Honouring Murray Whetung, Indigenous Elder

 

 

Yesterday I received an email from our United Church Region with the notification that a long-time participant in the life of our denomination had died approaching the age of 100. Murray Whetung was an Indigenous person involved in many important ways through the decades in the attempts of the UCC to engage in apologies. It was remarkable that Murray maintained his Christian faith despite the mistreatment of Indigenous persons by the church. I thought I would share a portion of the content of the email with you. I never met Murray but he deserves to be honoured for his wisdom and contributions to the United Church as an elder and leader.  Murray Whetung - February 26, 2021 Many across our region will be saddened to learn of the death of Murray Whetung, who passed as the moon was setting and the sun was rising Friday morning, in his 100th year.  Murray, from Curve Lake First Nation, was a revered Elder of the Indigenous United Church.   The decorated World War II veteran was a central participant in so many key moments in the history of our church – including being one of those present at Laurentian University when The United Church of Canada offered our country’s first Apology to Indigenous Peoples. Some may remember an interview with Murray which was part of “Truly and Humbly,” the documentary, chronicling that significant 1986 event.

 

Murray was chosen as the first Leading Elder of The All Native Circle Conference along with Gladys Taylor and served for many years on the Board of The Francis Sandy Theological Centre, at Five Oaks.  After years of support on that Board, Murray enrolled in the program and in his early 70’s was recognized as a Designated Lay Minister and served at the Alderville First Nation.   For many decades Murray was active at the General Council level in all aspects of our denomination’s efforts at Healing and Reconciliation. The 1986 Apology  Long before my people journeyed to this land your people were here, and you received from your Elders an understanding of creation and of the Mystery that surrounds us all that was deep, and rich, and to be treasured.  We did not hear you when you shared your vision. In our zeal to tell you of the good news of Jesus Christ we were closed to the value of your spirituality.  We confused Western ways and culture with the depth and breadth and length and height of the gospel of Christ. We imposed our civilization as a condition of accepting the gospel.  We tried to make you be like us and in so doing we helped to destroy the vision that made you what you were. As a result, you, and we, are poorer and the image of the Creator in us is twisted, blurred, and we are not what we are meant by God to be.  We ask you to forgive us and to walk together with us in the Spirit of Christ so that our peoples may be blessed and God’s creation healed                    The Right Rev. Bob Smith General Council 1986 The United Church of Canada