The ongoing discovery of unmarked graves on the grounds of former residential school sites did not come as a surprise to those in relationship with Indigenous and Métis peoples. The stories of this child or that child being buried in the dead of night have long been told by the survivors. However, I don’t think that anyone was prepared for the way in which the discovery of the 215 graves at Kamloops captured the imagination of so many people across our nation. What was abstract suddenly became concrete, and the stories somehow became more rooted and emotional, such that the only response possible was to, ‘weep with those who weep.’ Romans 12:15.

When the news first broke in Saskatoon, the Bishop called Fr. Mick Fleming (Pastor of St. Mary’s) and Debbie Ledoux (Parish Life Director of Our Lady of Guadalupe) to ask them to call together the Elders and Leaders of Our Lady of Guadalupe, to see what the diocese could do by way of a response. The need to mourn the lost — those children who did not return home from the residential schools, and those who returned home lost became the guiding image that came out of that meeting and a traditional four-day wake was held on the grounds of St Mary’s Church to honour the lost.

A fire was blessed by the bishop on the first day, and the flames of that fire kept alive over the four day wake. Candles were lit from that fire, and given to each person who prayed with us over the four days to represent an individual child. Each candle was allowed to burn for as long as it would last exposed to the elements. Each evening the wake ended at 6pm with the sacred drum and Evening Prayer for the dead.

Each morning of the wake began at 6am with a pipe ceremony and an honour song performed by Mario Fiddler and his children, followed by the morning prayer for the dead, and a the opening and the closing a mixture of prayer, listening, weeping and healing took place. The four-day event, held on the grounds of St. Mary’s in Saskatoon, aimed to provide a prayerful presence to those struggling with the profound grief, anger and hurt of the recent discoveries.

The wake came to an end at the 1pm Mass at Our Lady of Guadalupe parish where, again the Bishop presided, and was asked to light a single candle identical to the hundreds of spent candles representing those whose lives were lost at the residential school. It was lit in front of a rock bearing the Cree word “Pakoseyimowin” meaning “hope.” After the Mass, Elder Rod addressed the congregation about how difficult it was for him to participate in this wake, because of his own experiences, but he also spoke about his recognition that something new was happening here. Debbie Ledoux also spoke about her own difficulties working for the Church as an indigenous woman who went to a residential school, and the pain that these discoveries were causing in our community.

We intend to continue the wake for the next three years to continue the prayer.Pictures reprinted with permission of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Saskatoon. Click here https://rcdos.ca/…/our-lady-of-guadalupe-parish-holds…/ to read the Diocese of Saskatoon’s article on the 4 day wake and for more pictures and video.