A Publication of Summer 2014 Volume 1 Issue 2 Inside this Issue ◊ Report on the NAIITS Symposium p.1 ◊ Reports from Inenimowin Our 11th annual symposium concluded June 7th, and as per the norm, we had both new and regulars in attendance. Themes and locations make the decision for some; others make their way irrespective of the topic we are discussing for an engagement they cannot get elsewhere. In all, we estimate our symposiums touch hundreds of scholars and practitioners of Indigenous theology and ministry annually. p.2 ◊ Truth and Reconciliation Commission p.3 ◊ Upcoming Events p.3 ◊ Kids’ Camps p.4 ◊ Coming Events p.4 ◊ Prayer Needs p.4 Now in our 14th year as an organization, it’s a track record we don’t take for granted but are nonetheless pleased with since it helps shape changes in Indigenous theology and ministry practice. This year’s topic focused on asking “What do we do to move beyond impacts and abuses of colonialism as framers for our ministry, teaching and community work?” Great presentations from Cree scholar Jackie Ottmann, (newly appointed Research Chair with the Canada Research Council and one of our faculty!), Gene Green, professor of New Testament at Wheaton College, and Casey Church, among others, made for an outstanding symposium. More than memorable however, it helped sparked a conversation concerning combining efforts My People makes at restoration of lives, with other organizations doing healing work among the tribes. Look for an announcement in the coming year! The following comment from an applicant for an adjunct faculty position with NAIITS, summed the symposium up quite nicely, I thought: “When I told my work supervisor about the NAIITS symposium, she said, ‘They have always taken themselves seriously.’ Though NAIITS is a small organization, and as Terry LeBlanc has noted, works with a shoestring budget, they are a power with which to reckon. I find I am more interested than previous about the possibility of joining the faculty…[as with NAIITS], I also seriously love the Bible.” That kind of captures the symposiums for me – serious academic work, loves the Bible! P.S. We graduated our first two Master of Arts in Intercultural Studies students, Ed Kearney and Ken Loyd! Our first grad ceremonies were held during the symposium. ~Terry LeBlanc NAIITS Honours Dr. Larry Shelton at the grad ceremony Spring 2014 ~ Volume I Issue 2~ Page 2 What a privilege to host Inenimowin Circle in Montana this past May! We were so grateful to invite people from our community to hear the stories of others who have experienced healing from abuse, grief, and loss. As I sat and listened, I was reminded how vital this type of ministry is for discipleship. We must be able to look at the depths of our hearts and examine Ray Aldred powerfully taught about Native our pain and any lies that guide our actions in order to hear our identity, shame, forgiveness and more. An Creator’s voice of truth to us and authentically follow Jesus. eloquent storyteller, Ray’s honest and clear When we share our story with others and receive their love and approach speaks to hearts in fresh ways. acceptance, we are able to begin to heal and have a genuine fellowship with them that is all too rare in our communities. This restoration means intimacy with God and with others. Melissa* was one of the recent Inenimowin participants. She had tried to ignore the pain and shame of her past, thinking that pushing it down would make it go away. She said she lived a shallow existence and was superficial with others. Now Melissa is opening up more and more each day as the Creator Inenimowin Women’s Talking Circle helps her to heal and share her journey with others. Years ago when she was thinking of suicide it was the openness of her aunt that saved her life. Now Melissa wants to be open with others and help them through their pain. She has already shared with her family and friends, spoken in her home church and is thinking of starting a group in the community. *Name used with permission ~ Summer Graham Thank you for all your prayers and support as we Linda Martin spoke on various subjects continue to help people heal through Inenimowin Circle. including grief, depression, and the importance of dealing with pain. Though small in stature, Linda is a “giant” in courage, touching lives each time she teaches. Inenimowin Men’s Talking Circle Closing celebration round dance, representing the gifts we have given and received. “This is such an important ministry and one that I wish all chiefs and council members could