First Peoples Summit

It’s going on all day today, tomorrow and Saturday here in Ottawa at the Dominion Chalmers Church downtown, but you can watch it free via live streaming!

Gathering Nations Conference

Kenny and Louise Blacksmith are the founders and directors of Gathering Nations International which is holding their second annual conference on July 10th to 13th, 2008 in Ottawa.  Find out more registration information here.  These last few years, Kenny and Louise have been very involved in uniting the First Peoples of Canada through this ministry.   This will be an important conference and we hope you can attend.  All are invited.  Kenny and Louise share their heart and vision to unite the First Peoples of Canada on their website:

It is our hope and prayer, as you come to know our hearts, you will be greatly blessed and encouraged to witness the power of the Father’s love and grace to all nations. We are focused on biblically based reconciliation, healing and unity between First Nations, Inuit and Métis people. We believe once the relationships between the original peoples of the land establish a right relationship with our Lord God Almighty, and our people are healed and released from a negative past then our relationship with all others will be made restored, healed and our people will take their rightful place and that a spiritual governmental authority will be established in our nation.   Read more here.

Specific Claims Act Receives Royal Assent

by Wendy Turpin

Bill C-30 has been passed and received Royal Assent on June 18th, 2008. You’ll remember that in April of this year, I told you about the proposed Specific Claims Tribunal Act.  Now in effect, six Superior Court judges from across Canada will be appointed to sit on a dedicated tribunal for the purpose of finalizing settlement of the one thousand plus outstanding native land claims.  The Department of Indian and Northern Affairs Canada describes the intention of this Act in their November 2007 press release:

“By setting up an independent tribunal of impartial judges, we are ensuring there is greater fairness to the way specific claims are handled, and speeding up claims resolution,” said Minister Strahl. “For 60 years, the Government of Canada has been asked by First Nations and experts to create an independent tribunal to adjudicate claims.  Today our Government is taking action to get it done.”   Read the whole press release here.

This Act will come into force 120 days from the date of Royal Assent which was June 18th, 2008. National Chief Phil Fontaine seems pleased:

“I am very pleased to see Bill C-30, The Specific Claims Tribunal Act, become law today. The work that led to this very important legislation was a truly collaborative effort on the part of the government of Canada and the Assembly of First Nations. The all-party support for this Bill reflects the role of First Nations in its development, which produced a more effective and efficient process for dealing with the majority of specific claims,” said National Chief Fontaine. “I strongly encourage the federal government to use this cooperative approach that directly involved us in all future attempts to address policy or legislation that impacts the rights and interests of First Nation governments and our citizens.”  You can read the rest of the press release here. 

Thank you for your prayers in this matter.  Please continue to pray that the present cooperative spirit being displayed by all parties involved remains as other matters of proposed legislation to benefit First Peoples continue.

“Now, we are in this together” – Phil Fontaine, National Chief

by Wendy Turpin

I was talking with an aboriginal friend the other day and was asking her how she felt about last week’s apology. She expressed what I think a lot of the First Peoples are feeling, and that is, that she is happy the apology has been made but will be “waiting to see how it is walked out of its darkness.”  I could tell that she was tentatively hopeful.

Interestingly, she also said that she was waiting to see how the average Canadian responds. She went on to relate a story about how, after the apology, she was with her aunt when they met a woman from Guyana who has lived in Canada for 17 years. This woman came to her aunt and apologized on her own behalf for never really taking notice of First People’s issues. This was a very moving moment for both women and her aunt said, as a result, that she felt proud “to be Indian” for the first time in her life.  Her aunt is 85 years old.  That’s a long time to live ashamed of who God has created you to be.  When I heard this story, it was as if I could see light suddenly blazing into a darkness that had not been pierced for centuries.

Healing the wounds of the First Peoples is a big issue and it’s not going to happen overnight; but, I feel, at least, that for all aboriginal and non-aboriginal citizens of Canada, the apology is a positive step forward toward that healing.  June 21, 2008 is National Aboriginal Day.  If you’re aboriginal – God bless you!  If you aren’t, please take the time to thank God for every aboriginal person you know and pray a blessing upon them.  And while you’re at it, ask the Lord how you can,  like this woman from Guyana did,  move the healing forward. Then do it.

If you have about six minutes, take some time and watch this post. It’s National Chief Phil Fontaine’s response to the apology in the House of Commons.

