The Role of Archives in Truth and Healing: A Virtual Discussion for Leaders and Archivists of Religious Communities and Dioceses

In collaboration with the Catholic Accountability and Healing Project and the USCCB Subcommittee on Native American Affairs, Archivists for Congregations of Women Religious (ACWR) offers its second and third in a series of leadership-centered webinars on March 3rd and April 5th at 3:00 p.m.

Session I: A Framework and First Steps
Thursday, March 3, 3-4:30pm Eastern

Maka Black Elk, Executive Director of the Truth and Healing at Red Cloud Indian School, will give an overview of the harm caused by the Catholic Church’s cooperation with the U.S. Indian Boarding School Policy, and offer a framework for the important role that locating and making accessible archives can play in the Truth and Healing process. 

Session II: Collaboration with Tribal Nations
Tuesday, April 5, 3-4:30pm Eastern

Sr. Eleanor Craig and Libby Comeaux of the Sisters of Loretto will describe the steps taken by the Loretto Heritage Center regarding boarding schools over the last few years: their review of their archival holdings, their relationship-building with the Osage Nation, and their near-future hopes for this unfolding process. Also presenting will be Kilan Jacobs, enrolled member of the Osage Nation and Tribal Research Assistant with the Osage Tribal Historic Preservation Office in Pawhuska, Oklahoma.

Truth and Healing Resource Guide

Catholics for Boarding School Accountability, a grassroots organization of lay and religious, offered a four-part webinar series last fall designed to help religious explore Indian Boarding School policy; how boarding schools were harmful to Native people and communities; the role the Church played; how religious communities were involved, and the responsibility we have to contribute to a process of truth and healing.  Organizers hope the series will support religious congregations in beginning to engage the work of truth and healing. In that spirit, we have received the approval to share the three webinars that were recorded in that original series with registrants for our current ACWR-sponsored series. 

Session 2 | Webinar: Boarding Schools and Historical Trauma

Leaders in the field of Native American Boarding School Healing explores the history and ongoing impacts of the Indian Boarding School Era and how the Catholic Church was involved.

Session 3 | Webinar: Current Efforts Toward Truth and Healing (Nov 11, 7-8:30 ET)

A panel of Catholics engaged in Indigenous truth and healing in Canada and the U.S. reflects on their experiences and current work in the field.

Speaker Biographies