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National Indigenous History Month

The month of June is National Indigenous History Month and I encourage you to take this time to seek out stories of the many amazing First Nations, Metis, and Inuit trail blazers in Canada. A quick search online and you can learn of people like Jeremy Dutcher who is an award winning First Nations tenor, composer, musicologist, performer, and actor. Maybe you would like to learn about the first Indigenous woman and the first Metis person to be appointed to the Canadian Senate, Thelma Chalifoux. You can check it all out by doing a quick search for National Indigenous History Month.

This amazing art work is part of the free promotional resources offered by the Government of Canada for our use during this month. So much thought and creativity has gone into this work. At the centre is the sun representing the summer solstice, the heart of the festivities. The eagle represents First Nations, the narwhal represents the Inuit, and the violin represents Metis. The multicoloured smoke reminds us of Indigenous spirituality and the rainbow which is a symbol of inclusion and the
diversity of all First Nations, Inuit, and Metis communities.

Each year on June 11 Red Deer honours Remembering the Children Day. As many of you know, Sunnybrook United Church has a long standing association with the Remembering the Children Society. On Saturday I will be joining Lyle Keewatin Richards, Mayor Ken Johnston, and members of the Society at the Red Deer Cemetery. The gathering begins at 10:30 a.m. and the ceremony begins at 11:00 a.m. We will gather to share stories and to remember the children of the Red Deer Indian
Industrial School. You are welcome to join us.

On Sunday, June 19 we will honour National Indigenous Peoples Day and the Summer Solstice in our worship at Sunnybrook. I am grateful for the intention of our congregation to continue the ongoing work of reconciliation.

Peace and joy,
Nancy