WASHINGTON -- On the heels of a historic moment of healing for Indigenous Peoples in Canada, their counterparts in the United States are anxiously anticipating a federal report on residential schools -- commissioned by one of their own -- that's fuelling hope for the start of a similar reckoning.last June, shortly after becoming the first Indigenous secretary of the interior in U.S. history, and just days after a B.C.
"While the Holy Father was specifically addressing the history in Canada last week, the U.S. bishops are similarly committed to bringing real and honest dialogue on the boarding school period in the United States," said Chieko Noguchi of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. The department will also liaise with Indigenous communities across the U.S., including in Alaska and Hawaii, on how best to handle any such remains.
In November of last year, Haaland's investigation prompted Oklahoma City Archbishop Paul Oakley and James Wall, bishop of Gallup, N.M., to put their fellow bishops on notice about a coming "Kairos" -- an ancient Greek word to describe an opportune moment. "The analysis that has been undertaken is expected to form the basis for future efforts intended to honour Tribal Nations and the families of the Indigenous children who may be interred at boarding school sites," Cherry said.