Indigenous Justice

The Church’s relationship with Indigenous peoples in Canada has been marked by colonization and the racist beliefs that underscored colonization (namely, the superiority of a Christianized, western European worldview). The Church has apologized  for and confessed  its role in running residential schools, its complicity in the harms of colonization, and rejected the Doctrine of Discovery. The church is committed to walking toward reconciliation. This includes advocating that the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples is the framework for reconciliation, responding to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action  and engaging with the findings of the National Inquiry on Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls Calls for Justice . In 2006, General Assembly established the Healing and Reconciliation program to assist individuals and congregations that are building relationships based on justice, love of neighbour, and mutual respect between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples.

Principles that General Assembly has endorsed relating to the Church’s relationship with Indigenous peoples

• The church repudiates concepts used to justify European sovereignty over Indigenous lands and peoples, such as the Doctrine of Discovery and terra nullius. (A&P 2019, pp. 35, 368-377)
• The church seeks to engage in relationships with Indigenous peoples that reflect the principles of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples as the basis for right relationships. (A&P 2019, pp. 35, 368-377)
• The church apologized for its complicity in colonization and role in running residentials schools, and made “five fundamental commitments:
  • We will continue to listen and learn from Indigenous people, leaders, Elders and Knowledge Keepers, welcoming and engaging voices from both within and beyond The Presbyterian Church in Canada.
  • We will continue the work of reconciliation, responding to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s 94 Calls to Action and the work of reparation that we have begun.
  • We will respect traditional Indigenous spiritual practices.
  • We will listen to and tell the truth about the past.
  • We will work to support Indigenous led healing and wellness initiatives and be in solidarity with Indigenous people and communities” (A&P 2024, p. 223, 23)

Principles that General Assembly has endorsed relating to justice for Indigenous peoples

• The church acknowledges that the impacts of colonialism and the resulting systems of racism (including but not limited to the Indian Act, the Sixties scoop, residential schools, and breaches of human and Indigenous rights) that target Indigenous peoples for violence is race-based genocide, as named in the Final Report of the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls. (A&P 2021, pp. 412-418, 38)
• The church affirms that all doctrines, policies and practices based on or advocating for superiority of peoples or individuals on the basis of national origin or racial, religious, ethnic or cultural differences are racist, scientifically false, legally invalid, morally condemnable and socially unjust. (A&P 2019, pp. 35, 368-377)
• First Nations in Canada should have a constitutional guarantee to the right to self-government and to an adequate land and economic base arising from Aboriginal title, Aboriginal rights and treaty rights. (A&P 1991, pp. 289-292, 50-51)
• Resource development should not take place on unsurrendered land until either there is a claims agreement in place or until terms are negotiated satisfactorily with the Indigenous peoples concerned. (A&P 1991, pp. 289-292, 50-51)
• Recognized regional and national groupings of Native people have a special right to be heard by federal, provincial, territorial and municipal governments and the various courts of the church. (A&P 1980, pp. 413, 90)
• Addressing inadequate housing in Indigenous communities is a fundamental pillar to initiatives that would address health and education. (A&P 2014, pp. 373-381, 13, 20)

2025 Select actions of the church

General Assembly adopted a recommendation that The Presbyterian Church in Canada extend its support and express solidarity for the Independent Special Interlocutor for Missing Children and Unmarked Graves and Burial Sites associated with Indian Residential Schools and the 42 Sacred Obligations in the Interlocutor’s final report . (A&P 2025, pp. 265, 17) General Assembly also adopted a recommendation that as a matter of learning more fully the legacy of residential schools and colonization in which The Presbyterian Church in Canada participated and to better walk a path of reconciliation, congregations, presbyteries and other courts of the church are encouraged to study the findings of the Special Interlocutor and the 42 Obligations she issued. (A&P 2025, pp. 187, 27)

General Assembly adopted a recommendation encouraging that congregations and all courts of the church review the Apology and use the resources developed for the Apology. (A&P 2025, pp. 283, 30) General Assembly adopted recommendations that encouraged congregations and all courts of the church to consider and embrace the five commitments in the apology in their congregational life, or the work they are tasked to do, and develop ways to pursue actions demonstrating those commitments in the life of their respective bodies, and how they will live out the commitments. (A&P 2025, pp. 266, 17 & pp. 284, 30) General Assembly adopted a recommendation that the Assembly extend deep gratitude for the important work of translating the Apology in Indigenous languages to each translator. (A&P 2025, p. 30)

General Assembly adopted several recommendations summarized below, in response to an overture regarding sustainable funding for Indigenous Ministries in the PCC:

• Through the Life and Mission Agency’s budget at least the same amount as granted in 2025 ($715,000), indexed to inflation, will be provided from the General Assembly’s operating budget for the next 10 years. (A&P 2025, pp. 253, 29)
• Assembly Council will transfer $2.5 million to the Indigenous Ministries Fund so Indigenous ministries have more funds in the immediate term. (A&P 2025, pp. 253, 29)
• The policy for amalgamated congregations was amended requiring that not less than 15% of net proceeds from the sale of buildings/land of amalgamated congregations is directed to the Indigenous Ministries Fund. (A&P 2025, pp. 253, 29)

General Assembly adopted a recommendation to contribute $500,000 to a collaborative legacy response of the Anglican, United and Presbyterian Churches towards the construction of a new permanent home for the National Center for Truth and Reconciliation. (A&P 2025, pp. 93, 34)