For Captains Angela and Derek Kerr, corps officers at Saskatoon Temple, what started as a simple act of generosity grew into a meaningful partnership with a local school.

St. Frances Cree Bilingual School serves students in Grades 6-8 and operates under the Catholic school board. It has a predominantly Indigenous student body, and many students face economic challenges at home. In 2023, Saskatoon Temple began donating backpacks to the school from their annual backpack drive and has since offered practical assistance through food programs and donations.

But what makes this partnership special is the commitment to reconciliation, relationship-building and an increased awareness of Indigenous traditions in the community.

“We are coming alongside them. We’re not imposing anything. We’re just asking, ‘How can we help?’ ” says Captain Derek. 

“We’re really blessed to be part of it,” says Captain Angela.

BACKPACKS AND BREAKFAST

Each summer, Saskatoon Temple provides backpacks to approximately 2,000 children in need. In 2023, they had about 100 extra backpacks that they distributed to local schools and non-governmental organizations. Captains Kerr visited St. Frances Cree, located on the same street as the church, to see if the school would be interested in the backpack drive, and it sparked conversations about more ways that The Salvation Army could offer support.

One of the first initiatives they introduced was a breakfast program and pantry support. The school operates a pantry where students from households experiencing food insecurity can access snacks, and The Salvation Army stepped in to help restock it weekly. In addition, every two weeks they provide breakfast for all 130 students at the school.

Many students at St. Frances Cree come from low-income households, and some live in challenging circumstances, such as families staying in hotels without full kitchens. In response, the school offers a cooking program that teaches them how to prepare meals using small appliances such as air fryers. When one student expressed interest in learning to cook with an air fryer, The Salvation Army donated one and the school was able to teach him how to use it so that he could take the lead on helping prepare meals for his family, despite limited access to a kitchen at home.

While walking over to the school one day, Captains Kerr noticed that the kids on the playground didn’t have much equipment to play with during recess, so they also helped by purchasing sports equipment, such as basketballs and soccer balls.

Saskatoon Temple continues to seek new ways to support St. Frances Cree School. “We’ve said to them, ‘Come to us with whatever you’re facing, and let’s have a conversation about it and see how we can help,’ ” says Captain Angela.

ROAD TO RECONCILIATION

Supporting truth and reconciliation is a priority for Captains Kerr and SaskatoonTemple, and part of their commitment to this partnership with St. Frances Cree is building relationships, asking questions and taking time to listen and learn from them. The corps has partnered with Indigenous ministries for training and guidance on truth and reconciliation, including a workshop session led by Captain Crystal Porter, territorial Indigenous ministries consultant.

According to Captain Derek, one of the teachers at St. Frances Cree has been leading students in traditional Indigenous dance, and each month they host a small-scale powwow in the gymnasium. Captains Kerr and representatives from the corps are invited to attend regularly.

“We once attended a powwow with some of our staff and quietly took a seat in the back row. The teacher wasn’t aware we were there, but midway through, he said to the students, ‘We are so thankful to the Sally Ann for everything they do to support us here,’ ” says Captain Derek. “He wasn’t saying it for our benefit—he didn’t even know we were in the room. He was simply encouraging the students to recognize the partnership that exists between us.”

At the end of one of the powwows, Captains Kerr greeted some of the students they know through other programs at the corps, including camping ministries. One girl said to her friends, “Come and meet my family,” referring to the officers.

“It’s so special that they see us thatway,” says Captain Angela.

In addition to attending school events, The Salvation Army has also participated in the school’s truth and reconciliation pancake breakfast in September. At the end of the school year in 2024, the corps officers were gifted with blankets and cards made by the children that they displayed on the sanctuary doors at the church.

“I think it’s been a very fruitful partnership,” says Captain Derek.

GETTING TO KNOW YOU

“The public school is on a main road that most people drive down, so the congregation is aware of it. But the Cree school is tucked away in the farthest corner of the crescent, making it almost invisible to the community,” explains Captain Angela. “Our congregation didn’t know much about it.”

But through their partnership with the school, members of the corps have begun to learn about the school and its needs, and how The Salvation Army has made a real impact on children in their own community. “These are the ways we can share the love of Jesus right here in our backyard,” says Captain Angela. “It’s been good to have that visibility.”

One congregant, Jim Cruse, has even taken on a key role in the school’s breakfast program. He began as a volunteer, helping prepare breakfast sandwiches for the school. Then he started coming in several days a week to assist more, even going out with the staff to visit the school, deliver food and interact with the students. “It’s exciting to see our congregation out on the street, meeting students and having conversations about faith,” says Captain Angela. “It’s opening doors.”

St. Frances Cree School is also one of the first to receive updates when the corps launches new programs and services, such as Christmas assistance registration, camps and other community initiatives.

BEING PRESENT

For Captains Kerr, reconciliation requiresa ministry of presence—the act of listening, creating space for dialogue and understanding, and showing up to support and participate.

“It’s about keeping communication channels open and having those conversations, being willing to show up at events, such as prayer breakfasts and powwows, and being present in the room with no other agenda,” says Captain Angela. “I’m not there because I want you to understand my faith. I’m there to support you in your prayer breakfast.”

“Each of us as Salvationists has a role to play in the truth and reconciliation journey that we’re on,” says Captain Derek. “Rebuilding relationships at times isn’t easy, but it starts with listening and being present.”

This story is from: