Dear friends,
In the month of June, Canadians mark National Indigenous History Month and, on June 21, National Indigenous People’s Day. These are opportunities to recognize, learn about and celebrate the unique cultures, traditions and experiences of the Indigenous Peoples of this land.
In our beloved church, June 21 is National Indigenous Day of Prayer, a time to celebrate the diverse expressions of Anglicanism in Indigenous communities across Canada and recognize the rich spiritual traditions of Indigenous Peoples in the millennia before Christians arrived. It is also an opportunity to acknowledge painful truths and recommit to the shared work of healing, right relationship and renewed life in Christ.
Part of that renewal is the work of Pathway Five of the transformation process outlined in the Creating Pathways document, overwhelmingly adopted by General Synod in 2025. That document mandated the creation of a new and mutually affirming relationship between the non-Indigenous and Indigenous Anglican churches, asking the Primate and the Presiding Elder of Sacred Circle to lay out an action plan to build this new relationship. We have done so, and a team of Indigenous and non-Indigenous Anglicans will work with the Council of General Synod’s Transformation Task Force to implement it in the months to come.
As National Indigenous Day of Prayer approaches, we invite you to pray for this work of building a new relationship between Indigenous and non-Indigenous churches. When we pray for each other, learn about one another and work together, the relationship between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Anglicans on this land grows in understanding, trust and vitality.
Yours in Christ,
Primate of the Anglican Church of Canada
Presiding Elder of Sacred Circle