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July 3, 2019
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Reconciliation and Indigenous Justice News from
The United Church of Canada

July 3, 2019


TransMountain Pipeline and Bill C-262


Supporters of Indigenous rights are concerned about Canada’s implementation of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. On June 18, the federal cabinet approved expansion of its TransMountain pipeline. The United Church of Canada shares the concerns of many First Nations, Indigenous organizations, and allies that the Declaration’s principles, including free, prior, and informed consent, are not being fully implemented in decision-making around the pipeline. 

On June 21, National Indigenous Peoples’ Day, Bill C-262 (which would have created a process to harmonize Canadian law with the Declaration), died on the order paper in the Senate. Having passed through committee hearings and three votes in the House of Commons, plus hearings and two votes in the Senate, the bill was filibustered and stalled by a small group of Senators who opposed it. It is a bitter disappointment for Indigenous rights, and for other important issues where bills were also lost in the effort to stop C-262. 

Read the United Church’s statement on these developments here.  The bill’s sponsor, MP Romeo Saganash, has issued a statement on the death of Bill-C-262, as have our ecumenical partner KAIROS and the Coalition for the Human Rights of Indigenous Peoples, which has worked tirelessly to support the bill.

Massive thanks to all United Church people who worked actively to support Bill C-262 at every stage of its life, and who, through word and action, have supported the application of the Declaration to the TransMountain decision-making process.

[Photo credit: Sara Stratton]
 




Recognizing Two-Spirit People

 
“According to the Indigenous Calls to the Church,” former Healing Programs Coordinator Honarine Scott writes, “our Two Spirit relatives are welcome and a valued part of our circle.” 

Honarine has written about recent work on Two-Spirit issues within the Healing program. 

In 2018, the Mission and Service Fund helped to support the Two-Spirit PowWow in Sakatoon – check out the video here. A United Church delegation recently attended the  Nibwaakaa Inaadiziwin-She is Wise 2nd Annual Conference hosted by the Ontario Native Women’s Association where many connections were made. As Honarine notes, Two-Spirit people were always a part of Indigenous cultures but were driven to the margins by colonization and residential schools. Recognizing Two-Spirit people is an act of reconciliation.

Please continue to give to the Healing Fund and Mission and Service to support efforts such as these.
 
[Photo courtesy of Honarine Scott.]
 




Reconciliation Crosses Communion, Borders, and Oceans


The United Church of Canada’s full communion partner, the United Church of Christ (United States), acknowledged Indigenous land and history as it began its General Synod on June 21, stating that “We acknowledge our churches' complicity in the systems of injustice that keep this land from being restored to you. Though the violence and genocide against native people across this continent cannot be undone, we desire to walk in humility, faith and justice, to learn from you and work with you, until we see a world reflecting Creator's grace and love and a just world for all."

 During early conversations that led to our full communion relationship our churches named building right relationships between Indigenous and Settler Peoples as a key area of ongoing learning. In 1993, the United Church of Christ apologized for church involvement in the overthrow of the Hawaiian kingdom in 1893.

Representatives from the UC Christ have joined us in several recent important gatherings, such as the 30th anniversary of the 1986 Apology, and the 2017 National Aboriginal Spiritual Gathering, where we were also joined by partners from the Uniting Church in Australia and the Uniting Aboriginal and Islander Christian Congress. We look forward to re-connecting with our Australian relations at the 2019 National Indigenous Spiritual gathering, where we will continue to weave our stories together.

[Photo courtesy of The United Church of Christ, ucc.org]

 


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