From here:
The Anglican Church of Canada should apologize to the country’s Indigenous people for having “demonized” their traditional spirituality, Archbishop Fred Hiltz, primate of the Anglican Church of Canada, told Council of General Synod (CoGS) November 24.
“There’s a need to do something by way of an apology, and we need to do it carefully and prayerfully, and we need to do it well so that it’s meaningful,” Hiltz said. “There is a need to do this.”
[….]
An apology for spiritual abuse, he said, would likely also include an expression of gratitude to Indigenous elders for keeping traditional spirituality alive, despite the risk to themselves from European and Canadian authorities.
“The elders need to be thanked…notwithstanding a position they often had to take, to say: ‘We don’t talk about that,’ or ‘We can’t talk about it,’ they have still carried the spirituality,” he said. “It’s not dead, not extinct—it’s still very much alive in their hearts.”
The apology would likely include some way of encouraging young Indigenous people to learn more about their traditional spirituality, he said.
Here is a description of Cree spirituality:
Cree people believe in Spirits visions and dreams. These visions are mediums through which we attempt to enlighten our understanding of the world in which we exist. Each of the Creator’s gifts, particularly animals and humans, possess a Spirit. Because the Spirit is eternal we know that when we die, it is only a physical death and our journey continues on. Traditional Cree spirituality also strongly reinforces the principle of a circle of life, the essence of which is found in Spirit. Spirits have the power to manifest themselves to the human eye and mind as well as to communicate with us. For example Cree people believe that the Northern Lights occur when the Spirits are dancing. Various Spirits such as the Old Woman, the bear or the buffalo often enter the Sweat Lodge during prayer. At other times, depending upon our need, particular Spirits are called upon to provide us with assistance. A variety of Spirits also come to us during dreams or in visions.
As you can see, the basis of Indigenous spirituality is Animism, a form of idolatry which is not only more primitive and less plausible than Christianity, but one that is expressly forbidden in the ten commandments.
If Christianity is true, Animism is false. If our Anglican Primate thinks imparting this information to anyone, including Indigenous people, is an act worthy of apology, then it’s tempting to conclude that he does not believe that Christianity is true.
Surely he personally needs to apologise and do penance, not some abstraction? And pay compensation. If he is sincere.
Which he isn’t. Just a bit of virtue-signalling.
Whenever we have this conversation around here, we mention that until Whitey made them stop, the local aborigines had slaves. That usually stops the discussion.
Sometimes we have to bring up the subject of how much money the aboriginal tribal councils get for reasons of race. That always changes the subject.
Oh Grace, you are lovely, aren’t you? You are just oozing love for your neighbours–“the local aborigines.” Oh they had slaves did they? Yes, some nations (but not all the Indigenous nations) did have slaves–and so did the Europeans. How lovely that you shut down any conversation on reconciliation or making amends with the Indigenous. You are just overflowing with the love of Jesus. Thank the good Lord that the Anglicans came to Canada to share the love of God. Where would we all be without the Anglicans. Seriously, I’m so glad I never put down roots in an ANiC Church. You are simply: MEAN.
The ACoC needs to apologize for legally stealing properties from orthodox Christians – properties that were fully paid for by true genuine Christians. The ACoC has used the civil courts knowing full well that the judges have no interest in genuine Christian beliefs but would follow the same ‘god’ as apostates such as Fred Hiltz – that detestable “god of political expediency”. The ACoC is no longer Christian and cannot be until it rids itself of apostates such as Fred Hiltz.
How many “spiritual” Indigenous tribal peoples were killed over territorial disputes and petty misconceptions among themselves? No records are available. Today, some people generally, like to gloss over the brutality of early Canadian Indigenous peoples because of 21st C. political correctness. However, many hundreds of different First Nations members in various tribes killed each other in Canada, especially in Ontario. No accurate statistics historically are credibly available. The Anglican Church of Canada’s hierarchy {Hiltz} has catapulted itself to the realm of nonsense and silly stupidity propelling itself into an area where it wants to place indigenous peoples as great holy and spiritual. Granted many, and many of them were; but many tribes had a dark side and were brutal warriors who killed untold numbers in their territorial quests including women and children.
The myth of the noble savage is alive and well. It really pains me when bishops seem not to have read anything at any stage.
So why doesn’t Mr. Hiltz just come right out and say it. He is the “leader” of a societal group that should no longer exist. That it is his intention to shut down the Anglican church of Canada by the end of next year.
Hiltz seems to have come up with the apology idea on his own, since there appears to be no call for it from indigenous leaders.So I guess the Journal reporter was in on some conversation afterwards, which wasn’t fully connected to the presentation by Wesley. Hiltz is looking for some manner of resolution to the Residential Schools fiasco as his legacy.
