National Day for Truth and Reconciliation 2024
Rev. Lauren Sanders, Indigenous Spiritual Care Chaplain, has written a blog in honour of National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. Rev. Sanders shares about the truth-telling and truth-listening aspects of truth and reconciliation, and how art—one of the key forms of communication—requires everyone to be a truth-listener. Art is storytelling, and art is one of […]
Decolonizing Philanthropy: Feedback for the City
“There’s no limits to what could happen with the money,” said a City Councillor recently. Oh goodness, don’t we know it. The City is exploring the idea of selling naming rights of parks and public spaces to corporations in an effort to reduce a $500 million infrastructure deficit. In a world where we’re constantly bombarded […]
National Indigenous People’s Day 2024
June 21 marks National Indigenous People’s Day, when we celebrate the history and culture of First Nations, Inuit, and Metis people across Canada. To mark the day, we’ve compiled a number of resources and activities to get involved with to celebrate and for you to advance your own learning about Indigenous people. Events Reading FIRST […]
Advent and Christmas Calendar 2023
Calendar This Christmas season, you’re invited to join us for a justice-themed Advent. The Spiritual Care team has put together an Advent Calendar to help us start the work of Call for Justice 18.17 from the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls. Call 18.17 states: “We call upon all governments, service […]
Advent and Christmas Liturgy 2023
Candle Lighting Liturgy This year’s Advent and Christmas Candle Lighting Liturgy is available for download below. The liturgies were prepared by Lauren Sanders, Indigenous Spiritual Care Chaplain for FIRST UNITED (Prairie Band Potawatomi/mshkodeni bodéwadminwen, Kickapoo Nation of Kansas/kiikaapoa, African American/Black), and Rev. Peter Sanders, Pastoral Advisor. Advent and Christmas Candle Lighting Liturgy 2023: https://admin.firstunited.ca/app/uploads/2023/10/2023-Advent-and-Christmas-Candle-Lighting-Liturgy.pdf You […]
FIRST UNITED Supports Calls to Search the Landfill
The families of Morgan Harris and Marcedes Myran are calling on the Manitoba government to search the Prairie Green landfill for the remains of their murdered loved ones. FIRST UNITED echoes their calls, and stands in solidarity with Indigenous families, activists, and leaders asking for justice for all missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls […]
Celebrating National Indigenous Peoples Day
Guest post by Avery Delaney (Blackfoot), Indigenous Outreach Coordinator for FIRST UNITED National Indigenous Peoples Day is an annual celebration that honors the rich and diverse cultures, traditions, and contributions of Indigenous communities across Turtle Island (what is commonly known as North America). This day provides a platform to showcase the diverse cultures, languages, foods, […]
Revisiting Our Totem Pole Ceremony
Our building at 320 East Hastings is currently being demolished and we’re feeling a little nostalgic. Just a little over a year ago, we were moving our programs out of our old building to prepare for hazardous material removal and demolition. Part of that preparation was safely moving the totem pole that was in our […]
Response to the Pope’s Apology to Residential School Survivors
This morning, the Pope apologized for abuses against Indigenous children at Catholic residential schools. For decades survivors, advocates, and communities have been asking for the Catholic Church’s apology. Though she is on sabbatical, Executive Director the Rev. Dr. Carmen Lansdowne shared a statement: “The Pope’s apology this morning is an important first step towards completion […]
On Residential Schools
Take a moment to read a poem by Dr. Cheryl Bear, First United’s Director of Community Ministry. Cheryl wrote the poem in response to the bodies of 215 children discovered in May 2021 at Kamloops Residential School in Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc First Nation territory. CW: residential schools, trauma, grief take your time take days sit […]