Following discussions with the National Indigenous Council and the Elders Council, the United Church of Canada has not signed on to the ecumenical campaign supporting the federal Bill C-15 on the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. Both the Council and the Elders cited the need for community discernment, as outlined in the Calls to the Church, before a decision could be taken. This is a reflection of our commitment to the Declaration, which we continue to support as the framework of reconciliation.
We also continue to encourage everyone to learn more about the UN Declaration. It remains one of the many crucial calls to our church within the TRC Calls to Action. (You can download a free PDF of the text here and read KAIROS’ summary of the Declaration’s long journey.) See the Events listing in this newsletter for a related event from churches who have taken a position on Bill C-15, and watch for an upcoming event on diverse points of view on Bill C-15, hosted by KAIROS Prairies North.