The COGS highlight is here.
https://www.anglican.ca/wp-content/uploads/COGS-highlights-November-25-2018.pdf
‘Spiritual’ abuse, as opposed to physical abuse that dare not be named now that it is both accepted in the anti-Scriptural ACC realm:fully in keeping with the Incumbent Cultural Marxists having legislated it under Bill C-16; at sixteen years, even.
The beleaguered Mr.Spacey should move to Canada.
While I agree that he is virtue signalling, I think your comments are nasty and racist and show no compassion whatsoever for the Indigenous people of Canada. This is where people have no patience for the ANiC camp. Look up the term “caker” and then look at yourself. You pull in some parts of Indigenous spirituality to justify yourself reasons as to why it’s okay to continue not to recognize the Anglican Church’s part in genocide. Indigenous people also believe in Creator and they also had prophecies of people with white skin coming with a black book. So, you Anglicans did a really good job keeping your end of the bargain when you came with the Bible, right? Do you know what some newcomers to Canada–like even people from Germany–think when they come here? They are SHOCKED at how we have treated the Indigenous people, and they are horrified at Canadians’ ongoing reluctance to take any responsibility whatsoever for the ongoing treatment of the Indigenous. Even AMERICANS are horrified at the level of racism we show towards the Indigenous.
Undoubtedly there has been some wrong doing in our dealings with indigenous people but this simply proves that we are ALL sinners. You are correct in stating that as most of the general public and indigenous people believe in “a creator” but there is only ONE true God. Further the government of Canada provided an everlasting benefit to the indigenous people as they pay no taxes which means we are generally supporting their demands, etc. I believe Canada has and continues to treat natives more than fairly.
The tragedy is that many if not more of our citizens are prepared to believe in “a god” but are not prepared to bow to our Lord and Saviour.
Mr. Wirrell, check your facts Indigenous people DO PAY taxes. Also, many Indigenous people don’t have their status, and it’s very, very hard to get your status–so many Indigenous people receive no benefits. And, you believe in the Bible, what does it say about keeping your word? Your ancestors signed treaties–“to the setting of the sun”–with the Indigenous promising BENEFITS in exchange for the land you are living on RIGHT NOW. Actually, if you live on BC you have never truly paid the Indigenous for that land because the land is unceded. But let me tell you, it seems that on both sides when it comes to Anglicans you are filled with such bitter nasty strife and finger pointing that who, Indigenous or not, would want part of of any of this mess? Why would any person want your God? Or the liberal Anglican Church’s God? And the Government of Canada, if you are Canadian, is YOU. Are you saying that Christians should not keep their promises?
Nothing will be solved on a practical level until we do away with the Indian Act and the paternalistic, ghettoizing and often corrupt reserve system, where a Native family cannot even own their own house. Indigenous Canadians should be fully integrated into Canadian society, yet proud of their heritage and celebrating it. Let’s stop obsessing about the past and focus on what we can do REALISTICALLY to start making it better NOW. Apologizing has accomplished remarkably little.
Really, why should Inidgenous be fully integrated into Canadian society when they are officially recognized by the United Nations as having the right to their own nationhood and self-determination? Why don’t YOU integrate yourself into Indigenous culture? Why would anyone want to be a Canadian anyway with all the greed, materialism, racism, and nastiness? But I agree apologizing is just lip service. But as Christians, let’s face the facts–why would any Indigenous person want to worship at your Church? These comments are nasty. I think no Indigenous person should ever set foot in the same Church where Mr. Wirrell worships, or probably anyone on this site. So, if you truly believe your God is the true God, what are you going to do to make sure everyone feels welcome?
Kindly advise why you think indigenous people should be fully supported by the rest of us without some time limit. Currently we are and have been fully supporting them as they pay no taxes and continually demand more and more from the rest of society. I fully agree there is a lot of greed, etc. in our society but that also exists within the indigenous community.
I do not in any way believe that indigenous people should face any prejudice but do believe the time has long since past for them to be treated in the same way as other Canadians. My family background goes back to before Canada was Canada and I am glad to be Canadian.
Well, your ancestors, if your background goes back before Confederation, signed treaties with Natives. In these treaties the Europeans PROMISED to provide housing, education, and health care in exchange for land–“forever.” This is your RENT for staying here in Canada. However, good news for you, your taxes are not in fact supporting Natives because most Natives live off reserve and receive ZERO benefits. Also, many Natives don’t have their status thanks to colonialism which defines who is a Native very narrowly. In fact, there are people who lives on reserves who probably have way less Native blood than many off reserve Natives who are getting nothing. It is true that many reserves are corrupt, but that doesn’t change the promises made in those treaties. If you read the treaties–which I have–you will see the Chiefs had earnest interest in the well-being of their people, and their descendants–that hopefully they would flourish in the “white person’s” world–that’s why they asked for education, in particular. MOST Natives pay taxes because most Natives live off-reserve. Also, who wants to live on a reserve anyway? Do you know Natives got the WORST land when they were rounded up on to reserves? Natives are NOT the same as other Canadians, because they are NOT Canadians. They are members of their own independent nations, which are officially recognized by the United Nations. Now, I do think Truth and Reconciliation is a lot of lip service but what you are saying is simply factually incorrect as far as treaties are concerned. Before Europeans showed up North America was LIKE Europe in that there were hundreds and hundreds of Indigenous nations. Why should those people give up their unique cultures and traditions to be Canadians? I’ve been to your ANiC Churches, btw, and they are big Anglo fests–celebrates of tea and sherry–why should you get your culture while you are telling Indigenous people to become Canadians?
