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Liturgy and prayers for solidarity with Indigenous Peoples

This worship resource, An Action in Solidarity with the Indigenous Peoples of Canada, was developed in 2016 in response to then-Primate Fred Hiltz’s call for all parishes to publicly read the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) on or near June 21, the National Indigenous Day of Prayer.

Styled as a liturgy, the ceremony guides communities through prayer and reflection grounded in Scripture and the principles of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC). It invites participants to listen to the voices of Indigenous peoples and respond with a commitment to justice, reconciliation and healing, offering a meaningful way for parishes to engage in reconciliation through shared worship.

Potential standalone components

Elements of this liturgy may also be used independently, including:

  • A Prayer for Reconciliation
  • A Collect for Covenant
  • Headings from the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples
  • Ten Principles of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission
  • Anglican Healing Fund prayer

Suggested uses

  • As part of worship or sermon time on the National Indigenous Day of Prayer
  • During other parish or community events focused on reconciliation and education
  • In study groups exploring Indigenous-settler relations or justice issues
  • For gatherings, circles of prayer or educational sessions highlighting Indigenous rights and history

Key themes

  • Solidarity with Indigenous peoples
  • Public commitment to reconciliation
  • Prayer and worship in community
  • Learning through the UNDRIP and TRC principles

Best suited for: congregations, clergy, lay leaders, reconciliation committees, study groups and communities seeking meaningful ways to pray, reflect and act in support of Indigenous peoples.

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.