For thousands of years, First Nations people have walked on this land; their relationship with the land is at the centre of their lives and spirituality. We are gathered on the traditional territory of the Anishinaabe (Ah-nish-naah-bay) First Nations – part of the Treaty Lands and Territory of the Mississaugas of the Credit – and acknowledge their stewardship of this land throughout the ages.  May we strive to be the stewards whom God calls us to be and whom Mother Earth needs us to be.

Statement from the Moderator of the United Church of Canada regarding Residential School Burial Sites

 

Legacy Indigenous Peoples Projects

Our support of Indigenous Peoples began in 2016 with our church Book Club where we read Up Ghost River, by Edmund Metatawabin. Edmund Metatawabin is a former First Nations Chief of Fort Albany on the James Bay coast in Northern Ontario and a survivor of the residential school system. In Up Ghost River he details his life in a loving family, his experience in the residential school system, the importance of native teachings, the land and much more.

The group was so moved by his story that funds were collected and donated to purchase and send multiple shipments of fresh fruit (extremely expensive to purchase locally in isolated northern communities) to Early Years child care centres in First Nations communities along the James Bay coast and in areas close to the northern Manitoba/Ontario border.

We have also supported the Fort Albany Market / Good Food Boxes which started over 10 years ago as an off-shoot of the Student Nutrition Program.  Since the community and the community members were not able to afford to buy healthy foods for their families, they decided to organize produce markets to help with the food insecurity.

A market is routinely held where fresh fruits & vegetables are available for sale at a significant discount from what can be purchased locally.

We have organized a snowsuit drive for First Nations Children that enabled them to play outside.

The church has organized an annual Document Shredding fundraising event where funds have been donated towards supporting our Indigenous Peoples Projects.

Programs 2021

Remembering the 215 Children from the Kamloops Residential School

As news came on May 28, 2021, Canadians entered into a time of mourning for their relatives, their families, and their communities.  Gatherings were held around sacred fires across the country. Prayers were sung and spoken. Shoes were laid out on the steps of churches and government buildings. Flags were flown at half-mast from May 31 – June 8, 2021 (215 hours) in remembrance of the 215 children found buried at Kamloops Indian Residential School.

The Healing Fund supports healing initiatives for survivors of the residential school system and its ongoing intergenerational impacts. Support for the Healing Fund is movement towards living out the United Church’s Apology to Indigenous Peoples (1986) and the Apology to Former Students of United Church Indian Residential Schools and to their Families and Communities (1998).

The Outreach Committee has made a donation of $215 to The Healing Fund.  If others would like to donate, e-transfers can be made at  donations@GraceUnitedChurchBurlington.com.  Please write in the memo line Healing Fund.  Funds are being collected until Tuesday June 15^th and then will be sent to The Healing Fund.  Thanks to everyone who has contributed to date – over $1000 raised so far.

Opportunities for Personal Reconciliation 

National Indigenous History Month and Indigenous Reads Campaign

This year marks Canada’s seventh annual Indigenous Reads campaign. Works by First Nations, Inuit, and Métis authors broaden our understanding of Indigenous issues, cultures, and history and are a form of recognition, celebration, and reconciliation. As we walk the path of reconciliation, we must listen, learn, and be guided by the voices of Indigenous peoples.

Each year Pam Damoff, MP Oakville – North Burlington chooses a book written by an Indigenous author and invites us to read together throughout the month.  At the end of the month, she is planning on hosting a Zoom event to reflect on the book and discuss our reactions to it.

This year’s book is Firekeeper’s Daughter by Angeline Boulley. This New York Times best-seller has a great Ojibwe heroine as the star of the novel.  18-year-old Daunis Fontaine finds herself living two disparate lives: one as a loving daughter and the other as a confidential informant to the FBI. After witnessing a murder, she must choose between protecting the people she loves or protecting her tribal community.

Six Nations Polytechnic College

We are currently in discussions with Six Nations Polytechnic College on how we can support their Heritage Language Programs.  We hope to have something in place for students starting in September.

We are also in discussions with them about how they could help Grace better understand and explore Indigenous Peoples’ history and culture.  If anyone has any ideas on what they would like to see, please let us know.

Whale Cove Community

Once again, this year, St Raphael Catholic Church will be shipping containers of supplies supporting the Indigenous Community of Whale Cove, Nunavut, a community of just over 400 people located on the western shore of Hudson’s Bay above the treeline.

We are collecting these until the end of August; 2 food items –

canned vegetables, canned meat, canned beef stew, Chunky soup & dish soap. 

Best before date must be 2023 or later! 

Every Friday during Food for Life (8:30 am-10:30 am) your donations can be dropped off at Grace United Church.  There will be labeled bins available away from the Food for Life activity.

Indigenous Canada Course

If you are interested in learning more about Indigenous histories and contemporary issues, the University of Alberta offers a free 12-week/lesson course that you can work through at your own pace.

From an Indigenous perspective, this course explores key issues facing Indigenous peoples today from a historical and critical perspective highlighting national and local Indigenous-settler relations. Topics for the 12 lessons include the fur trade and other exchange relationships, land claims and environmental impacts, legal systems and rights, political conflicts and alliances, Indigenous political activism, and contemporary Indigenous life, art and its expressions.  https://www.coursera.org/learn/indigenous-canada

First Nations University of Canada, Reconciliation Education and BMO launch free eLearning course (free until the end of June)

The First Nations University of Canada (FNUniv) has partnered with Reconciliation Education and BMO Financial Group to launch a Nisitohtamowin ᓂᓯᑐᐦᑕᒧᐃᐧᐣ eLearning course. The course is available for free for all Canadians throughout June, and is intended to “promote healing, equity and respect of Indigenous cultures and values in Canadian Society” through education.

This course has been developed to meet the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s call to action and recommendations, and includes a personal account as well as an introduction to the impact and legacy of Residential schools.

This is an opportunity to understand the Indigenous perspective and what actions we can take in our personal and professional lives to promote healing, equity and respect of Indigenous cultures and values in Canadian society.

Click here for more info about the course    Click here to access the free eLearning course

Indigenous Authors Library

We have an Indigenous Peoples library at Grace so everyone has the chance to borrow a book and learn more! Any donations of both adult and children’s books would be appreciated!