Timeline of The Presbyterian Church in Canada and Indigenous People
Presbyterian Missionaries begin working with Indigenous people
July 8, 1866Four branches of Presbyterians join together and become The Presbyterian Church in Canada (PCC)
July 8, 1875
G-1741-FC-1 Birtle Residential School c. 1890
Birtle Residential School opens in Birtle, Manitoba and Round Lake Residential School opens in Broadview, Saskatchewan
July 8, 1884Portage la Prairie Residential School opens in Portage la Prairie, Manitoba
July 8, 1886
G-1747-FC File Hills Residential School, 1904
File Hills Residential School opens in Balcarres, Saskatchewan and Muscowpetung Residential School opens in Fort Qu’Appelle, Saskatchewan
July 8, 1888Stoney Plain Residential School opens in Stony Plain, Alberta and Crowstand Residential School opens in Kamsack, Saskatchewan
July 8, 1889
G-6954-FC-31 Indigenous Children at the Alberni School ca. 1915
Alberni Residential School opens in Port Alberni, British Columbia
July 8, 1890Regina Residential School opens in Regina, Saskatchewan
July 8, 1891Stoney Plains Residential School closes
July 8, 1893
G-6973-FC-2 Indigenous students at Ahousaht School and play ground ca. 1907
Ahousaht Residential School opens in Ahousaht, British Columbia
July 8, 1896Muscowpetung Residential School closes
July 8, 1896
G-3914-FC-2 Cecilia Jeffrey Residential School ca. 1960
Cecilia Jeffrey Residential School opens near Kenora, Ontario
July 8, 1902Over 500 Indigenous children are attending Presbyterian Residential Schools
July 8, 1908Regina Industrial School closes
July 8, 1910
G-6373-FC Graduates of Birtle Residential School, 1911
There were 21 centres of Indigenous mission work: 8 boarding schools, 7 day schools attached to reserves, 6 reserves near boarding schools
July 8, 1914Crowstand Residential School closes
July 8, 1915The United Church of Canada is established and assumes responsibility for Ahousaht, Alberni, File Hills, Portage la Prairie and Round Lake Residential Schools, The PCC continues to operate Birtle and Cecilia Jeffrey Residential Schools
July 8, 1925The PCC General Assembly begins studying, acknowledging, and considering actions to address injustices done to Indigenous people
July 8, 1960
G-3882-FC-1 Anamiewigummig (Kenora) Fellowship Centre ca. 1961
The PCC opens Anamiewigummig Fellowship Centre in Kenora, Ontario, an Indigenous Ministry
July 8, 1961The PCC’s responsibility for Birtle and Cecilia Jeffrey Residential Schools is transferred to the Government of Canada
July 8, 1969Birtle Residential School closes
July 8, 1970
G-6585-FC-1 Birtle School and grounds ca. 1955
Reports to General Assemblies in 1975 and 1976 advocate for non-Indigenous members to be informed about the Residential School legacy
July 8, 1975
G-84-SC-62 Students at Cecilia Jeffrey Residential School waiting to board a bus to go home for the summer ca. 1960
Cecilia Jeffrey Residential School closes
July 8, 1976The PCC opens Saskatoon Native Circle Ministry in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, moving to Saskatoon, Saskatchewan in 1986, an Indigenous Ministry
July 8, 1980The PCC opens Cariboo Presbyterian Church in Cariboo-Chilcotin, British Columbia, an Indigenous Ministry
July 8, 1988The PCC forms the National Native Ministries Council
July 8, 1989The Board of World Mission presents the Confession to the General Assembly for its adoption
July 8, 1992The General Assembly adopts the Confession and the PCC presents it to Phil Fontaine, Grand Chief of the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs
July 8, 1994
G-3664-FC-33 Rev. George Vais presents the Confession to Phil Fontaine, 1994
The last Residential School in Canada closes
July 8, 1996The PCC opens Hummingbird Ministries in Vancouver, British Columbia, an Indigenous Ministry
July 8, 2005The PCC launches the Walking Together program to support and seed funding for local healing and reconciliation efforts
July 8, 2006The Indian Residential School Agreement comes into effect, which includes the formation of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada (TRC). The PCC creates the Healing and Reconciliation Seed Fund
July 8, 2007The PCC opens Place of Hope Indigenous Presbyterian Church in Winnipeg, Manitoba, an Indigenous Ministry
July 8, 2007The Government of Canada issues a Statement of Apology to former students of Indian Residential Schools
July 8, 2008
Local Leader Training Workshop at Chippewas of Nawash Unceded First Nation, Cape Croker, Ontario, 2015
The PCC launches its first local leader training workshop for leaders of congregations, presbyteries, and communities
July 8, 2008The PCC participates in the first national TRC event in Winnipeg, Manitoba
July 8, 2010
G-6612-FC-37 Group photograph at TRC national event in Inuvik, Northwest Territories, 2011. First row from right is Commissioner Chief Witton Littlechild; third from right is Commissioner Marie Wilson; second row fourth from right is Shelagh Roders (from CBC); fifth from right is Chief Justice Murrey St. Clair; others are survivors who are now northern political leaders, artists, and a Senator
The PCC participates in national TRC events in Halifax, Nova Scotia and Inuvik, Northwest Territories
July 8, 2011The PCC opens Cedar Tree Ministries in Cowichan, British Columbia, an Indigenous Ministry
July 9, 2012
G-6840-FC-1 TRC national event in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, 2012
The PCC participates in national TRC event in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
July 9, 2012
G-6841-FC TRC national event in Vancouver, British Columbia, 2013
The PCC participates in national TRC events in Montreal, Quebec and Vancouver, British Columbia
July 9, 2013The PCC participates in national TRC event in Edmonton, Alberta
July 9, 2014The PCC issues a statement concerning respect for Indigenous spiritual practices
July 9, 2015The PCC participates in TRC closing event in Ottawa, Ontario where 94 Calls to Action are announced
July 9, 2015The PCC and other churches respond to findings and Calls to Action issued by the TRC
July 9, 2015
The parties of the Settlement Agreement, along with the Jesuits of English Canada, make a joint response to the findings and Calls to Action issued by the TRC. Second from the left is the Rev. Dr. Stephen Farris, Moderator of the PCC, 2015.
The PCC announces plan to implement the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples
July 9, 2016
Churches respond to TRC deadline on commitment to reconciliation. Press conference Ottawa. Third from the right is Rev. Karen Horst of the PCC. From Churches respond to TRC #48, by KAIROS Canada, https://www.kairoscanada.org/photo-albums/2016-events?aid1=10154595628566686#jfbalbum1. Copyright 2019, KAIROS Canada. Reprinted with permission.