Circle for Reconciliation and Justice

The Eastern Synod’s Circle for Reconciliation and Justice has been working on a project to engage the entire Synod in awareness, action and a deepening understanding of the impact of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and Two Spirit People (MMIWG2S+).

The Red Dress Journey is an interactive display that will be making its way around the Synod to as many congregations as possible where it is the hope that you will invite others to engage in meaningful ways with the art and red dress, worship resources and other suggestions and opportunities which will come to you in a resource binder.

We recognize that many people are in different places along the journey of reconciliation. The opportunities and resources which are carefully articulated in the accompanying resource binder are meant to give each congregation a meaningful way to engage, dialogue, think, pray and act around the ongoing tragedy of murdered and missing Indigenous Women and Girls and Two Spirit People which continues to plague this country.

It is our hope that congregations and individuals will listen, reflect and then act to be voices of advocacy and change. If you would like to see the contents of the resource binder to begin your own planning and preparation for hosting the Red Dress, please see the attachments below.

October 4^th is the National Day of Action for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and 2SLGBTQQIA+ People (MMIWG2S+). This is a day for action and advocacy, and to remember the lives of victims and survivors and the many communities who have been impacted by violence. The Eastern Synod Circle for Reconciliation and Justice (ES-CRJ) invites you to consider how you can be an ally and an advocate by using some of the resources listed here.

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Phyllis Jack Webstad was six years old when she left her community of Stswecem’c Xgat’tem First Nation to attend St. Joseph Residential School. Like most six year olds, she was excited to attend school for the first time. Her grandmother bought her a new, bright orange shirt for her to wear on her first day. When she arrived at school, far from home, her new orange shirt was taken away from her and never returned. This marked the start of Phyllis’s separation from her community, culture, family and friends; a separation mandated by the federal government and supported by the church. 

On September 30th, we wear orange to remember that Every Child Matters and as people of faith, we need to listen to stories like Phyllis’s and learn from the wisdom, reflection, trauma, as well as the strength and resiliency of those who were taken from their families and communities and forced to attend residential schools, some of whom never returned home again. As Christians, it is also our responsibility to make reparations for the ways in which we continue to uphold colonialism and benefit from the systemic racism in our institutions and societal structures. September 30th is a federal statutory holiday – the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, where people are encouraged to engage in learning, as well as listening and reflecting on the ongoing impact of the residential school system. 

As September 30th approaches, here are some opportunities to consider:

• mark Orange Shirt Day in worship in your congregation on Sunday, September 25th by wearing orange and encouraging others to wear orange as well. Rebekah Ludolph has put together some worship resources based on the Season of Creation. (see attached). We are grateful to Rebekah for sharing this resource with the Synod.
• The United Church of Canada has also shared some worship resources.  
• The National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation has an entire weeklong series of online events being offered for youth and adults alike. These events run from September 26-30th
• I Lost My Talk – Robyn Michaud, M.Ed (Anishinaabe Kwe Lecturer and Ed.D student) shares this well-known poem by Rita Joe and accompanying ideas and activities for children.
• to purchase a copy of the book, Phyllis’s Orange Shirt, click here.
• to purchase a copy of Phyllis Webstad’s new book, With Our Orange Hearts, click here.
• to purchase an orange shirt from an approved retailer, click here
• Medicine Wheel Education offers authentic Indigenous educational tools and resources.

Events

• Starting September 22 – educational programming at the Woodland Cultural Centre.
• September 14-30 – National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, 2022 at the University of Waterloo Office of Indigenous Relations.
• September 25-30 – Week of reflective and learning opportunities through the United Church of Canada, including worship ideas and online events.
• September 26-30 – Beyond the Orange Shirt Story – Niagara Falls, a series of events in the Niagara area.
• September 30 – Honouring Our Children Pow Wow, Mohawk Village Memorial Park. 184 Mohawk Street, Brantford, at 12 pm. This event is to commemorate an honour Residential School Survivors. Please wear orange.
• September 30 – Every Child Matters Walk, Kitchener, Healing of the 7 Generations. 10 am. Meet at 300 Frederick St and walk to Victoria Park Clock Tower.
• September 30 – 2^nd Annual Truth and Reconciliation Day gathering, 10 am – 12 pm, Pijinuiskaq Park (King St., Bridgewater, NS).
• September 30 – Truth and Reconciliation Day, 1 pm; Hank Snow Museum Grounds, 148 Bristol Ave, Liverpool NS (see poster).
• October 1 – Treaty Day Mawio’mi, 12 pm; Hank Snow Museum 148 Bristol Ave, Liverpool, NS (see poster).

May God’s wisdom and understanding surround us as we continue to learn to walk in the ways of reconciliation, reparation and peace.

Abundant fall blessings to you,

The Eastern Synod Circle for Reconciliation and Justice  

Circle for Reconciliation and Justice – June book study

The Circle for Reconciliation and Justice will coordinate a Synod-wide book study for the month of June, National Indigenous History Month. 

We have chosen the book Five Little Indians by Michelle Good.  It can be bought in bookstores, ordered online in ebook or paperback, or borrowed from your local library.  It is available through Goodminds, an Indigenous independent outlet.

Michelle Good is a writer of Cree ancestry and a member of the Red Pheasant Cree Nation in Saskatchewan.  Five Little Indians, released in April 2020, is her novel about five young people emerging from a remote residential school where they had been sent as small children. 

The book has been recognized with several honours including the Governor General’s Literary Award. It was chosen by Amnesty International Canada for their Book Club Readers’ Choice of 2021. 

Here are two suggestions for participating in the book study:

• Form a group from your congregation, Ministry Area or community to get together one or more times in June to discuss the book — and let us know about your experience!

We have made available a jotform with questions that you can answer online, and share with us.  

Stories, thoughts or photos can be sent by email to Rev. Christie Morrow-Wolfe (cmorrow-wolfe@elcic.ca)  

• Join two Zoom sessions that will be held in June.  Before reading the book, you can attend a kick-off session “Introduction to Five Little Indians Book Study” on June 2, 7 to 8 pm EDT, that will give some background about the book and the author, and why it has been chosen for study. 

The concluding session “Book Study Wrap-up” will be held on June 20, 7 to 9 pm EDT.  In the first part we will ask participants to share what they found to be most meaningful and important about the book. The second part will be devoted to a discussion of the meaning for our congregations as we seek to live into truth and reconciliation moving forward.   

Some suggestions of questions for discussion in the book groups are available from London Public Library and from Amnesty International Canada.

The links to the Zoom Book Study sessions: 

June 2^nd, Kick-Off Event, 7-8 pm –

https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZwrd-6srT0vHNPAwvIT1ilof7diKR6eT_3Z

June 20^th, Wrap-Up Event, 7-9 pm –

https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZUlcOGoqz8pHt0OdN73AeLoRQ6w06N_JIQ4