Northern Spirit Regional Council

Anti-racism action planning for communities of faith workshops
2022-06-15 18:30 - 20:00, 2022-06-22 18:30 - 20:00, 2022-06-29 18:30 - 20:00 (America/Edmonton) | Zoom
Anti-racism action planning for communities of faith weekly in June: register now!
Northern Spirit, Living Skies, and Prairie to Pine Regional Councils invite at least one lay member and one ministry personnel from up to 24 communities of faith within our bounds to this series. In four weekly sessions June 8, 15, 22, and 29, 6:30-8:00 PM Mountain Daylight, we’ll focus on the new book Wait- is this racist? We’ll also bring this work into the Canadian and United Church context with resource people and a focus on the United Church’s Anti Racism Action Plan.
Facilitation team: Russel Burns (National Indigenous Council), Jordan Cantwell (Living Skies), and Paul Douglas Walfall (Northern Spirit), with possibly more TBA. Thanks to Paul for the spark!
Please see the registration form for more details. You can order the book from United Church Resource Distribution; the Region will pay for it. As shipping can be expensive, consider doing a larger single order with others where possible.
Questions, including setting up your mini team? Please contact staff support Julie Graham and she can contact the facilitation team: jgraham@united-church.ca
Click here for the Facebook event. Please share all promotion freely.

Healing Haunted Histories land and community gathering
2022-08-27 12:30 - 19:00 | Muskeg Lake Cree Nation, https://goo.gl/maps/WhBFLTsERkdFPRLm7, Saskatchewan, Canada
Decolonizing Ourselves: Healing Haunted Histories gathering
Muskeg Lake Cree Nation SK, 27 August 2022, 1:00PM- 5:00PM, followed by community meal, and optional overnight camping.
Come for a day on the land, exploring paths to decolonizing through landlines, songlines, and bloodlines. Elders and knowledge keepers Harry and Germaine Lafond; and authors, teachers and theologians Elaine Enns, and Ched Myers will guide us. Overnight camping the evening of Aug 27 available. Info and registration here. More details will be sent following registration.
Location: Muskeg Lake Cree Nation, maskêko sâkahikanihk, approximately 5 hours’ drive from Edmonton, 4 hours from Regina, 1.5 hours from Saskatoon.
Cost: $50, dinner included, camping extra. Overnight camping option for the evening of 27 August until noon August 28. Indigenous registrants are invited to come as our guests. The fee is also waived for anyone unwaged/ low wage.
A little work in advance: We invite you to get the book Healing Haunted Histories and read it. It can be ordered here: https://www.commonword.ca/ResourceView/82/23857
Click here for information on the organizers.

Being Good Relations Network Learning for Lent Event
2023-03-01 19:00 - 20:30 | Zoom
Instead of Chocolate, Why Not Give Up Myths & Misconceptions This Lent?
Join Grace Hussey, BSW, RSW & Student Minister, to learn the facts about Canadian Indigenous Issues in a safe online space. We will be reading & discussing Chelsea Vowel’s informative & funny book, “Indigenous Writes”. Come to 1 or all 5 sessions running Wednesdays 7-8:30pm MST, from March 1st-29th, 2023. You are also welcome to sign up & join online as a group!
We Hope to see you there!
Please Register by Sun. Feb. 26th, 2023. To register click here, or scan the QR code.
Contact Grace if you have any questions or concerns.

Planning for Indigenous History Month: Being Good Relations Webinar
2023-04-22 14:00 - 16:00 | Zoom
April 22, 2 – 4 p.m.
Indigenous History Month is approaching! How will you and your community of faith “Learn, Understand, Act” and observe Indigenous Day of Prayer on June 21? Join us for this webinar for tips and support on enhancing your community’s response to the TRC Calls to Action. You will hear what some communities have done, and have a chance to talk with others on the journey of reconciliation as to what has worked, what obstacles have been experienced, and what resources have been helpful. Click here to register!

