Faith, generosity, and vision bring a dream to reality for STM

From that first courageous group of six Sisters who arrived in Saskatchewan from France in 1897, Les Filles de la Providence (FDLP) continued to answer God’s call to educate the young, care for the sick and the poor, and to carry out all kinds of educational activities at the service of the church.

On a special day at St. Thomas More College (STM) at the University of Saskatchewan (USask) on Oct. 4, 2025, individual and cumulative journeys of service, faith, vision, and pursuit of reconciliation, were unveiled including an announcement that will extend the FDLP legacy of education and service in the province.

“In 2016, STM formed an Indigenous Advisory Circle. That group soon discerned the need for an endowed Chair in Indigenous Spirituality and Reconciliation,” said STM President Carl Still.

“Our dream was to secure a dynamic scholar who will conduct research and teaching activities to advance a cross-disciplinary and multi-cultural study of Indigenous ways of knowing, doing, and being.”

A member of the original Indigenous Advisory Circle, Dr. Gordon Martell (PhD) spoke to the inspiration of the chair.

“Wisdom listens and understands, values and respects diversity of experiences and ways of knowing, and appreciates that profound learning is of necessity multicultural, multidisciplinary, multidimensional, and relational,” he said. “Accepting this assumption may well be the single greatest pathway to reconciliation.”

“Faith over the past decade has led us to the gift of the FDLP Sisters of Saskatchewan to the Chair in Indigenous Spirituality and Reconciliation,” Martell added.

STM – the Catholic college federated with the USask – announced a $5 million gift from Les Filles de la Providence (FDLP) of Saskatchewan – the largest single gift in STM history – breathing life into the Chair for Indigenous Spirituality and Reconciliation as well as providing financial support for Engaged Learning offerings through the college.

“This transformational $5 million donation from the FDLP Sisters will allow STM to hire its first Chair in Indigenous Spirituality and Reconciliation,” said Still. “The chair’s activities will align with the FDLP’s respect for Indigenous peoples and their education, establishing STM as a leader within Canada for Indigenous spirituality and reconciliation, making a significant contribution on the journey towards right relationships.”

The gift will also support a range of experiential learning programs offered through STM’s Engaged Learning department. Based in Catholic social teaching, experiential learning offers students the chance to serve real community needs, gain volunteer experience and, as the FDLP Sisters believe, “have young people put their faith into action and make the world a life-giving place.”

The chair is now officially named Providence kanaweyihtâkosowin: Chair in Indigenous Spirituality and Reconciliation. Deacon Harry Lafond, STM’s Scholar on Indigenous Education, led stewardship of protocols and sought inspiration for a name in ceremony. He explained Kanaweyihtâkosowin translates as “in the care of God” or “Providence.”

“Work in Indigenous knowledge and reconciliation is always in practice here at the St. Thomas More College,” Lafond said. “With this special gift, we will now be able to ensure that the chair is a living entity at STM. We can open the doors to actively invite Indigenous knowledge into the college spirit, curriculum, beliefs, and values for students working to understand the world they live in.”

An Elder of the Muskeg Cree Lake First Nation, Lafond led a star blanket ceremony and individually wrapped each of the six FDLP Sisters in attendance with blankets created by Gabrielle Lee, a Cree Métis artisan and student.

Allan Bonaise from Little Pine First Nation in Saskatchewan, along with additional drummers, performed a powerful honour song from the auditorium stage.

During the past 128 years in Western Canada, there have been a total of 225 FDLP sisters. They opened schools throughout the province, originally serving in small towns with French Canadian settlers, but quickly expanding to serve those of different religions and ethnicities, including the Indigenous peoples.

Six of the remaining Saskatchewan FDLP Sisters were in attendance for the college announcement, including Sister Nellie Pozdzik at age 97. Mariette Martineau spoke on behalf of the FDLP Sisters regarding their motivation for the gift and investment in this initiative.

“This gift to STM for the Chair in Indigenous Spirituality and Reconciliation is given on behalf of all the sisters and their ministry companions that have responded to God’s call of service. It is given with a deep trust in the providence of God, that God’s providence will continue to support and deepen the relationships we have with our First Nations brothers and sisters and enable many students to value the power and beauty of First Nation spirituality and culture.

“It is in a spirit of trust and mutual respect for the work of STM, including the work of Elder Harry Lafond, that has given Les Filles de la Providence great hope and joy in knowing their work in this province will continue through this chair.”

“These humble sisters worked alongside Métis and Indigenous peoples and have deep respect for First Nations spirituality and practices,” said STM’s Director of Advancement Connie Andersen. “Their remarkable gift ensures that the FLDP’s values and mission among Indigenous people and other marginalized people will continue as their lasting work of solidarity.”

“That dream which we worked toward for almost a decade is now a reality,” Still concluded. “We can now move forward to begin the chair search.”