Members of Kootenay Presbytery of the United Church of Canada recently met with representatives of the Ktunaxa Nation at the site of a former Residential School – the St. Eugene Mission near Cranbrook. Offering the support of their faith tradition and experience to the Ktunaxa people in their struggle to have the Qat’muk (Jumbo Valley) area recognized as sacred land, representatives of Kootenay Presbytery began by reading and reiterating the United Church of Canada’s statement of apology and regret with respect to the harm caused and damage done by Residential Schools.

“We thought it was important to clearly lay out the background to our statement of support,” said Presbytery Chair and United Church Minister, Keith Simmonds. “Our history includes disrespect for and discounting of First Nations spirituality. We tried to eradicate an approach to the Creator we now recognize as not only valid, but a most helpful addition to our own understanding.”

Kootenay Presbytery Ministers Christine Dudley, of Kimberley, and Frank Lewis, of Cranbrook, joined the gathering and offered their own support to a letter drafted at the direction of presbytery members and presented to Ktunaxa Nation Chair – Kathryn Teneese and a gathering of Elders on November 22, 2012.

Presbytery executive members feel the Idle No More campaign currently underway in Canada clearly underlines the need for respectful conversation and consideration of First Nations perspectives on a range of issues. They hope to be part of an ongoing effort to restore, repair, and rebuild relations with First Nations communities.

Kootenay Presbytery of the United Church of Canada

Above image: The United Church took past in last autumn’s anti-Jumbo Glacier Resort march in Cranbrook. Ian Cobb/e-KNOW photo

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