'Quit burning down churches': Indigenous minister pleads for an end to the church fires
Two Indigenous leaders are calling for an end to church burning, including an assistant Pentecostal minister.
The call comes after several Christian churches in B.C. were burned to the ground over a period of two weeks. Although it remains unclear who is responsible, some have speculated that the fires are retaliatory following the confirmation of hundreds of unmarked graves at former residential schools, which themselves were run by various churches.
“I'm a 60s Scoop survivor and the daughter of a residential school survivor,” said Jenn Allan-Riley, assistant minister at Living Waters Church, in a press conference on Monday in Vancouver.
“We're here to basically ask people to basically quit burning down churches. We're concerned about the burning and defacing of churches bringing more strife, depression and anxiety to those already in pain and mourning."
Allan-Riley said that many residential school survivors are triggered by the sight of burning and defaced churches, and that the acts are sowing “further division” between Indigenous people and non-Indigenous people.
“It also brings up former traumatic feelings of violence and threats to their lives," she said.
“Some residential school survivors have remained Catholic, and now have lost their place of worship and comfort.”
Allan-Riley said she doesn’t believe that Indigenous people would have lit the fires, and said that there are other ways for non-Indigenous people to stand in solidarity.
“This is not our native way,” she said.
RCMP have said the church fires, which were lit at night, are suspicious. However, they have not announced any arrests or suspect descriptions.
“Whoever is doing this you're going to wake up a very ugly evil spirit in this country, and it's gonna spread across this country, and it's gonna destroy it,” Allan-Riley said.
“If you want to support us you can stand with us and you can mourn in our grief and support us as we discover more graves across this country.”
Some residential school records are currently being processed at the Royal BC Museum.
However Cheryle O’Sullivan worries that other records have been lost or will be lost if the church burning continues.
“Who would do this? When those churches are burnt to the ground with that goes all of the evidence, the archives of who is running those churches during the residential school era,” she said.
O’Sullivan, who sat next to Allan-Riley at the press conference, is a residential school survivor and said that seeing the churches burn is traumatizing and conjures memories of the violence of colonization.
“When Indigenous people were first colonized, that was our totem poles that were burnt to the ground, our ceremonial houses, our big houses, our long houses, burnt to the ground. our masks, our regalia.”
O’Sullivan said she doesn’t believe Indigenous people would have lit the fires, but feels they are being blamed.
“I don't believe that burning the churches is a good thing for Indigenous people. What it is doing to us is villainizing us, when really we are the victim. And it just points the finger right back at us.”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
From outer space? Sask. farmers baffled after discovering strange wreckage in field
A family of fifth generation farmers from Ituna, Sask. are trying to find answers after discovering several strange objects lying on their land.
Broadcaster and commentator Rex Murphy dead at 77: National Post
The National Post is reporting that Rex Murphy, the pundit and columnist who hosted a national call-in radio show for decades, has died.
Pearson gold heist suspect arrested after flying into Toronto from India
Another suspect is in custody in connection with the gold heist at Toronto Pearson International Airport last year, police say.
Millions of cyberattacks per hour as B.C. government investigates multiple breaches
Careful attention to government statements and legislation is required to get a handle on the level of risk British Columbians’ information is under, as investigators probe multiple breaches under a continued barrage of attacks.
Ontario family receives massive hospital bill as part of LTC law, refuses to pay
A southwestern Ontario woman has received an $8,400 bill from a hospital in Windsor, Ont., after she refused to put her mother in a nursing home she hated -- and she says she has no intention of paying it.
Debate on abortion rights erupts on Parliament Hill, Poilievre vows he won't legislate
A Conservative government led by Pierre Poilievre would not legislate on, nor use the notwithstanding clause, on abortion, his office says, as anti-abortion protesters gather on Parliament Hill.
Justin and Hailey Bieber are expecting their first child together
Hailey and Justin Bieber are going to be parents. The couple announced the news on Thursday on Instagram, both sharing a video that showcases Hailey Bieber's growing belly.
Here are the ultraprocessed foods you most need to avoid, according to a 30-year study
Studies have shown that ultraprocessed foods can have a detrimental impact on health. But 30 years of research show they don’t all have the same impact.
New 'Lord of the Rings' film coming in 2026
The Oscar-winning team behind the nearly US$6 billion blockbuster 'Lord of the Rings' and 'The Hobbit' trilogies is reuniting to produce two new films.