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Indigenous foundations: Where We Are Today: Twenty Years after the Covenant (2014)

Where We Are Today: Twenty Years after the Covenant is a reflective report marking two decades of Indigenous Anglican self-determination in the Anglican Church of Canada since the 1994 Covenant. It outlines the growth of the Sacred Circle, identifies current challenges and priorities and articulates a shared vision for healing, ministry and governance rooted in the Gospel and Indigenous identity. The document helps readers understand how the Covenant continues to guide Indigenous leadership and the Anglican Church of Canada’s commitment to renewed relationship.

Suggested uses

  • Parish or diocesan study groups exploring Indigenous self-determination
  • Leadership teams reviewing the Covenant, Sacred Circle or Indigenous ministry frameworks
  • Educational settings focusing on reconciliation, governance or Anglican–Indigenous relationships
  • Orientation for those newly engaging with Sacred Circle or Indigenous ministries

Key themes

  • Indigenous Anglican self-determination and governance
  • The Covenant’s enduring role in shaping Sacred Circle
  • Healing, justice and reconciliation
  • Partnership and mutual accountability within the Anglican Church of Canada
  • Community renewal grounded in Scripture, prayer and Indigenous identity

Best suited for: Individuals, parish leaders, diocesan staff, study groups and anyone seeking a deeper understanding of Indigenous Anglican self-determination and the continuing significance of the Covenant.

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.