reForming Relationships at Redeemer

People will have a chance to listen, learn, and share themes of reconciliation related to Indigenous justice at a day-long conference being sponsored on Feb. 9 by Redeemer University College in Ancaster, Ontario.

Called “reForming Relationships at Redeemer,” the conference will explore the themes through worship, learning, art and stories. It is an effort to heed the Creator’s call to live as people of reconciliation, say organizers of the conference.

The event is sponsored by several Christian Reformed Church in North America agencies -- the Office for Social Justice, the Centre for Public Dialogue, the Aboriginal Ministry Committee, World Renew and the Regional Synod of Canada.

The conference at Redeemer University College comes at a time when Canada’s relationship with its First Nations communities is strained and stressed.

The relationship between Native Canadians and the church is not much better.

These difficulties are highlighted by the Idle No More movement that asks such questions as, “Is there a way to move forward from the pain and hurt of the past? Can we bridge the divide of history and culture and achieve healing?”

During the conference, Lori Ransom, senior advisor on church relations at the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada, will give a keynote address on “Why Reconciliation Matters: The Church’s Role.”

There will be a panel discussion on land rights and land claims, and a series of workshops in the afternoon on topics related to reconciliation and Indigenous justice.

This is also an opportunity to view and interact with the “Kisemanito Pakitinasuwin – The Creator’s Sacrifice” paintings which will be displayed in Redeemer's Art Gallery.

Created by Cree artist Ovide Bighetty in the Woodlands style, the series of 17 paintings depict the familiar Easter story -- the death and resurrection of Jesus -- from an Aboriginal perspective.

Steve van de Hoef, the justice and reconciliation mobilizer of the Christian Reformed Church in North America, says conference speakers will help people as they wrestle with such difficult questions as, “Why does reconciliation matter?" or "Where do we even start?”

This conference is one of a series of events that are promoting reconciliation. For more information, visit the reForming Relationships website.

The conference begins at 9 a.m. on Redeemer’s campus. Registration can be completed on-line, or by calling 905.648.2139 x4544.