Fellowship Action

Statement on Reconciliation

Unitarian Fellowship of Regina

“Reconciliation” is about establishing and maintaining a mutually respectful relationship between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal peoples in this country.”  For the Unitarian Fellowship of Regina, reconciliation requires respecting Indigenous spirituality. It means resolving to continuously educate ourselves about First Nations, Inuit, and Métis communities and engaging with them on a journey toward justice and equity for all Indigenous Peoples in Canada.

Quote excerpted from page 113, What We Have Learned: Principles of Truth and Reconciliation

Treaty Four Territory Acknowledgement

We acknowledge that here in southern Saskatchewan, we are on Treaty 4 land. This is the traditional homeland of the Nêhiyawak (Plains Cree), Nahkawé (Saulteaux), Nakota, Dakota, Lakota, and Métis nations. 
We are all Treaty people. As such, we are committed to systemic change and to actions that further justice, truth, and reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples.
Pronunciation: Nêhiyawak: neh-hee-o-wuk, Nahkawé: nuk-ah-way, Saulteaux: so-toe

Self-Education

The Fellowship has been engaged in educating itself about Indigenous People and their life experience for decades. Our book of formal readings (published 1993) includes statements by Indigenous leaders. In 2013, we worked with the Office of the Treaty Commissioner to provide a Treaty Education workshop for our Fellowship and the community.

Our Sunday Service Committee arranges presentations by Indigenous people who inspire us to look more widely and understand more deeply. Since 2016 we have added Indigenous music to our services periodically.

Your ideas would be welcomed.

Outreach

We actively encourage members to be engaged in the reconciliation work of the Regina community by advertising these events weekly in our Order of Service and newsletter The Chalice. For example, several of our members have attended workshops taught by Indigenous experts on such topics as protocols to show respect for elders (Angela Pratt) and protecting our waterways (Dodie Ferguson).

Many of us have been learning specifically about Indigenous Spirituality with Elder Lorna Standingready (8 hours using a multi faith guide: Quest for Respect) and with Professor Blair Stonechild (6 hours including Indigenous values). We thank Knox Met United and First Presbyterian for creating these opportunities.

In addition, two Fellowship members are facilitators for the KAIROS Blanket Exercise (a learning tool that demonstrates some realities of our Canadian history). And three members have attended Project of Heart, a 12-week course offered several times during 2016-18 at Luther College, University of Regina.

Be active with us!

Inspire Learning

In 2019, the Unitarian Fellowship sponsored a Blanket Exercise which was much appreciated by all those attending. We hope to offer this again in the future.
 
Resources for teaching and learning are available from the Canadian Unitarian Council:
 
Learning at home can be a challenge at any time. For a thoughtful approach, have a look at these First Peoples Principles of Learning.
 
You might also want to visit First Peoples Classroom Resources from the British Columbia First Nations Education Steering Committee. (www.fnesc.ca)

In The Chalice (our public newsletter), we share our reconciliation journey and invite others to join us as we expand our horizons.

Watching & Reading for Reconciliation

We watch the Aboriginal Peoples Television Network. What a great way to learn!

The Unitarian Fellowship has collected some thought-provoking reading (downstairs) and built a reading list. Come check it out! Most items are also available at the Regina Public Library.

Top reading selections

Challenge yourself! Read something that reshapes your view of the world. Get informed about a side of our history that our Governments have suppressed for over a hundred years. For example:

  • Treaty Elders of Saskatchewan, by Harold Cardinal and Walter Hildebrandt. This wonderful book tells the meaning of Saskatchewan’s 9 treaties from the perspective of Indigenous Elders and oral historians, emphasizing the treaty relationship.
  • “Spirit Bear and Children Make History” is based on the true story of the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal case and Jordan’s Principle.  It is a story about children who wait too long for health care because neither federal nor provincial governments will agree they have a responsibility to provide health care to Indigenous children. Read the book! Share it with others and consider what action we can take to ensure all little ones get the cae they need, when they need it. To learn more about Jordan’s Principle go to www.jordansprinciple.ca and to learn more about the ongoing Tribunal case (filed in 2007 and still going) go to www.fnwitness.ca
  • The Métis: A Visual History by Sherry Farrel Racette (2010 Gabriel Dumont Institute). This wonderful book is 28 pages of vibrant art and great stories. Together they make a readable history of the Métis people 1690-1982. The book presents valuable perspectives covering information often missed in other histories.  Great reading for teens and adults.

Reconciliation Study Group

From 2017 to early 2020, the Study Group met ​ twice monthly,. We began by exploring together the TRC’s 94 Calls to Action with in-depth research and discussion. We are still following up on those issues of greatest concern to us and working on our priorities:

  • K-12 Education
  • inequities in funding for child welfare and education, and
  • the visible, systematic inequity in Saskatchewan justice systems.

In 2019, we focused on confronting racism and discussing the United Nation Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP)

In 2020, we began reviewing and learning from Reclaiming Power and Place: The Reports of the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls.

1 – Reclaiming Power and Place: The Final Report provides a framework for understanding, stories, pictures, and reflects on our history as Canadians. This main web page identifies all the reports with links to the reports and to story-telling and detailed information about the Commission’s work.

2 – Reclaiming Power and Place: Volume 1a 

3 – Reclaiming Power and Place: Volume 1b 

4 – Reclaiming Power and Place: Executive Summary of the Final Report (also contains Calls for Justice)

5 – A Legal Analysis of Genocide: Supplementary Report

 
After a short pandemic pause, the Study Group examined how it can best contribute to the Fellowship and the community. We are moving forward with energy. We delight in respectful, rip-roaring debates that deepen our understanding. And by the way, the Reconciliation Tab  is an initiative of the Study Group.

Get into the Act!   …Join us!

Canadian Unitarian Council

Unitarians are active nationally too.

https://sites.google.com/view/thrrg-introductiontoallguides/welcome

CUC Response to the final report of the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women