Eastern Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada

Member church of the Lutheran World Federation

Circle for Reconciliation and Justice

CRJ Book Study – Five Little Indians

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

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 2nd, Kick-Off Event, 7-8 pm –

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

June 20th, Wrap-Up Event, 7-9 pm –

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

Red Dress Day – Resources & Ideas

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

May 5 marks Red Dress day in Canada, a day of remembrance for the 1200+ missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls, and two spirit individuals across the country. Beginning over 12 years ago, the initiative was born out of Métis artist Jaime Black’s REDress art installation wherein hundreds of red dresses were displayed in public spaces to raise awareness for the missing women. 

The colour red was chosen based on the traditional knowledge that it is the only colour spirits can see and it is used as a means of calling the spirits of these lost loved ones home. In line with Black’s vision, every year red dresses and ribbons are hung nationwide in remembrance of these women and to symbolize what has been declared an ongoing genocide. 

#WhyWeWearRed #NoMoreStolenSisters

Red Dress Day – Resource ListDownload
Red Dress Day – Eastern Synod PrayerDownload
Red Dress Day – Prayer CardDownload

Orange Shirt Day – National Day for Truth and Reconciliation 2021

Posted: | Filed Under: Circle for Reconciliation and Justice

Phyllis Jack Webstad was six years old when she left her community of Stswedcem’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. For the first time in 2021, September 30th is now 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 26th by wearing orange and encouraging others to wear orange as well. Consider using the following litany written by Ron Flaming of the Truth and Reconciliation Action Group, Waterloo North Mennonite Church. We are grateful to Ron for allowing us to share this litany with our Synod. (see attached).
  • 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 27-October 1st.
  • to listen to a CBC interview of Phyllis Jack Webstad, follow this link.
  • to learn more about Phyllis Jack Webstad’s work and advocacy, click here.
  • to purchase a copy of the book, Phyllis’s Orange Shirt, click here.
  • to purchase an orange shirt from an approved retailer, click here
  • on Wednesdays, the Woodland Cultural Centre offers a virtual tour of the Mohawk Institute Residential School. See their calendar of events for more information.
  • Medicine Wheel Education offers authentic Indigenous educational tools and resources.
  • document how you will mark the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation by taking pictures (with permission) and posting to social media using the hashtags, #OrangeShirtDay; #EveryChildMatters; #IWearOrangeBecause, #EasternSynod, #MyELCIC

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  

Litany-for-National-Day-of-Truth-and-Reconciliation-1-1Download

National Indigenous People’s Day 2021

Posted: | Filed Under: Circle for Reconciliation and Justice, RJAC Communications

Dear Friends in Christ,

National Indigenous People’s Day Resources – 2021Download

As we approach the 2021 National Indigenous People’s Day, we offer gratitude to the Creator for the gift of Mother Earth, and to the First Peoples of this land for the wisdom they offer us as we walk together in solidarity with creation and with those who suffer the effects of colonization, racism, ableism, ageism, and sexism in its various guises. 

Since the 2020 National Indigenous People’s Day, Turtle Island has witnessed a sobering sequence of injustices, injuries and inequities directly bearing upon First Nations, Métis, and Inuit people.  News reels have documented the outrageous treatment of Joyce Echaquan, the ongoing effects of land grabs in Caledonia and beyond, the unconscionable continuance of boil-water advisories across this land, the rampant racism levelled against the Mi’kmaq of Sipekne’katik First Nation for exercising their fishing rights, the ongoing inordinate incarceration of Indigenous people, and the repeated disappearance and death of Indigenous women, girls and 2SLGBTQQIA people.  Unfortunately, what has been reported is but the tip of the iceberg of what is experienced.

Read more →

Bill C-15

Posted: | Filed Under: Circle for Reconciliation and Justice

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