Journeying Indigenous Pathways

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.

Accomplishments

Two ordinations were a great highlight of this period, reflecting developments in ministry leadership in the Indigenous Church. On April 27, at Kahnawake United Church Robert Ronwahaweta Patton (Mohawk) was ordained to great celebration, having been approved by the Indigenous Candidacy Board. On May 5, in Chinook Winds, Shane Goldie (Cree/ Métis), currently serving in Knox United Church in Taber and St. Paul’s United Church in Milk River, Alberta was ordained, the youngest serving minister in the United Church of Canada.

The Indigenous church was also fully present in the 99th Centennial service on June 10. Joni Shawana, Anishanawbe of Wikwemikong Unceded Territory, and Sandra Campbell, Wahta Mohawk First Nation, offered welcoming and gathering songs. Samantha Pepin delivered a moving gospel reading from the Mohawk Bible. Pepin is the granddaughter of the Bible’s translator, Elder Harvey Satewas Gabriel, and a sixth-generation descendant of Chief Sosé Joseph Onasakenrat (Joseph Swan), who translated the gospels in the 1880s.

The work of sustaining and growing Indigenous youth leadership continues to move forward with strength. This period saw a high level of Indigenous youth recruited for Audacious Hope.

In addition, significant commitments have been made to ensure stronger representation of Indigenous (and racialized youth) for General Council 45 Youth Forum (and its development)—a goal has been set of 50%.

The Indigenous church is bringing its unique and effective spiritual perspectives and ways of knowing into work of the whole church. In June of 2024, Martha Pedoniquotte shared Indigenous Approaches to Climate Action, complementing youth work on the same topic led by Joni Shawana. In the work of Indigenous justice, also reflected in the Justice objective, dedication continues in the Search the Landfill Campaign, with an important webinar held on April 21 that heard from the family of Morgan Harris.

In this period, related to the structure and long term funding model of the Indigenous church, work is being done to assess the property needs and challenges of across the country.

Challenges

Following the positive results of Remit 1: Establishing an Autonomous National Indigenous Organization in Q1, the Indigenous church is experiencing some growing pains as it moves towards developing its governance and funding model for the future.  The church is attending to relationships and further action is expected later in the year.

There are particular challenges in Indigenous communities in Northern Manitoba where a result of racist colonial policies, chronic under-funding and neglect from government have created huge health crises. Ministers on the front-lines are in need of respite and spiritual healing and so a number of parts of the church have come together to fund an October retreat.     

Looking Forward

In the latter part of this year, developments in the governance of the Autonomous Indigenous Church are expected.

Accountable: Murray Pruden

** Note that Indigenous pathways is using another process other than key results methodology for their reporting. **

For questions on the Strategic Plan, or for a summary of all 2024 Operational Plan Activities including descriptions, contact  .