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NEWS RELEASE
SALT + LIGHT MEDIA RELEASES WALKING TOGETHER,
A DOCUMENTARY ON THE COMPLEX PERSONAL, SPIRITUAL AND CULTURAL REALITIES OF INDIGENOUS SURVIVORS OF THE CANADIAN GOVERNMENT'S RESIDENTIAL SCHOOLS AND THE RENEWED COMMITMENT TO HEALING AND PEACE AMONG THE INDIGENOUS, CATHOLIC CHURCH AND BEYOND.
Documentary premieres Sunday, July 17, 2022, 8:30 p.m. ET on Salt + Light TV
TORONTO, JULY 13, 2022 – Salt + Light Media has completed a documentary on the historic meetings that took place at the Vatican in March and April 2022 between Pope Francis and delegations of Indigenous Peoples from Canada. The 59-minute documentary offers behind-the-scenes access to the experiences of representatives of the Assembly of First Nations, Métis National Council and Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami, as they joined their communities and all Indigenous Peoples in receiving Pope Francis' apology for the role Catholic leaders and representatives played in the abuses committed within Canada's residential school system.
“The documentary captures the emotions from this year's historical events and will help Canadians appreciate the broader story of the journey toward a meaningful reconciliation,” says Fr. Alan Fogarty, SJ, Executive Producer and CEO of Salt + Light Media. “Every Canadian and person of faith is called to participate in this journey – today, and well into the future. We know that by documenting and sharing these testimonies, especially leading up to the Pope's Apostolic Journey to Canada, we can play a critical role in the healing process.”
Produced, directed and narrated by Pedro Guevara-Mann, the film features interviews with Wilton Littlechild, former Grand Chief of the Confederacy of Treaty Six First Nations and Member of Parliament; Natan Obed, President of the Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami; Cassidy Caron, President of the Métis National Council; and other Indigenous delegates, as well as bishops from Canadian Catholic dioceses. It also contains footage from the meetings that took place at the Vatican this spring, as well as from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission process that preceded the encounter.
“Reconciliation is not a checkmark we put on a box,” says Pedro Guevara-Mann. “It's an ongoing journey of relationship that requires hard work. I'm honoured to be part of this journey."
The film is the first of a series of three documentaries Salt + Light Media has committed to produce on residential schools, Indigenous Peoples and faith, and the truth and reconciliation process. The second is in production and is expected to be completed by late fall of 2022.
The documentary is also available on Salt + Light Plus, the channel's subscription based streaming service. Salt + Light Plus is available online at slmedia.org/slplus or by downloading an app from the Roku and Amazon Fire TV stores. The French-subtitled version, titled Marcher Ensemble, is available on Salt + Light Plus here.
PHOTO: Salt + Light Media
Excerpts from the documentary:
“Truth and reconciliation is possible, but in order to get to reconciliation, we need to get to the truth, and some of the truth is Canada's darkest history.” Sempulyan Stewart Gonzales
“What's happening here is an opportunity for us as bishops to create a context where survivors, Indigenous peoples are able to speak directly to the pope of their experience, for him to be able to hear them and engage, but also to do this part of the walk together.” Archbishop Donald Bolen
“I wanted him to hear us, and he sure did. And he reflected that back to us, which was incredibly powerful. You know that he is personally committed to moving forward on these issues. And we don't know how that's going to look quite yet, but I know that he heard us.” Cassidy Caron
“Reconciliation can mean many things at many times, but it requires for non-Indigenous peoples and Indigenous peoples to both play a positive role within that constructive space.” Natan Obed
“Forgiveness is the hardest thing. The hardest. But I'll tell you, it's one of the most powerfulest things an individual could do.” Ted Quewezance
About Salt + Light Media
Salt and Light Catholic Media Foundation is a Canadian registered charity devoted to spreading the Light of Christ to the world through television, social media, podcasts, print and other forms of digital communication in English, French, Cantonese and Mandarin. Its specialty television network, Salt + Light TV, is carried across Canada on most major cable and satellite television carriers. Salt + Light Plus, its Internet streaming service, is available on Roku and Amazon Fire TV devices or by visiting slmedia.org.
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