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A penitential walk toward reconciliation
WATCH THE STORY OF THE SACRED JOURNEY
The First Entry
This Sacred Journey is an action with deep and profound cross-cultural resonances in our own history, and in our Judeo-Christian heritage, as well as in the traditions and beliefs of First Nations peoples in this part of the world, and elsewhere. As the Anglican Church, we entered these lands as colonists, asserting our right to ownership of the land and domination over its Indigenous peoples. Over the past number of years, we have realized this sad reality, and we have made apologies for our involvement in the residential schools and everything they stood for. I believed there was yet another important step that needs to be taken, as we move beyond apology towards a renewed and right relationship with the First Peoples of these Islands. We, through our forebears, entered this land the first time, as one writer has said, “with God on our backs.” Our God. We failed to see that the Creator was here before us.
Now we, in our generation, need to re-enter this land in a new way. What will that look like for us? How do we learn from the people who have lived here for centuries? How do we re-enter this land? Not to take possession of it as we did before, but to seek permission to live here amongst those who have been here far longer than we have, and have much to teach us.
A sacrament, as our Catechism reminds us, is “an outward and visible sign of an inward and spiritual grace.” And so it is with this Sacred Journey. It is a physical journey, that’s for sure – 480 kilometres long! But also, and much more importantly, it is a spiritual journey.
In his sermon at my consecration, Father Martin Brokenleg spoke of the bishop’s role as that of “Si’em,” or “Family Chief.” It is the Si’em’s responsibility to undertake such a journey on behalf of his or her people. But in a very real sense, we all, in this diocese have taken part. — Bishop Logan
The Second Entry
For the period of March 6-27, 2016 during the liturgical church season of Lent, Bishop Logan walked 480 kilometres from Alert Bay to Victoria seeking permission from First Nations representatives to enter and stay on the traditional lands. This was a penitential journey undertaken as a personal act of repentance by the bishop and on behalf of all Anglicans in this diocese. Several events took place along the walk route, beginning at Christ Church in Alert Bay and culminating in an Easter Day liturgy at Christ Church Cathedral in Victoria.
From March 26-31, 2017 the bishop completed a second phase of the walk from Port McNeill with stops along the way culminating at Sooke.
In the News
Anglican Journal April 13, 2016
Times Colonist, March 28, 2016
Times Colonist, March 10, 2016
Anglican Journal March 4, 2016
Anglican Journal April 1, 2016