What we need is to find a way that we can offer all of these programs in one place,” said Rev. Stewart Folster, who became one of the PCC's earliest Native ministers when he was ordained in 1996. He is currently the director of Saskatoon Native Circle Ministry. “We need a healing centre in all major centres of Canada that offers addiction services, parenting and life skills, Native spirituality, Bible study, shelter, worship, child care, help with education and employment, with Native elders on staff as well as counsellors, therapists, parish social workers, and native artists to help in therapy. It needs government, church and aboriginal cooperation.”
The Healing and Reconciliation Design team had similar ambitions when it brought its plan to Assembly Council back in 2005. It turned out the team was beyond its mandate to suggest such a project, and was dreaming too big when it came to the huge sums of money needed to get such an idea off the ground.
Rev. Ken Stright, who has contributed to various native ministry committees of the PCC and ecumenically in Atlantic Canada as well as being a former minister to the Waywayseecappo First Nation reserve in Manitoba, explained that the church's newest healing and reconciliation initiative has a different focus — one that targets non-aboriginals and preparing them for making connections with the native community.
“I want people talking, so that aboriginals are no longer nameless and faceless,” said Stright. “Suddenly, all the issues are no longer government issues. It's about a person.”
He said Presbyterians have been open and willing to take steps in the past along the journey of healing and reconciliation, noting that when the church's confession to Aboriginal Peoples was first brought to the General Assembly in 1992, it was sent back because the language wasn't strong enough. Stright pins his hopes on this openness for the success of the newest initiative.
“Any Presbyterian in nearly any community in this country can walk down the street and find a friendship centre. Anyone can walk in and say they want to learn, and ask if anyone will talk to them. It's not easy, but it's not impossible.”
Lew Ford did exactly that. A member of the church's various healing and reconciliation teams since 2003 and a regular at Doon, Kitchener, Ont., Ford figured he'd better lead by example by visiting a friendship centre in his hometown.
His attempt was successful, as he was welcomed into the centre and was able to arrange a time to speak with some elders. The learning began and Ford hasn't been the same since. He's looking forward to the fruits of the church's new program, including the animator position, noting that church members need to be educated and sensitized to aboriginal issues, customs and culture before attempting to build relationships. Knowing the differences that exist, he said, will help avoid cultural missteps.
“The need for healing of aboriginal people is not to be diminished in any way,” said Ford. “But this little bit of money and the resources that are available, rather than divide it, we're putting it towards changing the knowledge and understanding and involvement of non-aboriginal people. If we do that, these other needs will be addressed.
“It's not about blame or guilt, but understanding why we had such a profound effect on our aboriginal brothers and sisters.”
Ford still has hope for the national centre that his design team proposed in 2005. “I think it's still in the picture, down the road,” he said. “If interest in the church grows, we can do all kinds of things. We're only limited by our creativity.” — AM
