KAIROS Times e-Newsletter

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In This Issue

KAIROS report on Indigenous civil rights violations presented to UN
KAIROS marches for jobs, justice and the climate
Jennifer Henry on the Doctrine of Discovery
KAIROS partners reflect on the Truth and Reconciliation Commission
Nuclear waste dump must not proceed without the free, prior and informed consent of the Saugeen Ojibway Nation
ROJeP declaration on extractive industries in Quebec

Upcoming

International Peoples' Conference on Mining in the Philippines, July 29 - August 1
Ride the Rolling Justice Bus in BC, August 24 - 31
KAIROS Regional Gatherings, August - November
Launch of Winds of Change, October 12
Gendered Impacts Symposium, October 13
Public Forum on Hydraulic Fracturing (Fracking), October 30-31

rabble.ca KAIROS Witness: The Canadians we can become

Featured Resources

Strength for Climbing: Steps on the Journey of Reconciliation
Federal Election Resource

Spirited Reflections

Reflection for National Aboriginal Day, Melanie Delva
The Stones Will Cry Out, Jennifer Henry

Featured Resources

Spirited Reflections

Reflection for National Aboriginal Day, Melanie Delva
I was raised in a very rural community in Manitoba that was near to one of the larger Métis communities, and quickly learned the insidious lessons that I would argue all colonial Canadians are taught from an early age. Read more.

The Stones Will Cry Out, Jennifer Henry
In Canada today, there are more than a few who seek to silence words of social or ecological justice that fail to align with the relentless pursuit of resource extraction. Read more.

Forward

KAIROS report on Indigenous civil rights violations presented to UN

KAIROS' NGO Shadow Report on Canada's violations of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) with respect to Indigenous peoples in Canada was included in the reports submitted to the UN Human Rights Committee by the Canadian Human Rights Commission on July 6.

The Committee is reviewing Canada's compliance with the ICCPR.

KAIROS’ Report examines the precarious situation of Indigenous peoples in Canada and how the Canadian government is failing to live up to its obligations to address these issues in the ICCPR framework.

KAIROS’ involvement was picked up by the Canadian Press, and printed and posted in more than 20 newspaper and online news outlets nationwide.

A joint working group of the KAIROS Indigenous Rights circle and Dignity and Rights circle prepared KAIROS’ Report, which outlines Canadian laws, policies and practices that contravene several provisions of the ICCPR, which Canada ratified in 1976.

Canadian Press article
Download the Shadow Report

KAIROS marches for jobs, justice and the climate

KAIROS joined more than 10,000 people in Toronto on July 5 for the march for jobs, justice and the climate. Celebrated actress and activist Jane Fonda dominated the headlines, but KAIROS’ Jennifer Henry spoke at the press conference that preceded the march. Here is what Jennifer said:
When Rabbi Heschel returned from the Selma Civil Rights March he said,
“… our march was worship.
I felt my legs were praying”
Today, faith communities from all across the spectrum are joining this march in a prayer of unity...
A prayer of lament for the profound harm to creation and communities, repentance for our failure to treat the earth as sacred, shared gift.
A prayer of resistance to corporate and government actions that call us to collude in the continued violation the earth and its inhabitants.
A prayer for reconciliation, so that in Canada we might begin to heed the teachings of Indigenous peoples —their wisdom of the web of life, of balance, the consequences to seven generations—teachings we desperately need now, for the good of all.
A prayer of transformation to an economy of enough for all, that is not too much for our planet.
And a prayer of thanksgiving for people whose radical hope puts them on the streets today, people from the front lines of the struggles against climate injustice, for Indigenous rights, against poverty and racism—people living out real solutions to which governments must catch up.
Today, as faith communities, our march will be worship, our legs will pray.
Today, led by Indigenous communities, we will seek and find sacred common ground in this movement to save our common home.

Jennifer Henry on the Doctrine of Discovery

Watch Video

Jennifer Henry reflects on the Doctrine of Discovery at the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada’s National Convention on July 10. The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada repudiated the Doctrine of Discovery during the Convention.

KAIROS partners reflect on the Truth and Reconciliation Commission

KAIROS partners Vernie Diano from Innabuyog in the Philippines and Ana Guadalupe Matzir Miculax from CEIBA in Guatemala were in Ottawa for KAIROS’ Time for Reconciliation gathering and the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) final event. They had time to reflect on their experiences in early June.

Reflection on the TRC: Canada MUST make reconciliation happen with the same bravery and trust as that shown by survivors and witnesses, Vernie Diano

During the mass blanket exercise hosted by KAIROS on the grounds of Parliament Hill, I was impressed that it was young people playing the drums, an important cultural tradition of Indigenous peoples in Canada. Read more.