experience. You have such a gifted team. For me the experience was affirming to know so many have travelled the same road and there is hope. Although I have been working on healing for many years the group times were very special for me. The support was real and I felt safe, that is so huge. I thank you for this time it will always be special for me.” "Just responding to our recent Inenimowin Circle experience and WOW! It was just what I needed to rekindle, restore, and revive my walk with our awesome Creator. Before this I was beginning to struggle and lose hope but now looking back I now believe that we were all meant to join in this. I strongly encourage all Natives and all people to step right in and enjoy. " Summer 2014 ~ Volume 1 Issue 2 ~ Page 3 Canada's relationship with Aboriginal people has For the past 6 years The Truth and Reconciliation Commission in Canada (TRC) has sought to provide opportunity suffered tremendously as a result of the IRS. And, while for survivors and others from the Indian Residential School truth telling was important – it started us on the path (IRS) era to tell their stories and put the truth of what hap- toward understanding – for the next step, reconciliation, to occur, healing and repairing of relationpened on record. Some of our staff has been ship is needed. And, that requires educaactively involved in various parts of the TRC tion, awareness, and an increased underwork. standing of the IRS legacy. It also Chaired by a group of three commissioners, requires us to understand the impacts still the TRC mandate was to inform Canadians being felt by all people involved – settler about what really happened at the 139 resiand survivor alike. Ultimately, however, it dential schools operated across Canada for will require a heart change on the part of over 150 years and to document the truth of the European/settler community, if we are the survivors, their families and communities, to see full healing within Canada. all who had been affected by the IRS experiFrom the TRC website: Reconciliation ence. The TRC held six different national events across Canada, the last and most re- Picture from http://www.justice.gov.za/trc/ is an overall objective of the TRC. The Commission views reconciliation as an cent in Edmonton this past March. For the record, the British and then Canadian govern- on-going individual and collective process that will rements, with the cooperation of many churches (mainline, quire participation from all those affected by the IRS exCatholic and some Evangelical), spent 180+ years of effort perience. We will move towards achieving reconciliation during this IRS era to assimilate First Peoples into the main- through activities such as public education and engagestream of European settler culture, its values, its religion, ment, commemoration and recommendations to the and it’s languages. Well over 150,000 Aboriginal children parties. Ultimately, this will include every one of us in Canada, went thru the residential schools. About 75,000 of them are since we are all treaty people. still alive today. ~Tim Stime Upcoming Conferences, Speaking and Training Events... Board, Staff and Associates ~ Cheryl Bear, Carrier Sekani, Musician, Pastor ~ Casey Church, Pottawotomi, Pastor, Albuquerque Native Fellowship ~ Adrian Jacobs, Cayuga, ~ Wendy Peterson, Sect’y, Metis, Faculty, Providence Seminary ~ Shari Russell, Treas., Saulteaux, Corps Officer, Salvation Army ~ Andrea Smith, Cherokee, Faculty, U of C Riverside ~ Randy Woodley, Keetowah, Faculty, George Fox Seminary ~ Ray and Elaine Aldred (Cree) ~ Tiara Bacon (Philipina) ~ Tom and Karen Bursma (Euro-American) ~ Laurie Conway (Euro-American) ~ Celine & Hector Bastien Genest (Huron/French Canadian) ~ Wes & Summer Graham (Euro-American) ~ Matt LeBlanc, (Mi’kmaq/Acadian) ~ Terry and Bev LeBlanc (Mi’kmaq/Acadian) ~ Rick and Linda Martin (Cree) ~ Michelle Nieviadomy (Cree) ~ Tim & Yin Mooi Stime (Norwegian & Malaysian) ~ Karen & Jeff Ward (Euro-Canadian) ◊ ◊ ◊ ◊ ◊ ◊ ◊ ◊ ◊ ◊ ◊ ◊ ◊ ◊ ◊ ◊ ◊ ◊ ◊ with Terry LeBlanc July 12 - 19, Summer Day Camp. Wahgoshig FN. (Bursmas) July 16-20, Workshop and Ministry Outreach, Churchill, MB. (Aldreds and Martins) July 20 - 26, Summer Day Camp. Magnetawan FN. (Bursmas) July 25-27, Ministry Outreach, Weagamow Lake, ON (Martins) July 27 - Aug 2, Summer Day Camp, Shawanaga FN. (Bursmas) July 28-Aug 1, Teaching at Tyndale University College, Toronto, ON. (Terry) July 31– Aug 5. Kids Culture Camp. Sundre, AB. (Matt LeBlanc, Stimes, Grahams) Aug 1-3. Beaver Lake Family