Indigenous Church Remit: open learning time part 2
2024-01-30 18:30 - 20:00 | Zoom
Indigenous Church Remit learning time, Tuesday January 30, 7:30 PM Central, 6:30PM Mountain, we will again have an open learning conversation on the remit on creating an autonomous Indigenous organization within the United Church. This time we are honoured to work with Gloria Cook, Fisher River Cree Nation and member of the National Indigenous Council; Rev Murray Pruden, Saddle Lake Cree Nation and Executive Minister, Indigenous Ministries and Justice; Rev. Shannon McCarthy, Regional Council Executive Minister. Please click here to register. Be sure to check your email spam folder if you do not get the automated reply from Zoom in your inbox.
All welcome, from any Regional Council you live in, whether your pastoral charge has voted or not! If you’d like to share this invitation please do so. We strongly encourage everyone to read the latest letter from the General Secretary and to watch two short videos first: Perspectives on the Remit from the National Indigenous Gathering, and a new video on questions addressed by members of the non-Indigenous church.

CCS Friday: Creating Harmonious Space
2024-02-23 12:00 - 13:00 | Zoom, Canada
On Friday, February 23 from 12:00 to 1:00 CST join an online conversation about creating “harmonious space” rather than “safe space”. Harmonious space is the condition in which diversity and inclusion truly grow. Guided by author and educator bell hooks, who said, “ Learning takes place in harmonious space” and “Community that allows for risk, the risk of knowing someone outside your own boundaries is love.” We will consider harmony and risk as opposed to “safety” as the best environment suitable for diversity.
Our special guest will be Deaconess Adrainne Gray. Adrainne was consecrated a Lutheran Diaconal Association (LDA) deaconess and ordained an Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) deacon in 2017. She is currently the Director for Recruitment for the LDA with a focus on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and works remotely from her home in Atlanta, GA.
CCS Fridays are free. Please register to receive a zoom link:
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZ0kcOCoqz8tGtf4EgB269gUXM_d-r_sSrqc#/registration
CCS Fridays are online conversations to help us respond faithfully to emerging issues in local contexts. These workshops are open to anyone who might be interested. There will be a presentation that will be recorded for future viewing, plus opportunities to engage with the ideas in small groups.

Our Children, Our Future: online film and conversation
2024-06-10 19:00 - 21:00 | Zoom
The Being Good Relations Network invites you to a webinar in honour of Indigenous History Month:
Our Children, Our Future film and conversation
with Dr. Patricia Makokis, Saddle Lake Cree Nation servant leader, and Hayley Christen, Coordinator, First Nations, Metis and Inuit Learning Services, Red Deer Public Schools.
Monday, June 10, 2024, 7:00 to 9:00 pm MDT.
We will watch the video together and be in conversation with the film producer and walk organizer Dr. Patricia Makokis about what our children are learning, how we take part in treaty, and the possibility of organizing treaty walks and talks in our communities. Hayley Christen will help us understand concern about the proposed new AB social studies curriculum, and what we can do.
To view the first two videos in the series, see www.treatytalk.com
Zoom connection details:
https://united-church.zoom.us/j/83155001968?pwd=[REDACTED]
Meeting ID: 831 5500 1968 Password: [REDACTED] 855 703 8985 Canada Toll-free

A CIRCLE reading and DISCUSSION of the United Nations Declaration of Right of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP)
2024-10-16 19:00 - 21:00 | St Albert United Church, 20 Green Grove Drive, St Albert, AB, T8N 5H6, Canada
UNDRIP is an international human rights instrument that affirms the minimum standards for the self-determination, dignity, and well-being of Indigenous peoples throughout the world. The Declaration came into being in 2007 after more than 20 years of collaboration among Indigenous peoples and states. 143 Nations signed on in 2007.
Canada signed on in December 2010, and endorsed the UN Declaration. On June 21, 2021, Bill C-15, the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act received Royal Assent and became law. The Act provides a road map for the Government of Canada to work in consultation and cooperation with First Nations, Inuit and the Métis Nation on the development of an action plan, including measures to ensure federal laws are consistent with the Declaration.
We will be reviewing and discussing why this document is important in the work of truth and reconciliation.

