude's Catholic parish near Renfrew Street and 15th Avenue in Vancouver. And this is just one form of pronounced vandalism that is gaining momentum, with two Anglican and four Catholic churches in British Columbia alone recently burned to the ground.

Christians and some Indigenous people in Canada who once managed to survive in Catholic residential schools now criticize the burning and defacing of churches. They warn that the violence further divides Indigenous people and the rest of Canadian society, as well as the country's government, police and religious institutions.

Condemnation of riots

Cheryl Delores Gunargi O'Sullivan, one of the survivors of a Catholic boarding school, condemns the rebellious behaviour of Canadians, calling it destructive: "These actions cause us more trauma and do not show solidarity. They won't help us rebuild our relationship with religion, with the government, or even with the police. All of this needs to stop so that we can focus on the children we have yet to find."

Vandalism and suspicious fires began in the country immediately after the discovery of graves containing the remains of children in British Columbia and Saskatchewan. It is well known that these gruesome discoveries are directly linked to Canada's system of Catholic boarding schools, which educated indigenous children in the last century.

The best way to express solidarity is to stop hate

Jenn Allan, daughter and niece of residential school survivors, observed that some of the survivors of those dark years remained Catholic. However, with the burning of their churches, places of worship, they received a new mental trauma.

According to Allaan, "Burning and destroying churches brings more strife, depression and anxiety to those who are already in pain and grief. Survivors in Canadian residential schools are shocked by the sight of burning and defaced churches. Such events remind them of past violence and threats. The feelings of these people are severely traumatized. All of this only leads to a further division between Indigenous peoples in Canada and the rest of Canadian society.

The woman also added that the path of violence is not the path to follow: "We don't hate people. We don't sow hatred. We love people. We don't destroy other people's places of religious worship. If you want to express your solidarity, stand up and mourn our grief while the search for our children's bodies goes on."

The Archdiocese of Vancouver expresses its condolences for all that has happened and urges Canadians to move forward through reconciliation, dialogue with Indigenous peoples and redemption: "Churches are made up of people, and many of our parishioners are Indigenous, refugees and immigrants: the very people we should all seek to protect, not terrorize."

Cheryl O'Sullivan urged Canadian society to start repairing broken relationships: "Let's start the healing process and become a cure for ourselves and the people around us."

Vancouver police have confirmed they are already searching for the two women who desecrated St. Jude Parish last Thursday.

Note

If you have been affected by the residential school system and need emotional support or help, contact the Indian Residential School Survivor Community by calling toll-free at:1 (800) 721-0066

or by calling the 24-hour crisis line at 1 (866) 925-4419.