CPT Prayer Walk to Honour the Treaties
SCM was represented on a CPT delegation to Grassy Narrows First Nation for the last 10 days by General Secretary David Ball. Check out the media release below, and the photos link:
CPT Prayer Walk PHOTOS with captions (reprint permission granted with credit: Marcus Armstrong)
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- MEDIA RELEASE -
Kenorans, internationals join together in prayer walk for Indigenous solidarity
What do the Kenora courthouse, mall, painted murals and churches have
in common? They were among the prayer stops on a public walk Saturday,
October 17 to celebrate diversity and encourage awareness of the impacts
of colonialism on Indigenous peoples here and across Canada.
Attracting 30 participants from Kenora and surrounding communities, the
two-hour 'Prayer Walk to Honour the Treaties' was the culmination of an
international fact-finding delegation to this area by Christian Peacemaker
Teams (CPT), a violence-reduction human rights organization which has worked
in the Kenora area and Grassy Narrows First Nation since 1999.
“The fact that CPT goes to Iraq and Palestine, and comes here to Kenora,
shows that there's a conflict here and it needs to become visible to white
people,” said Paula Broeders, a local resident and director of the Kenora
Sexual Assault Centre. “We cannot deny that we have a catastrophic problem
here.
“We have a cultural divide – it's a subtle apartheid,” Broeders added.
“White people have the opportunity to stand up and be accountable, to be
honest with ourselves, and to show kindness.”
The walk stopped at various locations in downtown Kenora to pray, share
history and reflect on the message that all of us – Native and non-Native
– have rights and responsibilities under the Treaties. At one stop, Anishnaabe
resident Cathy Lindsay offered tobacco by the lakeshore and said a prayer
for healing. After the walk, participants shared a meal together.
“This prayer walk is an act of solidarity with my brothers and sisters
on Turtle Island, what we call Canada,” said Marcus Armstrong, a CPT delegation
member from Willen, United Kingdom. “It's a fundamental right of people
to have land on which to live, grow things, hunt and fish to meet their
basic needs from the land. Where this isn't respected, in my experience,
has led to very great pain and suffering.
“These are worldwide issues. Hopefully people will realize they are not
alone in this struggle, that there are people all over the Earth thinking
of them, praying for them, working for them.”
Charles Wagamese, a resident of Dalles and supporter of Grassy Narrows,
joined the prayer walk and described its songs and prayers as “solidarity
of the human spirit.”
“We need love, compassion and wisdom between the Anishnaabe and non-Anishnaabe
people,” he said. “That's what I want to see. I don't want to see any more
fear.”
The CPT delegation, made up of volunteers from Canada, UK, USA and the
Philippines, has met with stakeholders in the legal system, police, social
services, and First Nations to get a clearer picture of the struggles and
initiatives facing the community, including issues of discrimination, residential
schools, clearcut logging, as well as healing initiatives.
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Contact:
Rebecca Johnson (647) 409-0965
www.cpt.org
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