Living into Right Relations: January 2023

Reconciliation and Indigenous Justice News from The United Church of Canada A Prayer for Missing Children and Their Communities When Star Blanket Cree Nation announced the results of its ground search on January 12, Executive Minister Murray Pruden shared this prayer. As more such announcements are made, we ask that you continue to share it for the people and communities affected.   Creator, I pray for all our people. Today I especially hold Star Blanket First Nation and all the communities affected by the Lebret residential institution in prayer. I ask you to allow everyone to pause and listen. Our Ancestors call to us to speak Truth, to embrace Love and to encourage rightful Change. I ask that you bless all who need to be uplifted today and in the many days to come. I ask that you bless all who continue to seek and tell the truth. I ask you to allow our people to come together to support one another. And I ask that Creation continue to fulfill our need for healing. Creator, we give thanks for this life and ask for blessings for all our communities across this land. Lift our spirits so we can support and see one another as you see us. Your Creation, your Children. Hai hai for this life you give us. Amen. Urging Search of Prairie Green Landfill Family and friends at a vigil for Rebecca Contois, Morgan Harris, and Marcedes Myran on December 1, 2022. [Image credit:THE CANADIAN PRESS/John Woods] The General Secretary has written to Winnipeg’s police chief supporting the calls of families and community in conducting a search of the Prairie Green landfill site for the remains of missing Indigenous women Morgan Harris and Marcedes Myran. In the letter he noted that the United Church “believe[s] that everyone, created in the image of God, has a right to be treated with respect and protected from harm. This extends from life through death.” The Executive of Prairie-to-Pine Regional Council has also sent a letter to the police chief. Communities of faith, ministries, and individuals across the country are invited to share the letter and add their own voices to the call for a search. As you do so, please be aware of the trauma that these recent events continue to bring up for those who have been most closely affected. National Gatherings on Unmarked Burial Sites   A collage of images taken at Tk'emlúps te Secwe̓pemc First Nation, 2021. [Credit: Julie Graham, Prairie to Pine/Living Skies/Northern Spirit Regional Council Office]   The Special Interlocutor for Missing Children and Unmarked Graves and Burial Sites associated with residential institutions continues to hold national gatherings supporting the work to find and honour missing children. Moderator Carmen Lansdowne spoke to the United Church’s efforts to support this community-led work in the first gathering; reports on the Special Interlocutor’s initial progress and the Edmonton gathering are now available.   The second event, on addressing trauma, was held in Winnipeg on November 28-30. A small United Church delegation attended. United Church Archives Manager Nichole Vonk spoke at the third event, focused on Indigenous data sovereignty. You can find out more about these events and view Nichole’s presentation on the Special Interlocutor’s website. United Church representatives will also attend the upcoming session on Indigenous law in March. We hope that listening to the perspectives shared at these events will guide our work in a way that is helpful to survivors, families and Indigenous communities. Facebook Twitter Website Email Instagram YouTube Donate to The United Church of Canada and help fund life changing work around the world!

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