Learning gathering on unmarked burials
2025-02-27 10:00 - 16:00 | Southminster-Steinhauer United Church, 10740-19 Ave NW, Edmonton, AB, T6J 6W9
Our Sacred Responsibilities: learning from the Unmarked Burials report and challenging settler denial.
All people of all backgrounds welcome to this day-long learning gathering, open to Indigenous and non-Indigenous people. We will focus somewhat on the United Church’s responsibilities, but all backgrounds are welcome as a full part of the day, and we will not focus only on the United Church.
Together we will learn about the recent report on unmarked burials; explore what reparations means; learn about the problem of settler denialism; and practice together how to challenge it. Speakers and knowledge keepers will help us, and all who come are full participants in helping each other and our communities create a good path forward.
Community, prayer, ceremony, and cultural supports will be part of our day. A separate support space is also available to First Nations, Métis and Inuit, respecting that this is a hard topic.
Practical details
Please click here to register. Registration is free but required, so we can plan for meals.
The full reports from the Office of the Special Interlocutor on Unmarked Burials are available here. (They’re long, which is one of the reasons we’re offering this learning space.)
Click here for a PDF poster to share with your community. You can also use the image at the top of this page.
Resource people: elder Wilson Bearhead (invited); elder Dennis Paul; knowledge keepers Rev John Snow and Rev Tony Snow; Sara Stratton, Reconciliation and Justice Animator at the General Council of the United Church.
Plan for our day: 9:30 gathering and coffee; program begins at 10:00AM; we will finish no later than 4:00PM. Our day will include (among other things): prayer and ceremony; an overview of key parts of the report on unmarked burials; reflection from a survivor; what do we and the report mean by “reparations”; what is settler denial, and how can we challenge it?
Our space: The building is fully accessible, and we will be using mics to assist those with hearing needs. We will be in a space where Christian symbols are minimal, and where smudging and medicines will be part of our day. There is parking on site, and transit a block away. Lunch and snacks included.
Travel costs for First Nations, Métis, and Inuk participants will be covered.
Organized by Indigenous Ministries and Justice of the United Church; Northern Spirit Regional Council: The United Church of Canada; and the Edmonton Cluster of the Being Good Relations Network. Thank you to Spiritual Seekers United in Community/ Southminster-Steinhauer United Church for hosting.

Decolonizing Ourselves: Residential School Tour and Our Future in Treaty
2025-09-06 10:30 - 16:30 | Blue Quills University, AB, Canada
Saturday 6 September 10:30AM-4:30PM MDT/ CST. Please join KAIROS Prairies North for a day that will include a tour of the former Blue Quills Indian Residential School building led by survivors/Elders, lunch, and learning about Treaty. All welcome! This in-person only event is within a reasonable drive of the Edmonton area to the west and the Battlefords area to the east.
Location: University nuhelot’įne thaiyots’į nistameyimâkanak Blue Quills https://maps.app.goo.gl/XSB36ayBQbZMbxKh7
This gathering is hosted by the KAIROS Prairies North Decolonization Group with gratitude to our community partners, in particular University nuhelot’įne thaiyots’į nistameyimâkanak Blue Quills and the United Church of Canada’s Reconciliation and Justice Fund. This gathering is free of charge, including lunch. We do ask you to register, please, so we know numbers and can send you material.
Optional free transportation (carpooling) from Edmonton will be offered and details will follow by email.
Registration: https://kairoscanada.org/event/decolonizing-ourselves-residential-school-tour-and-our-future-in-treaty

Blanket Exercise St Albert United Church
2026-03-25 18:30 - 20:00 | St Albert United Church, 20 Green Grove Drive, St Albert, AB, T8N 5H6, Canada
Living into Right Relations will be holding a Blanket exercise at St Albert United church on Wednesday March 25th at 6:30 pm. The fee is $5.00 per person. The event will be coordinated by Indigenous facilitators from the Musee Heritage Museum . The blanket exercise program is an interactive opportunity to learn more about Canadian history from the perspective of Canada’s Indigenous Peoples. The content of this Blanket Exercise has been updated to include the local history of St Albert and the surrounding region.
Part one is an interactive scripted portion where everyone participates in reading a short quote and interacting together. Part two is a guided sharing circle where everyone has a chance to share their thoughts about the information they have learned.
The program lasts 1 ½ to 2 hours. Please bring a towel or blanket that can be walked on.
Youth 14 years and over are welcome to attend
Please contact Musee Heritage Museum to register:
Email: museum@artsand heritage.ca
Phone: 780-459-1528
Or
Phone: 780-458-8355 ext 1
Email: office@stalbertunited.com
