Archbishop nearly ripped up apology, wanted to speak ‘more directly from the heart’

A lot of hurt was shared this weekend as the head of the Anglican Church met with residential school survivors in Saskatchewan.

Andrew Hoskin is the archdeacon and Anglican diocesan administrator in Saskatchewan. He wasn’t at the gathering at the James Smith Cree Nation, but was at the talk the Archbishop of Canterbury, Most Rev. Justin Welby, gave the next day

“(Sunday) afternoon when he spoke, he said he had almost ripped up his formal apology because after hearing the people, he just felt he needed to say something just a little different and more directly from the heart at that point,” said Hoskin.

Hoskin said he got the impression that people were very appreciative of the archbishop coming to Saskatchewan.

“A lot of people I know said his coming and making apology would be another step and a help on their journey of healing,” said Hoskin.

Hoskin spoke with a woman, a residential school survivor, earlier in the week.

“She said just coming and being able to meet Justin Welby and to shake his hand would help her on her healing journey,” relayed Hoskin.

With an apology must come action, said Hoskin, so the archbishop did make some commitments.

“Certainly, (he’ll be) doing what he can to help and to help exercise his influence where he can to help the journey forward,” said Hoskin.

Hoskin said the Anglican Church in Canada has been working to give more autonomy to the Indigenous Anglican church within the Anglican Church of Canada. Hoskin explained there are nine Indigenous bishops in the church — all were at the gatherings on the weekend — and there are ongoing moves in that direction.

“That will help a lot in a lot of the healing because, certainly, within that part of the church the whole process of ongoing healing is a big part of that ministry,” said Hoskin.

Hoskin repeated something the archbishop had said, that everyone is part of the healing and those who aren’t Indigenous are in need of repentance and need to do everything they can to stand together.