Page 35 - Presbyterian Connection

Connection
RECONCILIATION
Land Acknowledgement as a Holy Moment
presbyterian.ca
WINTER 2022
PRESBYTERIAN
35
By Sara Traficante, Gwynneth Simpson, Beth Carey, Racial Justice in Canada Team, Central Presbyterian Church in Hamilton, Ont.
In 2021, Central Presbyterian Church in Hamilton, Ont., re- ceived an Innovation Grant from The Presbyterian Church in Canada to begin a peer-led adult discipleship study group explor- ing issues of racial justice. The group endeavours to grow our knowledge and understanding of racial justice through a theologi- cal perspective, so that we may better witness Christ’s love for the world.
In late January 2022, our con- gregation held its first “Racial
Justice in Canada” team meeting. We met bi-weekly online. After a few meetings, it was evident that we needed to focus on Indigenous justice. We quickly understood that we must increase our knowl- edge and understanding, so that we could be better equipped to engage in learning with the con- gregation. We were keenly aware of the ground-penetrating radar search results from the Kamloops Indian Residential School, and that a similar search would soon begin with our neighbours at the Mohawk Institute in Brantford.
Our reading assignments and discussions included the topics of the Doctrine of Discovery, the Truth and Reconciliation Com- mission and the Commission’s
94 Calls to Action, the PCC’s responses and confessions over the years, and the discovery of unmarked graves at Residential Schools. We also participated in a virtual tour followed by a Q&A session about the Mohawk Insti- tute Residential School, which is now part of the Woodland Cul- tural Centre.
Central Presbyterian Church has already acknowledged the land upon which it stands, yet as our own insight deepened, we realized that our first task would be to update our church’s Land Acknowledgement Statement to reflect our more complete un- derstanding. Our Racial Justice Committee did considerable work in investigating other land acknowledgements, both faith- based and secular, and consulted PCC resources for guidance. Fur- thermore, we felt it was important to consult our local Indigenous community. We reached out to Sheila Maracle, who is a recog- nized Mohawk leader and educa- tor in Hamilton. With generosity, she shared her intimate knowl- edge and wisdom, enabling us to ground the acknowledgement in our local community, and its his- torical context, and thus to grow our understanding that, “We are all treaty people.”
On June 19, 2022 (National Indigenous Peoples’ Sunday), members of the congregation and those gathered stood as our new Land Acknowledgement was unveiled and spoken—an acknowledgement of human-to- human relationships with those
who were here before us, and an acknowledgement of non-human relationships and the responsi- bilities of mutual kinship based on the Dish with One Spoon Wam- pum Belt Covenant. This moment was holy, repentant and prayerful.
The Land Acknowledgement plaque unveiled is now promi- nently displayed where we first enter our church building. It is also published in our weekly bul- letin and on our church website.
Our new Land Acknowledgement Statement includes a guide that helps provide a basic under- standing of various terminology as well as additional resources: cpchamilton.ca.
We are not letting this go. We are continually seeking to listen, to know and to understand. To honour Orange Shirt Day and the National Day for Truth and Rec- onciliation, we decided to hold a learning event at Central. On Saturday, Oct. 1, we welcomed Stanley (Bobby) Henry to lead a presentation on Moving Towards Reconciliation: Taking the First Steps. This event was generously supported by the PCC’s Justice Ministries. We invited our con- gregation, neighbouring churches and the wider community to par- ticipate. Bobby is from the Ball Deer Clan and is a member of the Cayuga Nation, one community of the Six Nations of the Haudeno- saunee Confederacy. Bobby is a Ph.D. student in Trent University’s Indigenous Studies program. His doctoral research explores Haudenosaunee culture-based education in secondary education
Stanley (Bobby) Henry speaking at Central Presbyterian Church with Brock University’s Spirit Bear.
and how Haudenosaunee culture- based education can sustain Cayuga language for adolescent learners. He is also an assistant professor in the Faculty of Educa- tion at Brock University.
Through questions and group discussions, Bobby led us on the first steps of our learning journey. With the help of Entiohahathé’te, Brock University’s Spirit Bear of the Reconciliation Ambearris- ter Program created by the First Nations Child and Family Caring Society (fncaringsociety.com/ spirit-bear), Bobby shared with us his Cayuga language, knowl- edge, life experience, insight and expertise with generosity, humour and kindness. Bobby invited us to delve deeper, to see our common history with different eyes. All of us present were challenged and motivated to share one thing we learned, one new insight, with at least 10 people who were not pre- sent. Sharing our learning chang- es us as we journey toward the reconciliation we yearn for. “We are all treaty people.”
Raising the Treaty 4 Flag in Weyburn
An Elder relating horrific stories about Residential Schools.
By Kathy McFadden, Knox Presbyte- rian Church in Weyburn, Sask.
To show respect and acknowl- edge Truth and Reconciliation, and to recognize Culture Days in Canada, the Treaty 4 flag was raised by Chief Connie Big Eagle from Ocean Man First Nation at City Hall in Weyburn, Sask., at 11 a.m. on Sept. 26, 2022.
The Fellowship Hall at Knox Presbyterian Church in Weyburn, Sask.—which is right behind City Hall—was the venue for the lunch-
eon. Approximately 100 guests were entertained with a “Drum, Dance and Eat” concert put on by the children from Ocean Man Edu- cationCentre.
Grace was delivered by an El- der and the hamburger soup and Bannock was made and served by the Métis Women’s Group and volunteers from Knox Church. The event was an important step toward healing for our communi- ty, as we continue to show com- passion and mercy for all those affected by colonialism.
The flag raising at City Hall.