Journeying Indigenous Pathways

Forging Right Relations

Strategic Objective: Deepen Indigenization and healing in The United Church of Canada towards self-determination and the possibility of reconciliation.

Self Governing

A fully self-governing Indigenous Church within the United Church will be created and developed, implementing the Calls to the Church.

Priority?	Key Activities
✓	Structure/Model: Indigenous Church
✓	Funding model: Indigenous Church
	Indigenous Testamur
	Theologies/Spiritualities: Indigenous ways
	Indigenous Youth Leadership
	New Indigenous Ministries

Accomplishments and Challenges

In this quarter the focus was on planning and holding a National Indigenous Spiritual Gathering. This took place in Winnipeg from November 29 through December 2, 2024 and offered a time of discussion, reflection, and prayer. At the end of the gathering, the Elders present set aside some time for healing and established a path forward for the Indigenous church.

The Elders issued the following statement: "The Elders have set a path forward for the Indigenous Church, saying that we will allow time for healing and we will come back together and do the following:

Expand the National Indigenous Elders Council to ensure better representation from all regions of the Indigenous church;
Plan for a dreaming/visioning group that includes multi-generational participation from all communities;
Refine the roles and responsibilities of the Elders Council;
Seek a better understanding of the work of Indigenous Ministries and Justice;
Gather and study documentation from all past iterations of the Indigenous Church, in order to guide the current process;
Connect with relevant resource people to help bring clarity to the process;
Involve the Community Capacity Development Coordinators in supporting planning and ongoing healing work.

We honour all that has come before this moment as we move forward into this new beginning." 