Mr. Wirrell, here is all you need to know about First Nations and taxation: https://apihtawikosisan.com/2011/12/first-nations-taxation/
But the truth is, Mr. Wirrell, “taxes” is just a smokescreen for you. The truth seems to be that you really have no compassion/no love/no interest in your heart when it pertains to First Nations in Canada. Your dislike/disinterest seethes from this page. Are you truly a Christian? Where is your love? Is it about taxes or is it about people coming to know Christ? What is most important to you? This is your blog and you allow comments from the colonial Grace up above. You are just as bad as the liberal Anglicans on the other side. You want the liberal Anglicans to hand back your buildings, you want justice–how about showing concern for OTHER PEOPLE WHO HAVE HAD THEIR LAND STOLEN? It’s not so easy, is it? You just had your Churches stolen, Natives had their homes, their land, their cultures stolen. You can’t even forgiven having your Church stolen–but you think Natives should just forgive and forget and become Canadian.
It isn’t Frank Wirrell’s blog, it’s mine and if you wish to continue cataloguing your grievances, I suggest you start your own blog where you can indulge in your frenetic diatribes to your heart’s content. No more here, though.
For what it’s worth, I doubt that there is among us anyone whose ancestors (including yours) have not behaved reprehensibly at some point. I don’t think pseudo-atoning for their sins is particularly useful: it’s usually a tactic for diverting attention away from one’s own sins.
I put it to you that he ghettoization and the reserve system are the fundamental basis of almost every injustice suffered by our First Nations Peoples today. If you think that perpetuating the current system, the status quo, is acceptable, then it is you who have, “…no compassion/no love/no interest in your heart …” The past is past. The question should be, “What do/can we do from here? Realistically”
All these apologies do nothing to solve the problem and serve only to make those apologizing think they have actually done something. But I say that anyone who does not see the problems, eg. addiction and substance abuse that arises from despair on reserves, is part of the problem. Stop being so paternalistic. Do away with the Indian Act. These people can be very capable of looking after themselves.
We’ve got to get our Indigenous people out of their isolation and into a prosperous and mainstream culture. And, just like any other ethnic group, celebrate their own culture, language, history and heritage.
I don’t know about you, but I’ve been on reserves where the chiefs and councils and their friends live like kings, but where their people live, 10 in a small home, like paupers. I’ve seen what our, “White Man’s system” has done to our Native people. I’ve ministered in jail, where there is an inordinately high percentage of Native inmates.
Yes, something needs to be done, but self-flagellating over the past is accomplishing nothing.
I am an Indigenous person who tried to find a home in one of your ANiC Churches. I thought the people at your Church were very kind and friendly. I want to feel sorry for the way you were treated by the liberal Anglicans. Then I found this blog. This blog is concerning at times. I agree that a lot of apologies are lip service. I agree that the Indian Act is problematic. But the Anglicans, in particular, as Christians, are in a very unique situation and it’s a situation that they always find themselves in no matter how hard they try to find their way out of it: their history with the Indigenous goes WAY back. It’s very, very, very hard to find a Church home if you are Indigenous. In fact, it’s easier to say be Chinese, or Mennonite, or Dutch. (Count up the amount of ethnic Churches for non-Indigenous for example.) In Anglican Churches you will see Indigenous people trying to attend [Anglican] Churches because of the history with residential schools. An apology is not everything, but it’s something. It’s a start. I agree we need a very new way of doing things. But love is really important, and it doesn’t feel like many ANiC Christians have a lot of love for the Indigenous. Love goes a long way. And this is one issue that should be easy for ANiC Christians, especially if they claim that children are a high priority. Residential schools are a blight on Canadian history and unfortunately the Anglicans will always be linked to residential schools (along with the Catholics, United Church, Mennonites, Lutherans)–better to own it and try to have some type of plan within the Church going forward. Anyway, not sure if these comments will even be allowed. Mr. Kivell, I appreciate that your comments sound truly compassionate.
Well, A, I would be very sad if you were truly not welcomed in an ANiC church. If you were treated badly in one, I hope it was not mine.