The CRC in Canada has a long history of advocacy with and for Aboriginal people in face of injustice.
Long-standing ecumenical work on
Aboriginal Justice issues
In 1983, the CRC in Canada became members of the ecumenical Aboriginal rights group Project North, which then became the Aboriginal Rights Coalition (ARC), and now is part of KAIROS: Canadian Ecumenical Justice Initiatives. In the guidelines for participation in ARC, the CRC in Canada committed itself to: "listen to the aboriginal people's own story, to join the voices speaking on their behalf and interceding with them before God the Creator. We support aboriginal peoples in their search for a distinct, self-reliant and meaningful place in Canada. We call on governments to do public justice and we will educate our own church members and others about the rights and responsibilities of aboriginal peoples to be distinct peoples and cultures." (pg. 60, Christian Reformed Churches in Canada, Review of its Work 1996-1997)
The CRC in Canada remains committed to the above goals, and now realizes them in part through the work of KAIROS. Find out how you can be involved today.
The Christian Reformed representative to Kairos' Aboriginal justice work writes of his experience: "My journey as the CRC rep to the ARC program committee has been a real blessing. In the Canadian CRC, Kairos is my only link to a nationwide forum that works on social justice issues on behalf of Aboriginal people. Our committee is structured to meet twice a year in different locations across Canada so that we can get a good feel for the grass roots issues as they are brought forth by First Nations groups. This allows us to set great goals and expected outcomes for Kairos advocacy work. Our last meeting in Ottawa demonstrated that meetings do not have to be immediate-result oriented. We had three women's groups present, which is a significant point. Many Aboriginal women, even if they are Chief and council members, still do not have a voice in many cases. These women expressed gratitude to Kairos for giving them a place to have a voice and be heard." Kairos grassroots input and experience also leads to successful advocacy (see elsewhere for info on current campaigns). "Kairos has a good reputation as a credible witness and this is good for work with the government and the First Nations."
Harold Roscher, CRC rep to KAIROS Aboriginal Rights Program Committee and staff member of the Edmonton Native Healing Centre.
RCAP submission
The Committee for Contact with the Government (CCG) has also engaged with government to advocate for Aboriginal justice. Most notably, CCG contributed a brief to the hearings of the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples. The Royal Commission was struck to "investigate the evolution of the relationship among aboriginal peoples (Indian, Inuit and Métis), the Canadian government, and Canadian society as a whole. It [was to] propose specific solutions, rooted in domestic and international experience, to the problems which have plagued those relationships and which confront aboriginal peoples today." Learn more about the findings of the Royal Commission.
Action for Aboriginal Justice
KAIROS also has some great suggestions for actions to take today for Aboriginal Rights. Visit their action page frequently for updates.
