Indigenous Elders Write to the Church on COVID-19

The National Indigenous Elders Council, appointed at the National Indigenous Spiritual Gathering in August 2019, has offered the whole church its wisdom and assurance in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Elders advise us all to take care of each other, to heed medical advice, and to continue to engage in prayer and ceremony even as we are unable to come together to do so. Read the full news piece.

[Photo credit: M. Maggs from Pixabay]

Kids Have A Lot of Heart!

Thanks to everyone who took part in this year’s “Have A Heart” Sunday School activity calling on the government to live up to its promises to First Nations children. The kids at Christ First United Church in Mississauga (above) really took it to heart. Adults at places like Omond Memorial in North Bay and the Alberta Indigenous Ministries gathering also made sure to send a clear message. We’d love to not have to do this again next Valentine’s Day, but will keep advocating with and for Indigenous kids until they are heard!

[Photo credit: Courtesy of Victoria Keane, Christ First United Church]

Decolonizing Discipleship Webinar, March 31

Many of us have participated in the KAIROS Blanket Exercise where we imagine the experience of Indigenous Peoples in colonization, but how many of us have tried to understand our settler family’s experience, and how it continues to reverberate in society?

Reconciliation and Indigenous Justice Animator Sara Stratton has been exploring this question and will be leading a “Lunch 'n' Learn” on Tuesday March 31, from 12:00 - 1:00 pm EDT.

You can join with Zoom. For those interested but unable to join, we’ll have a recording of the webinar available.

Regina Conference Challenges Participants But Offers Hope

The Mino-maawanji’itiwag: Coming Together in a Good Way conference took place in Treaty Four (Regina) in November 2019. It brought together over 160 people from a wide range of church affiliations. The strands of the sweetgrass braid in the conference logo and centre-pieces are meant to symbolize the coming together of Indigenous peoples and newcomers with the Creator.

The conference, organized by i-emergence, received a grant from the Justice and Reconciliation Fund of the United Church of Canada. Living Skies Regional Council supported the participation of four United Church participants. Workshops and plenary sessions looked at the growth of Indigenous Christian theology and worship practices, the history of Indigenous peoples in Canada, and the 94 Calls to Action of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada.

Julie Graham, Regional Minister for Justice and Communications at Living Skies Regional Council shared these thoughts on the gathering:

"The Mino-mawaani’itijag conference was an opportunity for us as United Church people in Saskatchewan to come together, and about 15 of us took it, including a number from the Indigenous United Church.

The space offered was a particular challenge to we non-Indigenous United Church members. It’s too easy for us to decide that we’ve done substantial work on true reconciliation; that we and our church buildings are a safe space for Indigenous people; and that we fully respect Indigenous traditional spirituality and practices. If I’m honest, I don’t think any of that is true. We may be in different places in the decolonization journey, but we’re all still on the journey.

Truly living into the impact of the terrible confusion and colonizing zeal we name in our 1986 Apology will take us many more generations. We cannot assume, ever, that our work is done. This gathering reminded me of the diversity of peoples and paths on that same journey. And that gives me hope."

[Picture: Mino-maawanji’itiwag conference centre-piece logo. Credit: Julie Graham]

Indigenous Perspectives on Climate Justice

The Winter 2020 issue of Mandate has a couple of terrific reflections on climate justice from Indigenous authors. Kii’iljuus (Barbara Wilson), former chair of the United Church’s Committee on Indigenous Justice and Residential Schools, offers her thoughts on Indigenous spirituality and climate change rooted in the experience of her home community, Haida Gwaii. Tony Snow, a member of the Stoney Nakoda nation and a student at the Sandy-Saulteaux Spiritual Centre who also serves on the church’s Climate Justice Advisory Group, reflects on the traditional knowledge that has led his people for generations and has the power to guide us into the future. Make sure you check out these terrific articles, as well as other great climate justice resources in this issue.

Moderator and Elders Speak Together on Indigenous Rights

The Moderator and National Indigenous Elders Council spoke together to the church about the ongoing Indigenous rights struggle on Wet’suwet’en territory and solidarity actions that took place across the country. Emphasizing the need for all decision-makers to be at the table, they offered prayerful support for all involved in finding the way forward. Dialogue has begun on the important issue of right and title in the territory, but there is still no resolution to the pipeline conflict. We continue to follow this matter as part of the church’s commitment to the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.