From: Fausak, Cecile [mailto:cfausak@united-church.ca]
Sent: July-07-15 2:49 PM
To: Fausak, Cecile
Subject: LIRR Digest: KAIROS Canada Day message, new resource, and #94calls2reconcile; Rolling Justice Bus; Finding
T&R in the oil sands; UN Human Rights Review
Dear ‘climbers’ on the journey of reconciliation,
I have been with members of All Native Circle Conference at their Grand Council held in Walpole
Island First Nation from July 1-5,
listening first hand to the concerns and joys of Aboriginal communities in Alberta, Saskatchewan,
Manitoba, Ontario, and Quebec.
They urged the church to take seriously all 94 Calls to Action issued by the TRC, and especially
those 14 that call upon the churches directly,
and as ‘parties’ to the Settlement Agreement. We celebrated the commissioning of Connie Budd
who will be serving in Winnipeg, and the
induction of Leading Elders Rev. Dr. Bernice Saulteaux, and Rev. Nelson Hart.
The United Church of Canada is very concerned about the severe wildfire situation in Western
Canada, where thousands of people, including
residents of First Nations communities, have been evacuated for their own safety. We are
currently in discussions with regional and Aboriginal ministries
representatives of the United Church to explore what supportive action might be taken. In the
meantime, a prayer has been offered for those affected by the fires: http://www.unitedchurch.ca/communications/news/general/150707-0
KAIROS CANADA DAY MESSAGE and #94calls2reconcile
KAIROS Executive Director Jennifer Henry begins her Canada Day message this way:
On this day, when Canadians gather to celebrate our country, I will place my pride not in who
we are, but in who we can become.
With the release of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada's Call to Action summary
report, we have a glimpse into the
history many did not want to know, and a vision of a future we must strive to realize.
https://www.kairoscanada.org/home-page-feature-1/message-from-jennifer-henry-kairosexecutive-director-on-canada-day/
Beginning July 1, Henry calls us to read one of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's 94
Calls to Action here: bit.ly/1g7gGlq
Follow KAIROS on Twitter and Facebook, between Canada Day and Thanksgiving, as we detail
each of the #94calls2reconcile and encourage all to #ReadTheTRCReport.
NEW KAIROS RESOURCE: STRENGTH FOR CLIMBING: STEPS ON THE JOURNEY OF
RECONCILIATION
Download KAIROS' newest resource entitled Strength for Climbing: On the Journey to
Reconciliation, part of the upcoming KAIROS Winds of Change campaign,
here: http://www.kairoscanada.org/wpcontent/uploads/2015/06/KAIROS_StrengthForClimbing.pdf This booklet is designed to help
non-Indigenous communities begin on a path of reconciliation with Indigenous peoples. By
learning and unlearning. By building relationships. By actively practicing reconciliation. By living
out our commitment in worship, in prayer and in just action.
KAIROS is with you on this journey, as together we strive to practice reconciliation.
There are lots of suggestions here – don’t let it overwhelm you, try picking one from each
section. If you do nothing else, I’d suggest these four things:
1) read The Comeback and The Inconvenient Indian 2) listen to survivors’ stories on www.trc.ca
3) acknowledge territory when you gather 4) do the Blanket Exercise
Please note that in addition to resource and action suggestions in the main text, there is also a
substantial list of resources and links at the end.
NEW BOOK: Reconciliation and the Way Forward
Click on the title to download it. Launched on June 1, 2015, by the Legacy of Hope Foundation
at the Truth and Reconciliation final event in Ottawa, this collection of 17 essays deliberates the
simple but profound question “What does reconciliation look like?” Contributors include Garnet
Angeconeb, Katsi’tsákwas Ellen Gabriel, Tony Belcourt, Georges Erasmus, Stephen Lewis,
Shelagh Rogers, Justice Harry S. Laforme, and The Right Honourable Paul Martin. It is not
available to order at the moment.
INVITATION TO RIDE THE ROLLING JUSTICE BUS IN BC - August 24-31, 2015
KAIROS, in collaboration with the BC/Yukon KAIROS region, invites YOU, and anyone you think
may be interested, to ride the “Rolling Justice Bus,”, August 24 -31,2015. Departing from
Vancouver with stops in Kamloops, Prince George and Fort St. John, the Rolling Justice Bus
will help us connect the dots about our shared history - from Indigenous rights and reconciliation
to resource extraction and climate change.
Together we will explore ways of building a better future based on right relations with
Indigenous peoples and a new vision of the lands, the water and the peoples of BC.
The tour is also a great way to kick off the KAIROS Winds of Change campaign. We’ll be
looking at ways of building on the work and recommendations of the Truth and Reconciliation
Commission (TRC). What does reconciliation in these watersheds and traditional territories look
like? How do we live into the specific recommendations of the TRC? Join us in bringing in a “New
Spirit” and together we will change our direction, our behaviours, our attitudes and our
relationships.
For more information and/or to register please contact: Susan Draper at: graceful@shaw.ca
Your KAIROS staff contacts for the Rolling Justice Bus Tour are: Alfredo Barahona:
abarahona@kairoscanada.org and Anne Herteis: aherteis@kairoscanada.org
UN HUMAN RIGHTS REVIEW
The UN Human Rights Committee, opened its review of Canada’s compliance to the International
Covenant on Political and Civil Rights on July 6.
A big shout out to the KAIROS Indigenous Rights Circle members who worked on a KAIROS
submission to the UN Human Rights Committee on Canada’s review –
Joanne Jefferson, Deborah Tagorak and Warren Almand. The report made it into a Canadian
Press article that was picked up by more than 20 news outlets.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/ottawa-poised-to-defend-rights-recordon-aboriginals-terrorism-at-un-committee/article25334365/
and http://www.cbc.ca/news/aboriginal/un-human-rights-panel-hears-aboriginal-plightis-among-canada-s-top-issues-1.3140622
You can find the KAIROS Shadow report at http://www.kairoscanada.org/wpcontent/uploads/2015/05/KAIROS-ShadowReport.pdf?utm_source=Kairos+Times+2014&utm_campaign=261f1cbe84-KAIROS+Times+eNewsletter+for+June+2015&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_522b217185-261f1cbe8498815357
FINDING TRUTH AND RECONCILIATION IN THE OIL SANDS
Eriel Deranger writes from Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation, who are downstream from the oil
sands mining activities, about their ongoing call for a moratorium on oil sands expansion.
http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/jun/23/canadas-tar-sands-oil-fields-sacredlands
On June 10, a group of 100 Canadian and US scientists issued an urgent call for governments to
place a moratorium on new oilsands projects, offering 10 reasons. Their letter was sent to all
Members of Parliament. http://globalnews.ca/news/2047208/100-canadian-and-u-s-scientistscall-for-oilsands-moratorium/
BEING ‘UNSETTLED’ AND ACKNOWLEDGING TRADITIONAL TERRITORY
Paula Simons describes being ‘unsettled’ while learning whose territory she shares in Edmonton.
http://www.edmontonjournal.com/Simons+home+native+land+Treaty+people/11179889/story.
html
In peace,
(Rev.) Cecile Fausak
Reconciliation and Indigenous Justice Animator
General Council Office: Committee on Indigenous Justice and Residential Schools
United Church of Canada
780-676-0562 (office cell)
780-675-7753 (Athabasca, AB home office)