The Pass System – Segregation in Canada

The Pass System – Segregation in Canada

October 12, 2016Posted inGathering Theme
“The pass system has had lasting effects on generations of Indigenous people. Over half a century of segregation and restrictions on mobility contributed to the loss of culture, strained family relations, caused feelings of distrust towards the government and police, and brought about socioeconomic inequalities between Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities (as well as between reserve and off-reserve communities).”1 One can only imagine the sense of shame that adults, both men and women, would feel when having to ask permission to go hunting, to go fishing, or to go visit their own children. What did this do to the self confidence and self worth people felt?  Furthermore, this…

Closing: Vision of Reconciliation

October 5, 2016Posted inGathering Theme
Reconciliation must become a way of life.It will take many years to repair damaged trust and relationships in Aboriginal communities and between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal peoples. Use the controls on the grey bar below to access more viewing options and the download button.

Opening Guidelines for In Person Circles

October 5, 2016Posted inCircle Procedures
To non-Indigenous participants, reflect on the statement of Chief Commissioner Murray Sinclair: “Do not feel ashamed of the past; do not feel guilty. They don’t do any good at all. Do something about it!”It is very important that we all recognize that the feelings of an individual are neither right nor wrong. They are real and need to be respected. Use the controls on the grey bar below to access more viewing options and the download button.

General Procedures for Gatherings

October 4, 2016Posted inCircle Procedures
Your checklist for an organized gathering. Walking through the flow of each meeting helps to keep the time right.*  Use the controls on the grey bar below to access more viewing options and the download button. * Direct Links to the "Virtual Circle Documents" On Page 2 of the above Procedures document, there are two links that enable the download of a document that can be customized to change the order of sharing each week. The document is available in two formats.If the download links embedded in the pdf document above do not work for you, these direct links should…

Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada

October 3, 2016Posted inResource
Indigenous Rights And Relationships Liberated by God’s Grace, the ELCIC encourages all members and congregations to reflect upon our own national and church history, to seek greater understanding of the issues facing Indigenous peoples, and to walk with Indigenous peoples in their ongoing efforts to exercise their inherent sovereignty and fundamental human rights. Canada is currently living in a historic moment for seeking truth and reconciliation. For the last 6 years, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission has been listening to the stories and gathering the statements of survivors of the Indian Residential Schools and anyone else who feels they have…

Rewrite: The Protests at Standing Rock

August 30, 2016Posted inResource
Rewite: The Protests at Standing Rock Context of Reconciliation between Indigenous and Settlers Transcript Lawrence O'Donnell: Dakota means friend...friendly. The people who gave that name to the Dakotas have, sadly, never been treated as friends. The people whose language was used to name the Dakotas and Minnesota, Iowa, Oklahoma, Connecticut, Massachusetts and other states, the Native American tribes, the people who were here before us… long before us, have never been treated as friends. They have been treated as enemies..more harshly than any other enemy. In any of this countrys’ wars. After all of our major wars we signed peace…

The Seventh Fire

August 25, 2016Posted inResource
“The Seventh Fire” From the Anglican Church of Canada, [1995], this 28-minute documentary explores a First Nations prophecy that the time of the Seventh Fire will be when the reborn First Nations will offer spiritual recovery to North Americans of European ancestry. Narrated by the late elder Vi Smith, The Seventh Fire chronicles the relationship of Indigenous Peoples and the European settlers, with many interviews from residential school survivors. The Seventh Fire from Anglican Church of Canada on Vimeo.

Documentary: The Pass System

August 25, 2016Posted inResource
DOCUMENTARY The Pass System A documentary film directed by Alex Williams, explores this dark chapter still shrouded in secrecy but in effect from 1885 until 1941, although never approved by Parliament. The “pass” was required for First nations people to leave the reserve, whether to go fishing or hunting or visit their children at residential schools. Watch for a showing of this powerful film, and read about it online. Official Video Trailer of The Pass System.

Churches’ Response to Call to Action 48 of the TRC

August 25, 2016Posted inResource
United Nations Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.  The Truth and Reconciliation Commission released its 94 Calls to Action, one Call had a specific deadline. Call to Action 48 set the particular date of March 31, 2016 for church, faith and inter-faith groups to issue a statement as to their implementation of the United Nations Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples: We call upon the church parties to the Settlement Agreement, and all other faith groups and interfaith social justice groups in Canada who have not already done so, to formally adopt and comply with the principles, norms,…

Reconciliation: The Role of Education

August 6, 2016Posted inResource
Senator Murray Sinclair Canadian Senator Formerly Justice of the Court of Queen's Bench of Manitoba and recent Chair of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada The Truth and Reconciliation Commission was formed as a result of the largest class action lawsuit in the history of Canada. It is an entity created by the court-approved Indian Residential School Settlement Agreement reached in 2007. The Settlement Agreement involves several Parties including the Government of Canada; Catholic and Protestant Churches; and the Survivors themselves. The TRC is not a government commission. It reports to the parties and is subject to the supervision…