Reflection on my participation in the TRC: A time of deep gratitude and hope, Ana Guadalupe Matzir Miculax

The histories of Guatemala and Canada are similar – histories of trying to erase our customs, languages, traditional clothing and dance; our way of life and world view; and, our relationship with nature. The result is many Indigenous people do not know their own identity and history. Read more.

Nuclear waste dump must not proceed without the free, prior and informed consent of the Saugeen Ojibway Nation

In its final report, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission calls for implementing the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples no less than 15 times. Whether all levels of government and their agencies revise their practices to conform with the Declaration will be a key test of their willingness to seek reconciliation with Indigenous nations. Read more.

ROJeP declaration on extractive industries in Quebec

ROJeP (Réseau œcuménique justice et paix), the Quebec-based ecumenical network and KAIROS partner, issued a public declaration on extractive industries in Quebec on June 22. This statement comes on the heels of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, and is a re-affirmation of ROJeP’s commitment to standing in solidarity and living in right relations with Indigenous peoples. Read more

Upcoming

International Peoples' Conference on Mining in the Philippines, July 29 - August 1
Connie Sorio, KAIROS’ Ecological Justice and Asia-Pacific Partnerships Coordinator, will attend the International Peoples' Conference on Mining (IPCM) in the Philippines, July 29 - August 1, 2015. The IPCM is a major gathering for representatives from mining affected communities, environmental advocates, mining justice campaigners, policy makers and individuals and institutions committed to finding ways to alleviate the harmful effects of large scale mining. Read more.

Ride the Rolling Justice Bus in BC, August 24-31
KAIROS, in collaboration with the BC/Yukon KAIROS region, invites YOU, and anyone you think may be interested, to ride the Rolling Justice Bus, August 24 -31. Departing from Vancouver with stops in Kamloops, Prince George and Fort St. John, the Rolling Justice Bus will help us connect the dots about our shared history - from Indigenous rights and reconciliation to resource extraction and climate change. Together we will explore ways of building a better future based on right relations with Indigenous peoples and a new vision of the lands, the water and the peoples of BC. Read more.

For more information and to register please contact: Susan Draper at: graceful@shaw.ca
Your KAIROS staff contact for the Rolling Justice Bus Tour is: Alfredo Barahona abarahona@kairoscanada.org

KAIROS Regional Gatherings, August - November
KAIROS regional networks will in different ways and formats continue laying the foundations to answer questions like What’s Next? and How do we work together ecumenically in response to the calls to action from the TRC? Read more.

Winds of Change, October 12
The Winds of Change are upon us! KAIROS launches its campaign in support of reconciliation on Thanksgiving (October 12). Whether you’re a seasoned activist or taking a stand for the very first time, one person or a group – we invite you to be the change for a just society in Canada. More details to come at www.kairoscanada.org/windsofchange.

Gendered Impacts Symposium, October 13
Gendered Impacts: Indigenous Women speak about Resource Extraction will be an opportunity to hear directly from Indigenous women and organizations from Canada, the Philippines and Ecuador about the impact of resource extraction on their communities and to learn about their efforts to defend collective rights and the environment. The symposium will take place on October 13, 2015 at the Vancouver Public Library, the day before the GEMM (the Global Energy Minerals and Markets) 2015 conference. Read more.

Public Forum on Hydraulic Fracturing (Fracking)
Livestreamed from eastern and western Canada, October 30-31

On October 30 and 31, KAIROS will sponsor a public forum on hydraulic fracturing (or fracking) that will take place simultaneously in Vancouver, B.C. and Moncton, N.B. with interactive live-streaming between the two sites. It will be accessible online to all.

The goal of the forum is to raise the profile of Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities across Canada who are affected by fracking, to provide a venue for the sharing of fracking-related experiences, to voice social, environmental and human rights concerns, and to facilitate action on the regional and national levels. We will also gather content for an educational video.

As a primer, we invite you to read our discussion paper, Ethical Reflections on Fracking, which explores issues of contamination and social disruption resulting from fracking. Program and registration details will be available soon.

KAIROS Witness
The Canadians we can become, Jennifer Henry

(July 1, 2015) - On this day, when Canadians gather to celebrate our country, I will place my pride not in who we are, but in who we can become. With the release of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada's Call to Action summary report, we have a glimpse into the history many did not want to know, and a vision of a future we must strive to realize. Read more.

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For more information, please visit our website:
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KAIROS Canadian Ecumenical Justice Initiatives
310 Dupont St. Suite 200, Toronto, ON, Canada M5R 1V9
Tel: 416-463-5312 | Toll-free: 1-877-403-8933| Fax: 416-463-5569