Deanery of Hastings – via Zoom
Program Focus: A step along the way in the ongoing journey of reconciliation with Indigenous people of Canada, responding to Articles 59 & 60 of the “Call to Action” *. This is an opportunity to learn about and explore some common stereotypes and assumptions about Indigenous people, as well as implicit support of the Indian Act through lack of awareness. Hopefully it will also make participants more aware of our unconscious bias.
When: 5 Wednesday evenings in Lent:
March 9, 16, 23 & 30, and April 6, 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm
March 9
Indigenous Stereotypes in Film; view NFB documentary ‘Reel Injuns’, followed by small group discussion using the teaching resource that accompanies the film.
You will be encouraged to view the film ahead of time, a link will be provided in the week prior to the presentation.
March 16
Indigenous Stereotypes in Literature; presentation and facilitated discussion centered around the play God and the Indian by Drew Hayden Taylor; led by Jennifer Davis.
March 23
21 Things You May Not Know About the Indian Act: Helping Canadians Make Reconciliation with Indigenous People a Reality
by Bob Joseph.
View TVO interview of author Bob Joseph by Steve Paiken, which focuses on each of the “21 things”, followed by a facilitated discussion, using the study resource found in the book.
March 30
Presentation from First Nations educators, Trevor Pearce, Indigenous Graduation Coach at the North Hastings Secondary School, and Marsha Depotier, MSW, and Indigenous Lead for the North
Indigenous Ceremonies: Their Meaning and Significance.
Trevor and Marsha have also graciously consented to participate in the previous presentations and will make themselves available from 8:30 to 9:00 for questions beyond the facilitated presentation as they bring their personal perspective to the discussions.
April 6
Wrap up discussion and closing liturgy
To register please email your name, email address and home parish to Linda Gardiner, St. George’s Trenton stgeorgeschurch1@cogeco.net
and copy your parish priest.
The first 50 registrants will receive a complimentary copy of God and the Indian through a Diocesan grant, after which participants will be asked to purchase their own copy. Complimentary copies will be delivered prior to the beginning of the program. All registrants are encouraged to purchase a copy of 21 Things You May Not Know About the Indian Act ($20).
Both these books are available online through Amazon or Chapters. Your parish priest can assist you with your order as necessary.
* Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada:
Calls to Action
59. We call upon church parties to the Settlement Agreement to develop ongoing education strategies to ensure that their respective congregations learn about their church’s role in colonization, the history and legacy of residential schools, and why apologies to former residential school students, their families, and communities were necessary.
60. We call upon leaders of the church parties to the Settlement Agreement and all other faiths, in collaboration with Indigenous spiritual leaders, Survivors, schools of theology, seminaries, and other religious training centres, to develop and teach curriculum for all student clergy, and all clergy and staff who work in Aboriginal communities, on the need to respect Indigenous spirituality in its own right, the history and legacy of residential schools and the roles of the church parties in that system, the history and legacy of religious conflict in Aboriginal families and communities, and the responsibility that churches have to mitigate such conflicts and prevent spiritual violence.
Hastings Deanery wishes to thank the Diocese of Ontario for a financial grant supporting this Lent Program.
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