We call upon the church parties to the Settlement Agreement, and all other faith groups and interfaith social justice groups in Canada who have not already done so, to formally adopt and comply with the principles, norms, and standards of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples as a framework for reconciliation. This would include, but not be limited to, the following commitments:
- Ensuring that their institutions, policies, programs, and practices comply with the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP)
- Respecting Indigenous peoples’ right to self-determination in spiritual matters, including the right to practice, develop, and teach their own spiritual and religious traditions, customs, and ceremonies, consistent with Article 12:1 of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
- Engaging in ongoing public dialogue and actions to support the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
- Issuing a statement no later than March 31, 2016, from all religious denominations and faith groups, as to how they will implement the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
Why “In Progress?”
This Call to Action is still “In Progress” as UNDRIP has not officially been implemented in Canada yet.
The Church Parties to the Settlement Agreement – The Anglican Church of Canada, The Presbyterian Church in Canada, the Roman Catholic Entities Parties to the Settlement Agreement, The United Church of Canada and the Jesuits of English Canada – “acknowledge and welcome the specific calls to action that offer direction to the churches in our continuing commitment to reconciliation” (An Ecumenical Statement):
- In particular, we are committed to respect Indigenous spiritual traditions in their own right (ii. above).
- As individual churches and in shared interfaith and ecumenical initiatives – for example through Kairos, through interfaith groups, and through the Canadian Council of Churches – we will continue to foster learning about and awareness of (i and iii. above):
- the reality and legacy of the residential schools,
- the negative impact of such past teachings as the Doctrine of Discovery, and
- the new ways forward found in places, such as the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. (i. above)
- We will continue our commitment to financial support for community-controlled initiatives in healing, language and cultural revitalization, education and relationship-building, and self-determination (1 and iv above).
- All the Church Parties to the Settlement Agreement issued a statement on implementation plans for UNDRIP by March 31, 2016 (iv above).
Current Status
In Progress
Call to Action
last updated
March 31, 2016
Latest Updates
Church Parties Commitment to UNDRIP
Ecumenical Statement on the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples
The Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada (TRC) released 94 Calls to Action in June 2015 “to redress the legacy of residential schools and advance……
March 31, 2016
A Catholic response to C2A #48
Catholic Entities commitment to UNDRIP
Catholic Bishops, institutes of consecrated life, societies of apostolic life and other Catholic organizations in Canada support this Declaration and believe that its spirit can……
March 31, 2016
A Catholic response to C2A #48
Canadian Catholic Entities: “Walking Forward Together”
Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB), Canadian Religious Conference (CRC), Canadian Catholic Aboriginal Council Canadian Catholic Organization for Development and Peace A Catholic Response to Call……
March 31, 2016
Church Parties Commitment to UNDRIP
United Church of Canada
The United Church, as an active member of KAIROS, has been an advocate for the adoption and implementation of the United Nations Declaration on the……
March 31, 2016
Church Parties Commitment to UNDRIP
Anglican Church of Canada
Part of ecumenical community announcement to implement the principles, norms, and standards of UNDRIP as the framework for reconciliation. “UNDRIP must be approached and applied……
March 31, 2016
Other Faith-Based Church commitments
Kairos Canada: “Ecumenical Community Announcement”
Part of ecumenical community announcement to implement the principles, norms, and standards of UNDRIP as the framework for reconciliation. http://www.kairoscanada.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Ecumenical-Statement-EN.pdf…
March 30, 2016
Other Church Groups Commitment to UNDRIP
Other Church Commitments
Other ChurchesDeclarationChristian Reformed Church March 30, 2016 – Joined the broader ecumenical community in announcing a collective intention to implement the principles, norms, and standards of……
March 30, 2016
Church Parties Commitment to UNDRIP
Presbyterian Church in Canada
Will begin a process to assess how the church’s structures – institutions, policies, Programs and practices can comply with the United Nations Declaration on the……
March 29, 2016
Church Parties Commitment to UNDRIP
Other Faith-based Organization responses as compiled by Kairos
https://www.kairoscanada.org/what-we-do/indigenous-rights/churches-response-call-action-48…
March 29, 2016
Church Parties Commitment to UNDRIP
The Church Parties to the Settlement Agreement – The Anglican Church of Canada, The Presbyterian Church in Canada, the Roman Catholic Entities Parties to the……
January 1, 1970