Indigenous and non-Indigenous find common ground in Edmonton

By Mike MacKenzie, Youth Council member-at-large. Mike lives in Sherbrooke, N.S.

“You are your ancestors’ prayers answered.”

That was the message delivered to a group of Indigenous and non-Indigenous youth and young adults at a reconciliation-inspired event in the Anglican Diocese of Edmonton on March 18, 2017.

Young people from a number of cultural backgrounds came together in Edmonton’s inner city for an event designed to raise up the next generation of leaders while centering them with spirituality and prayer. PWRDF Youth Council members were lucky to participate as the event coincided with their spring meeting which was in Edmonton.

The event, called Our Common Ground – Prayer, began with greetings from Indigenous elders, followed by traditional Cree prayers expressed through drumming and dancing. Participants under 30 were then divided into groups to take part in activities that illustrated the common ground shared by youth and young adults of both Indigenous and non-Indigenous heritage.

Event facilitators Michelle Nieviadomy and the Rev’d Canon Travis Enright led participants in sharing circles and games, and ensured participants had ample opportunity to get to know each other and learn from their experiences – both common and diverse.

Attendees over 30 were also gathered together and reminded of their special responsibility to foster and mentor the next generation of leaders, as well as their responsibility to hold up young people in prayer.

Above all, the activities succeeded in highlighting the day’s theme of common ground.

“We are all spiritual people regardless of heritage,” said Elsie Paul, an Indigenous elder in the Cree community. “We all have something to learn from one another.”

The event was the first of four gatherings under the umbrella of Moving Forward 2017, developed in response to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada’s Final Report. The report challenges the church to respond to the shameful heritage of residential schools by playing a leading role in fostering reconciliation between indigenous and settler societies.

According to the Moving Forward website, the program “aims to unite initiatives of indigenous ministry in the Anglican Diocese of Edmonton, the United Church of Canada Edmonton Presbytery, Inner City Pastoral Ministry, and supportive ecumenical and interfaith partners.”