Presenting the Online Apology

by Richard Long

   With the current session of Parliament ending today for the summer break, we knew that we had better deliver the online apology ASAP.  So … yesterday we printed off the signatures and comments that we have accrued to this point, and personally delivered copies to Chuck Strahl’s office, (The Ministry of Indian Affairs and Northern Development), the Chair of the Aboriginal Affairs Committee – Barry Devolin, and other members of that committee as well that we knew would be encouraged by it.

   Indeed the reaction was pleasant surprise and thankfulness that average Canadian Christians would support the government in such a heartfelt way.  One M.P. reminded me of the 104 year-old Aboriginal lady Marguerite Wabano who was featured both in Parliament and in the national news, saying how she had learned that forgiveness was a key to her life and essential for her people.

Let’s continue to pray that forgiveness would be extended and that healing would continue to spread for those who were so deeply hurt by the Residential Schools policy and its many abuses.

  We will continue to leave the aplogy online for still others to sign it, since we hope to personally hand it to Phil Fontaine the leader of the Association of First Nations in the weeks to come.

Tomorrow is National Aboriginal Day and we will have a special emphasis on that in our blog.

 

Broken Walls

by Wendy Turpin

In keeping with the festivities and the rejoicing that seems to be taking place in the Spirit because of last week`s apology to Canada`s aboriginal people, I`d like to introduce you to a First Nations Christian worship team called Broken Walls.  Some of you may have heard of them.  I love their name because it not only depicts their vision and ministry, which they have been bringing to all of North America for a few years now, but because it represents, I believe, what took place in the Spirit when the apology was given.  I`m posting one of their songs found on YouTube, called Victory Song.  If you haven’t already, take a moment and read and sign our online apology that stands in agreement with the government. 

The full text of the apology

by Richard Long

(The picture above is from the outdoor video screen on Parliament Hill where hundreds of us watched the Residential Schools apology given by PM Stephen Harper.  Reports are that he wrote most of it himself after feeling that the two previous drafts were not strong enough. )

Here’s the English text of the Government apology…

Here are excerpts from the text of Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s statement of apology on Wednesday, as released by the Prime Minister’s Office. French sections, which repeat the English text, have been excluded:

Mr. Speaker, I stand before you today to offer an apology to former students of Indian residential schools. The treatment of children in Indian residential schools is a sad chapter in our history.

In the 1870’s, the federal government, partly in order to meet its obligation to educate aboriginal children, began to play a role in the development and administration of these schools.  Two primary objectives of the residential schools system were to remove and isolate children from the influence of their homes, families, traditions and cultures, and to assimilate them into the dominant culture.  These objectives were based on the assumption aboriginal cultures and spiritual beliefs were inferior and unequal.  Indeed, some sought, as it was infamously said, “to kill the Indian in the child.”  Today, we recognize that this policy of assimilation was wrong, has caused great harm, and has no place in our country.

Most schools were operated as “joint ventures” with Anglican, Catholic, Presbyterian or United churches.
The government of Canada built an educational system in which very young children were often forcibly removed from their homes, often taken far from their communities.  Many were inadequately fed, clothed and housed.  All were deprived of the care and nurturing of their parents, grandparents and communities.
First Nations, Inuit and Métis languages and cultural practices were prohibited in these schools.
Tragically, some of these children died while attending residential schools and others never returned home.
The government now recognizes that the consequences of the Indian residential schools policy were profoundly negative and that this policy has had a lasting and damaging impact on aboriginal culture, heritage and language.

While some former students have spoken positively about their experiences at residential schools, these stories are far overshadowed by tragic accounts of the emotional, physical and sexual abuse and neglect of helpless children, and their separation from powerless families and communities.
The legacy of Indian residential schools has contributed to social problems that continue to exist in many communities today. It has taken extraordinary courage for the thousands of survivors that have come forward to speak publicly about the abuse they suffered.  It is a testament to their resilience as individuals and to the strength of their cultures.  Regrettably, many former students are not with us today and died never having received a full apology from the government of Canada.

