The Journey of Freedom has now been moving across Canada for many months and we are getting very close to the Forgiven Summit which will take place in Ottawa June 11-13. I had the privilege of traveling with the First Peoples on a number of stops and every time my heart has been deeply impacted. I have been touched both by the pain endured by the survivors, but also by the courage they demonstrate in their willingness to release forgiveness for the wrongs they have suffered.
As we come close to the summit, I felt it would be important for us to hear from the heart of Kenny Blacksmith.
On behalf of the First Peoples of Canada, it is a joy and pleasure to have this opportunity to share with you, fellow believers in the Church of Canada. Many of you know that since January 2010 a coalition of the First Peoples have crisscrossed Canada visiting over 20 First Nations, Inuit, Métis and regional centres as well as having many meetings with believers in cities through the nation. And we still have 10 more communities and centres to visit before the end of May!
The purpose of the Journey of Freedom is to bring a healing message of forgiveness, hope and freedom to Aboriginal Canadians who have been affected by the negative legacy of the Indian Residential School system.
The Indian Residential School program was a policy of the Canadian Federal government which was implemented for more than 140 years. Its intention was simple: to ‘kill the Indian in the child’ and do away with the ‘Indian problem’ by assimilating natives into the wider society. I believe this is one of the root issues which has prevented our nation from moving forward into the fullness of its spiritual well being.
The painful legacy of the Indian Residental School system was acknowledged in a profound way when, on June 11, 2008, Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper extended an apology to the First Nations, Inuit and Métis people for the historic wrongs and abuses they had suffered. At this time, he also took another important step by asking for forgiveness on behalf of the Canadian government and people.
The Journey of Freedom is a direct response to that request.
As we were starting on the Journey of Freedom, I declared, “To our knowledge, of all the public apologies that have been made regarding atrocities to Aboriginal peoples, our Canadian Prime Minister is the first to explicitly ask for forgiveness. This leaves our people in a position to respond. We can either choose to hold on to the past, or embrace freedom, which is available through an act of forgiveness. Forgiveness is not political. It is not legislative. Forgiveness is spiritual. Therefore, we need to respond spiritually. This six-month spiritual journey will make ready the hearts of our people to formally respond to the apology and to the specific request for forgiveness of Prime Minister Harper this June.”
As the Journey of Freedom has progressed, our message has been a simple one: “It’s time for our people to be free. For too long, unforgiveness and bitterness have been a prison restraining a vision that gives life and hope to our people. It’s time to let go of a negative past.”
Forgiveness is the ultimate message that we, as First Peoples, are carrying across our nation. Forgiveness is not easy; it is a choice we must each make, relying on the grace of God to give us strength. But we also know that forgiveness will bring healing, both to our people and all Canadians and we believe the impact will be felt well beyond Canada. As First Peoples we have this awesome responsibility now to take this important step in this collective journey of the Church of Canada to prepare this nation to be a resting place for the glory of the Lord.
But we cannot do it alone – we need our brothers and sisters in the body of Christ in Canada to walk alongside us at this important time. For more information on how you can be involved in the Journey of Freedom and/or the Summit, including registration and sowing, please visit our website at www.i4give.ca.
Oh may the heavens be silent as the song and the dance of deliverance is heard! A sound of great joy resounding from the capital of our nation before the great throne of the Almighty God!
It is our time! Canada will be a healing to the nations!
Kenny Blacksmith
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As we have started to see the Lord expanding our vision beyond our nation for His end-time purposes, I believe, as Kenny has said, that the Journey of the First Peoples is another major step in helping to release Canada to the fullness of its destiny as a healer to the nations.
Please pray and ask the Lord how he would have you support this important step in the journey. I know the Lord will release many of us to go to Ottawa in June and stand with our native brothers and sisters. But for those that cannot be there, I know many of us will stand with our prayers and giving.
But there is one other special way we can be a part of this historic time. A virtual “wall of repentance and forgiveness” has been created. Here non-natives can express our repentant hearts to the First Peoples for all the pain they have suffered in the residential schools and First Peoples can also express their forgiveness. To add your name to the ‘We Are Sorry’ page or to the ‘We Forgive’ page, click here.
I am looking forward to seeing you in Ottawa as we stand together with our First Peoples brothers and sisters.
All my love
David
