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Indigenous foundations: A Covenant and our Journey of Spiritual Renewal

A Covenant and our Journey of Spiritual Renewal was created by a group of Indigenous Anglican leaders in Winnipeg, April 1994, in response to the apology offered by then Primate Michael Peers at the 1993 Sacred Circle gathering in Minaki, Ontario, for the harms caused by residential schools. The Covenant was affirmed by the General Synod in 1995. It articulates the need for Indigenous self-determination within the Church and is considered a foundational document for the self-determining Indigenous church.

The signing of the Covenant by the original Indigenous Committee in April 1994.
The signing of the Covenant by the original Indigenous Committee in April 1994.

The Covenant

We, representatives of the Indigenous people of the Anglican Church of Canada, meeting in Winnipeg from the 23 to 26 of April 1994, pledge ourselves to this covenant for the sake of our people and in trust of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ:

Under the guidance of God’s spirit, we agree to do all we can to call our people into unity in a new, self-determining community within the Anglican Church of Canada.

To this end, we extend the hand of partnership to all those who will help us build a truly Anglican Indigenous Church in Canada.

May God bless this new vision and give us grace to accomplish it. Amen.

Suggested uses

  • Supporting worship, prayer and reflection inspired by the Covenant and its commitments
  • Guiding study and discussion on Indigenous self-determination and reconciliation within the Church
  • Forming the basis for educational programs on the history of Indigenous Anglicans and residential schools
  • Informing leadership, governance and ministry planning in Indigenous and diocesan contexts

Key themes

  • Indigenous self-determination within the Anglican Church of Canada
  • Reconciliation, healing and partnership
  • Spiritual guidance and faith formation
  • Honouring historical experiences and collective vision
  • Leadership, governance and shared decision-making

Best suited for: clergy, lay leaders, congregations, ministry teams, and anyone seeking to understand or support Indigenous self-determination and reconciliation in the Anglican Church of Canada.

Acknowledging the land and God’s creation

This acknowledgement is crafted in light of the Principles of Reconciliation by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada, as we seek to live faithfully in Christ and in right relationship with all. 

We give thanks to the Creator for this land, its waters, forests and all living beings, and for the abiding presence of Christ among us. From coast to coast to coast, these have been cared for and nurtured by First Nations, Inuit and Métis through countless generations. 

We honour the enduring relationship Indigenous Peoples have cultivated with these lands and waters, and the treaties and agreements that reflect these sacred bonds. We acknowledge the harms caused by colonial expansion, through frameworks like the Doctrine of Discovery and structures like the residential school system. We recognize our past failures as a Church, including disruption of connections to the land and suppression of Indigenous spiritualities. 

Guided by the gospel of Jesus Christ, we confess our need for healing. We commit ourselves to seeking truth, pursuing reconciliation and nurturing harmony with all creation. We place our trust in Christ, through whom all things are reconciled to God. 

May God strengthen us to live faithfully as stewards of the Earth. Let us walk in love, justice and reconciliation, joining in God’s work to restore all creation.