The government recognizes that the absence of an apology has been an impediment to healing and reconciliation.
Therefore, on behalf of the government of Canada and all Canadians, I stand before you, in this chamber so central to our life as a country, to apologize to aboriginal peoples for Canada’s role in the Indian residential schools system.  To the approximately 80,000 living former students, and all family members and communities, the government of Canada now recognizes that it was wrong to forcibly remove children from their homes and we apologize for having done this.  We now recognize that it was wrong to separate children from rich and vibrant cultures and traditions, that it created a void in many lives and communities, and we apologize for having done this.  We now recognize that, in separating children from their families, we undermined the ability of many to adequately parent their own children and sowed the seeds for generations to follow, and we apologize for having done this.  We now recognize that, far too often, these institutions gave rise to abuse or neglect and were inadequately controlled, and we apologize for failing to protect you.

Not only did you suffer these abuses as children, but as you became parents, you were powerless to protect your own children from suffering the same experience, and for this we are sorry.  The burden of this experience has been on your shoulders for far too long.  The burden is properly ours as a government, and as a country.  There is no place in Canada for the attitudes that inspired the Indian residential schools system to ever again prevail.

You have been working on recovering from this experience for a long time and in a very real sense, we are now joining you on this journey.

The government of Canada sincerely apologizes and asks the forgiveness of the aboriginal peoples of this country for failing them so profoundly.
We are sorry.

In moving towards healing, reconciliation and resolution of the sad legacy of Indian residential schools, implementation of the Indian Residential Schools Settlement agreement began on September 19, 2007.
Years of work by survivors, communities, and aboriginal organizations culminated in an agreement that gives us a new beginning and an opportunity to move forward together in partnership.  A cornerstone of the settlement agreement is the Indian Residential Schools Truth and Reconciliation Commission.
This commission presents a unique opportunity to educate all Canadians on the Indian residential schools system.
It will be a positive step in forging a new relationship between aboriginal peoples and other Canadians, a relationship based on the knowledge of our shared history, a respect for each other and a desire to move forward together with a renewed understanding that strong families, strong communities and vibrant cultures and traditions will contribute to a stronger Canada for all of us.

 

A Healing Moment for Canada

By Richard Long,

Our team joined hundreds of others on the front lawn of Parliament Hill this afternoon to watch the official apology by PM Stephen Harper to the former students of the Residential Schools.  Thousands of survivors watched in community centres and church buildings across the nation.

This was a well crafted apology and delivered with full sincerity, as the various native leaders attested to afterwords in their remarks.  We have been praying and will continue to pray that the anointing on these words from the Holy Spirit, will truly mend hearts and inaugerate a new day in Canada’s relationship with its First Peoples.

You can watch a video of the full apology here.

Let us continue to pray for healing momentum that would touch every heart and life that needs to be mended and restored.

You can still sign our online apology that stands in agreement with the government.

Time for an Apology

by Wendy Turpin

I am expecting that tomorrow afternoon, at 3:00 p.m., will be a historical day for Canada. If you don’t already know, that’s the hour that our Prime Minister will stand before the First Nations, the Inuit and Métis in the House of Commons and apologize on behalf of all Canadians for their ill treatment through the residential school program. We having been blogging a great deal about this matter and you can read past blogs here.

It’s significant in the natural realm because I believe that this will bring healing to many within these groups and perhaps, finally, the ability to move forward.   But, it’s significant in the spiritual realm, as well, when we consider the natural authority given to our Prime Minister in this nation.   When God’s appointed authorities and leaders humble themselves, pray and repent for the sins of their nation, great power is released, says John Paul Jackson in his book Needless Casualties of War.  In 2 Chronicles 6:12-7:1 fire came down from heaven into the temple through the prayer of Israel’s leader, King Solomon and when the King of Nineveh repented in sackcloth and ashes in Jonah 3:7-10, a nation followed and was delivered.  The implications of the power of this apology for Canada are enormous.  Not only should we be praying for a national attitude of repentance, but we should also be praying for protection over our leaders for taking such a powerful spiritual stand. 

Our current government is acting in boldness for the healing of the aboriginal people of Canada.  Let us do the same!  If you have not already signed the online grassroots apology that the National House of Prayer has undertaken and intends to present,  you can do so here.   We will be at Parliament Hill tomorrow to pray during the apology.  Please feel free to join us if you can.  If you cannot, perhaps you can take the time and watch the apology given live on television — and pray as you do!     

328 and counting …

by Richard Long,

There are now 328 people who have signed the online apology to the former students of the Residential Schools.  We are encouraged that so many people have already signed this petition in the last week.  Don’t forget that the official apology from the Canadian Government comes on June 11th.  Let’s keep praying for the power of the Spirit to anoint those words and that event.