Respect, Reconciliation, Resilience: Phil Fontaine and Archbishop James Weisgerber in Conversation

During the Families in Canada Conference 2015, the Vanier Institute of the Family invited former National Chief of the Assembly of First Nations (AFN) Phil Fontaine and former President of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops Archbishop V. James Weisgerber to discuss their personal journeys toward reconciliation and becoming family, and their insights on the realities and experiences of Indigenous families in Canada.

This conversation was moderated by Kelly J. Lendsay, President and CEO of the Aboriginal Human Resource Council, with an introduction by Victor Duret, Board Chair at the Vanier Institute of the Family.

Watch the full conversation in our Vanier Institute video podcast:

“If we can’t forgive, we will never heal. If we can’t forgive, there will be no reconciliation.”

– Phil Fontaine

“Apology is one thing – redressing the wrong is a whole other journey we have to get into.”

Archbishop V. James Weisgerber

 

The Vanier Institute of the Family hosted the Families in Canada Conference 2015, a historic national, bilingual event, on June 10 and 11, 2015 in Ottawa, where Canadian leaders from diverse professions, disciplines and backgrounds came together to mobilize research, build knowledge networks, foster connections and inspire minds from across the country.

Through a series of catalytic conversations, speakers, panellists and delegates at this event discussed the stories and statistics behind a wide range of topics related to families and family life in Canada.

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