Camp, Dryden, ON. (Linda-Abuse Workshop, Rick-Music Ministry) Aug 9-16. Summer Day Camp. Henvey Inlet FN. (Bursmas) Sept 2-12. NAIITS’ MA in Community Development launches at Acadia. Wolfville, NS. (Terry, Wendy Peterson) Sept. 3-7. Sudbury First Nations Church. Sudbury, ON. (Rick and Linda) Sept 14,15. Peoples Church Missions Conference, Toronto, ON. (Terry and Karen Ward) Sept 24-25. CCDA Conference Speaking, Raleigh, NC. (Terry) Sept 25-29. Wheaton College, chapel and lectures. Wheaton, IL. (Terry) Oct. 18-19. Nestooaak Capacity Building Workship. Edmonton, AB. (Stimes, Terry) Oct. 22-27. Abuse Conference. Nemeska, QB. (Rick and Linda) Nov. 1-2, U of C Chair of Religious Studies Public Lectures. Calgary, AB. (Ray Aldred) Nov. 6-7. Co-Teaching with Howard Jolly. Providence College, Otterburne, MB (Linda) Nov. 19-21. Sudbury First Nations Church-Counseling the Sexually Abused Workshop. Sudbury, ON. (Linda). Ongoing Events: ◊ ◊ ◊ Tuesday Nights. Sacred Way Discipleship Training. Browning, MT. (Wes & Summer) Thursday Nights. Men’s Talking Circle. Browning, MT (Wes) Ongoing counseling at Sandy-Saulteaux Healing Center, Beausejour, Manitoba. - A continued follow-up from the Trauma and Crisis Training. (Martins) Praises and Specific Prayer Needs... ◊ ◊ Praising the Creator for a tremendous Inenimowin Circle and all the participants that benefited. We are also so thankful for the volunteers who have joined the team in helping with Culture Camp. Thanks for your prayers! The Message of Jesus in Context Summer 2014 . Volume 1 . Issue 2 Business Offices Phone, Fax, email and website Note Ph 780-727-4522 Fax 866.624.4868 Address [email protected] www.mypeopleinternational.com www.iemergence.org www.naiits.com Change P.O. Box 181 Carlisle, ON L0R 1H0 Canada P.O. Box 130061 St. Paul, MN 55113-0001 USA Several years ago, when asked if I would run a children’s summer camp in a remote native community, I realized I really didn’t know anything about Canada’s First Nations people. I vaguely remembered some project done in grade 8 but that was the extent of my knowledge. I hesitantly went on a visit to this remote community approximately 1600km north of my home, to hear what the Chief and Council were hoping we could provide for their children. I wasn’t sure what I was going to see, hear or begin to understand. I’m not sure I wanted to. That trip to Mishkeegogamang Ojibwa First Nation was overwhelming and troubling. It was also very pivotal in my life both in direction and passion. I did operate a children’s camp that first summer and then for the next six summers after that. For eight years I have walked beside my native brothers and sisters and just listened; listened to their stories, their heartbreaks, and their struggles and even, for some, their hope that life could be different for their children. Many people and organizations have travelled to and spent time in First Nations communities hoping to ‘help’ them, to ease the poverty and teach them about God. Not much has changed after all this ‘help’ and in some ways the heaviness of the issues this oppressed society deals with seem insurmountable. This is why I joined the team of Indigenous Pathways – Indigenous people serving their own people. A faith based organization desiring to develop the full capacity of Indigenous people in Canada and elsewhere. Not only does most of the IP team have Masters degrees and Doctorates, they have experienced what life is like as an aboriginal in Canada. Their level of empathy, passion and experience is making a difference in peoples lives and communities in Canada, US, Australia and other places in the world. I know God is using this organization to bring healing and restoration to those who have experienced the colonization and oppression of dominate societies. I want to be a part of what God is doing through this organization and am thrilled to be part this incredible team. I still get to go to ‘camp’ in Mishkeegogamang but am thrilled to have Matt LeBlanc, our iEmergence Executive Director take over the leadership of this program. My dream is that one of the youth that has been through our programs will one day be Chief in Mishkeegogamang and pass on the skills and dreams he/she absorbed through Indigenous Pathways. ~ Karen Ward Matt LeBlanc & Karen Ward both are working with the people in Mishkeegogamang through July. $495.00 Actual Cost $195.00 Subsidized Cost To register a camper, to volunteer, or to make a donation contact Tim: 780 967 1000 [email protected] Thanks for all your support and prayers!