KL has created an anti-racism group, which has offered several "listening circles" and other events. Please find below our initiatives to date and associated resources. For more info, or to contact us, our email address is arlskluc@gmail.com and our Instagram acct is: kl_arls.
The Islington United Church Anti-Racism Working Group is pleased to present a free speaker series in January 2022 on Racism in the Church, designed to educate ourselves and help us take action on racism within our church, the community, and the wider Canadian context. For more information and to register: islingtonunited.org
Program called "40 days of Engagement on Anti-Racism" took place Oct 12 - Nov 26. Link to it here. On Nov. 23, Adele Halliday co-hosted a presentation.
"Indigenous Children, Then, Now and Tomorrow"
“Becoming Nakuset": The Story of a Sixties Scoop Survivor (virtual movie screening and panel discussion)
Background: Nakuset, well known Indigenous activist and Executive Director of the Native Women's Shelter of Montréal, is Cree from Lac la Ronge, Saskatchewan. As a young child, she was taken by Indian agents from her home in Thompson, Manitoba and adopted into a Jewish family in Montreal. The 2020 award-winning short film “Becoming Nakuset” is her story. Join us for this virtual event as we hear from this survivor of the Sixties Scoop who struggled to reclaim her identity. After a screening of the 12-minute documentary, Tony Snow, Indigenous Minister, Chinook Winds Region, will guide us through a Listening Circle with both Nakuset and Dan Milner, also a survivor of the Sixties Scoop.
Link to video trailer https://www.dropbox.com/s/1va79rayi1ioio8/Becoming%20Nakuset%20Trailer.mp4?dl=0
Additional Resources:
United Church’s statement adopting the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (https://united-church.ca/sites/default/files/undrip-united-church-statement.pdf)
Ecumenical resource highlighting UNDRIP and the TRC Calls to Action (https://united-church.ca/sites/default/files/trc-calls-action-undrip.pdf).
Indigenous Reading and Video Recommendations https://shiningwatersregionalcouncil.ca/indigenous_summer_reading/
"If All Lives Matter, Then Black Lives Matter: A Conversation About Racism, Social Justice and Personal Experience”
"Dealing With White Privilege"
Curriculum and Facilitator Guide (February 2021):
Retreat: "From Awareness To Action” (April 17, 2021) Thanks to our respected guest speakers: Rev. Michael Blair (General Secretary, United Church of Canada), Sandra Cushnie (Global Diversity, Equity and Inclusions Director, McCain Foods Limited) and Adele Halliday (Anti-Racism and Equity Lead, United Church of Canada). These materials are authentic, soulful and powerful calls to action in the fight to end racism.
Welcome, Opening Prayer (Rev Hugh Reid, Kingsway-Lambton United Church) and Opening Remarks
Homily (Rev. Michael Blair, General Secretary, United Church of Canada)
How to Show Up as an Anti-racist (Sandra Cushnie, Global Diversity, Equity and Inclusions Director, McCain Foods Limited)
Q & A (Sandra Cushnie, Global Diversity, Equity and Inclusions Director, McCain Foods Limited)
Moving to Action (Adele Halliday, Anti-Racism and Equity Lead, United Church of Canada)
Next Steps (Fresh Start Anti-Racism Learning Series Team)) and Closing Prayer (Rev Candice Bist)