Eastern Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada

Member church of the Lutheran World Federation

Circle for Reconciliation and Justice

Bill C-15

Posted: | Filed Under: Circle for Reconciliation and Justice, Newsletters

Dear Friends,
 
On May 4, 2021, the Canadian Council of Churches hosted a panel discussion with Truth and Reconciliation Commissioners, Dr. Marie Wilson, the Honourable Murray Sinclair and Chief Wilton Littlechild. The Commissioners were addressing Bill C-15 which received second reading in the Senate on April 11, 2021. Bill C-15 is an Act respecting the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) and states that “the Government of Canada must take all measures necessary to ensure that the laws of Canada are consistent with the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, and must prepare and implement an action plan to achieve the objectives of the declaration.”(i) Bill C-15 is now in the pre-study stage with the Standing Senate Committee on Aboriginal Peoples.(ii)
 
Dr. Marie Wilson, Hon. Murray Sinclair and Chief Wilton Littlechild are asking communities of faith and / or individuals to write to the Senators studying this bill, and to voice support for its passing into law and its implementation. Doing so would help to ensure that Canadian law aligns with the UNDRIP.(iii)
 
The link to a letter template can be found here: 
https://www.faithinthedeclaration.ca/take-action-1, along with instructions for writing and submitting your letter. We encourage individuals, Faith Leaders and congregations to take action as soon as possible. 
 
To watch the panel discussion from May 4th, 2021, please visit:
https://www.facebook.com/watch/live/?v=941420149733230&ref=watch_permalink
 
For more information, please visit the website for Faith in the Declaration (a sub-group of the Canadian Council of Churches):
https://www.faithinthedeclaration.ca/take-action-1
 
For Bill C-15 in its entirety, please visit:
https://parl.ca/DocumentViewer/en/43-2/bill/C-15/second-reading
 
And for an opinion piece on Bill C-15, please visit:
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatchewan/opinion-andre-bear-bill-c-15-1.6009060
 
Together, let’s make our voices heard so we can continue to live into the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s 94 Calls to Action; that we may also learn what it means to uphold the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, and so that as allies we may be part of the movement to put an end to the assimilation and colonization of our Indigenous neighbours. 
 
Peace to you,
 
Bishop Michael Pryse
The Eastern Synod Circle for Reconciliation and Justice

(i) https://parl.ca/DocumentViewer/en/43-2/bill/C-15/second-reading
(ii) https://www.parl.ca/LegisInfo/BillDetails.aspx?Language=E&billId=11007812
(iii) https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatchewan/opinion-andre-bear-bill-c-15-1.6009060

1492 Land Back Lane

Posted: | Filed Under: Circle for Reconciliation and Justice

Many of us are aware of the occupation by Haudenosaunee land defenders at 1492 Land Back Lane at Caledonia, Ontario.  People living on or near the Haldimand Tract are encouraged to become informed about the history and the issues.  These are complex, but researching this story with care can help us to understand the reasons for the protest and their implications for relationship.  

There is a great deal of information online, but a useful beginning is a learning resource with links to some source documents and writings from a variety of views and perspectives, put together in the Fall of 2020 by Steve Heinrichs, Indigenous-Settler Relations director for Mennonite Church Canada.  It can be found here.   

What Has COVID-19 Taught Us?

Posted: | Filed Under: Circle for Reconciliation and Justice, Newsletters, Spotlight, Uncategorised

You are invited to attend the following Zoom event:

What has COVID-19 taught us about the determinants of health for First Nations, Inuit and Métis communities and how are we called to respond?

Date:  Saturday March 27, 2021

Time:  10:00 – 11:45 am EDT

In this event we explore our call to walk with justice, mercy and humility in our relationships with First Nations, Inuit and Métis communities.

The event is co-sponsored by the Circle for Reconciliation and Justice of the Eastern Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada and the Centre for Public Ethics at Martin Luther University College in Waterloo.

REGISTER NOW
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United Nations International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples

Posted: | Filed Under: Circle for Reconciliation and Justice, Newsletters

Dear Friends,

August 9, 2020 is the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples, as declared by the United Nations. It also happens to fall on a Sunday this year. For those of you looking for resources to help augment your worship or your online presence in other ways, please see the links below.

https://easternsynod.org/wp-content/uploads/ResourcesNationalIndigenousPeoplesDay2020-1.pdf

https://www.un.org/en/observances/indigenous-day

Peace and blessings to you as we continue to learn and walk the journey of understanding and reconciliation.

Christie

National Indigenous Peoples Day

Posted: | Filed Under: Circle for Reconciliation and Justice, News

Dear People of God,

We are all created in the image of God.

When we can recognize our equal humanity and worth our attitudes and behaviours are motivated by compassion and the common good. The disheartening aspect of recent reports of police violence against Indigenous Peoples is that it is neither unusual nor uncommon. We are quick to respond with disgust and anger when we see instances of racial violence and injustices, and yet as the Toronto Star’s editorial board writes, “Let’s save some outrage for treatment of Indigenous people.”¹

In response to the racial violence in Minneapolis, Ontario Regional Chief RoseAnne Archibald writes,

“Indigenous Elders have said, this coronavirus has come for a reason, it has come to teach us something. One thing is obvious; this pandemic has reminded us of our shared humanity. As the world experienced lockdowns, the majority of us stayed home and expressed a collective concern for our fellow humans’ health and well-being. Perhaps for the first time in our modern human experience, we understood we are truly in this together. As such, it was especially shattering to watch a fellow human killed when we were all working toward preserving health and saving lives. George Floyd became ‘everyman,’ who was experiencing real anguish, and when he cried out for his mother, we all understood.”²

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