The Meeting of the Eagle and the Dove by Mervin Meekis, an artist from Sandy Lake
Reserve who died in 2000, was presented to the 31st General Council 1986 during
the consideration of the Apology to Indigenous Peoples.
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
I received a reminder of an event this coming Saturday of great significance for the United Church of Canada. Forty years ago the General Council of our denomination met in Sudbury, Ontario and during the proceedings the first of several official Apologies was made to Indigenous peoples for mistreatment through the decades, including the shameful reality of the Residential School System.
The Moderator of that time, the Rev. Bob Smith, delivered the Apology in a teepee set up in the centre of a parking lot at Laurentian University. While this doesn't seem like the most dignified location for such an auspicious event the Apology Cairn eventually established on the spot is still there. The Apology itself stands the test of time in my estimation.
This Apology was the first to be offered by denominations which were complicit in the Residential Schools, in reality institutions to eliminate Indigenous identity. It happened years before the important Truth and Reconciliation Commission and its recommendations. It opened the way for the UCC to take a number of important steps toward reconciliation and reciprocity. Many United Church members struggled initially with why these Apologies were necessary and to a degree I was one of them. So many of us learned and been humbled and have slowly discovered how to walk differently with Indigenous peoples.
The 40th anniversary event will take place at the cairn. I was part of the Sudbury Presbytery committee that approved the languages for the commemorative plaques in the late 1980s. I was also at the 1992 General Council where Stan McKay was elected as Moderator. I wish I could be there on Saturday but we'll be out of province. Here is the invitation to the event:
Commemorating the 40th Anniversary of the United Church Apology and Recommitting to Reconciliation
- Date: Saturday, August 15th
- Time: 10:30 AM – 1:30 PM
- Location: Indigenous Sharing and Learning Centre, Laurentian University, 935 Ramsey Lake Rd., Sudbury (MAP)
Featuring Keynote Speaker: The Very Rev. Stan McKay - We are deeply honored to welcome The Very Rev. Stan McKay—former Moderator of the United Church of Canada, Indigenous elder, wisdom keeper, and leader—to share his insight and guidance.
What to Expect:
- Sacred Fire & Drumming: Grounding our hearts and minds in community and tradition.
- Personal Stories: Hearing reflections on the impact of the apology and the path forward.
- Community Lunch: Sharing food and fellowship together.
- Pilgrimage to the Apology Cairn: Concluding our time together with a meaningful walk of remembrance and commitment to the Apology Cairn.
Registration Information: While this event is entirely free to attend, registration is required so that we can ensure there is enough food and seating for everyone. The deadline for registration is Monday, August 10, 2026. Please visit 40th Anniversary of UCC Apology Event | Canadian Shield.
Whether you have been walking this path for decades or are just beginning your reconciliation journey, your presence is welcome and valued. We hope to see you there.
In August of 2012, at the 41st General Council, The United Church of Canada acknowledged the presence and spirituality of Aboriginal peoples in the United Church by revising the church's crest. The crest changes include incorporating the colours often associated with the Aboriginal Medicine Wheel. The Medicine Wheel, which reflects respect for diversity and interdependence, is often represented in the four traditional colours of yellow, red, black, and white, which incorporate important teachings from the four directions, the four stages of life, and the four seasons. The placement of these colours will vary according to the traditions of the nation. The Medicine Wheel teaches us to seek balance in the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual aspects of the circle of life. The crest changes also include the addition of the Mohawk phrase "Akwe Nia'Tetewá:neren" [aw gway-- nyah day day waw-- nay renh], which means "All my relations."
