One Who Showed the Way Forward for All Our Relations

As you are likely aware there has been a lot of discussion of systemic racism in Canada, even as we are watching what has unfolded in the United States over the past few weeks following the death of George Floyd, a Black man murdered by a police officer. 

Initially politicians and officials in police forces downplayed the notion of racism which is inherent in our justice and governance systems, but that has changed. 

It happens that one of the books I've had from the library for months now (it's almost impossible to return them!) is All Our Relations: Finding the Path Forward by Tanya Talaga. The book is the print version of the CBC Massey Lectures offered in 2018 examining the shameful history of systemic racism and injustice for Indigenous peoples in North America and Brazil and Australia. 

These lectures are an informative and  grim read, a reminder of why some people want statues of Prime Minster Sir John A, MacDonald to be removed. There are plenty of agonizing reference to of the role of Christian denominations in this subjugation of Indigenous peoples in Canada, as well as individual clergy who were abusers.



Ed Newbery

A glimmer of light is Talaga's reference to Rev. Dr. Ed Newbery, a United Church minister who founded the Department of Indian Studies at the University of Sudbury, part of Laurentian University. The department, which is now Indigenous Studies, was unique in Canada at the time, even though it had its limitations.

 I met and talked with Ed while serving for 11 years at St. Andrew's UC in Sudbury. Ed and Rena's daughter, Mary. was in the congregation and on occasion they were in the congregation. Ed shared documents with me he thought might be helpful in understanding some of the issues around Indigenous culture and rights and I attended events at Laurentian. They were fine people, with such depth. 

Ed and Rena were recognized with the Order of Canada in 1989 with the description that they "demonstrated spiritual, cultural and practical support to natives, non-natives, foreign students and others, with open-hearted generosity and an intense faith in human kind."

Perhaps we can look for inspiration to those who went against the flow of settler/colonizer culture, including those who were motivated by the Good News of Jesus Christ.