Indigenous Rights
It’s time that the Government of Canada empower the CORE and enact mHRDD legislation
May 26, 2020
Allegations of human rights violations and environmental damage accompany the Canadian extractive sector. KAIROS partners substantiate. Forced labor, torture, rape, and the contamination of water sources are just some of the claims made against Canadian companies around the globe by…
Post filed in: Ecological Justice, Gender Justice/Women of Courage, Indigenous Rights
Two poems offered on the National Day of Awareness for #MMIWG
May 5, 2020
The Colour Red She opened her eyes. Felt the chill that traveled from toes to chest. She was empty and hollow. To feel, there needed to be awareness, awareness she could not find in a disassociated moment. If red had a feeling…
Post filed in: Indigenous Rights
Large-scale resource extraction exacerbates the threat of COVID-19 across the American hemisphere, especially for Indigenous peoples
May 4, 2020
Across Abya Yala and Turtle Island, territories otherwise known as America, governmental and corporate responses to and amid the spread of the novel coronavirus have put into sharp focus the crisis of the status quo. This is especially true of large-scale resource extraction. The grave threat…
Post filed in: Ecological Justice, Gender Justice/Women of Courage, Indigenous Rights, Op Eds
Spirited Reflection: National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls
April 30, 2020
There are specific days that I remember, which forever changed my understanding and perspectives about being a First Nations woman in Canada. Like so many in this country, I grew up with the cliched ideas of Canadian society-polite people surrounded by clean cities and…
Post filed in: Gender Justice/Women of Courage, Indigenous Rights, Spirited Reflections
Spirited Reflection: Holding close to our hearts
March 31, 2020
In this time of isolation, staying behind doors and apart from one another, questions on the meaning and power of prayer may arise. How can I offer support to those far away? Is there a way to close the gap? …
Post filed in: Indigenous Rights, Spirited Reflections
Changing the world one KAIROS Blanket Exercise story at a time
March 30, 2020
Words cannot express the gratitude for every time we are called upon to offer the KAIROS Blanket Exercise (KBE). It is an honour to meet with participants who, for the most part, are on a journey of learning. We have been asked to go where people have little or no…
Post filed in: Indigenous Rights, Spirited Reflections
To better understand the present, they walk through Alaska’s past
March 20, 2020
“Truthful, undeniable and powerful.”“Very eye-opening.”“Incredibly powerful and healing.”“I felt like everyone I knew needed to go through it.” Those are just a few of the responses from Alaskans who have experienced the Alaska Blanket Exercise, an interactive learning tool launched…
Post filed in: Indigenous Rights
‘Walk with me’ – a lesson plan towards reconciliation
March 2, 2020
Education is key to reconciliation and the key to good education is a lesson plan that sticks. The Blanket Exercise is one such lesson plan. Developed by KAIROS, the Blanket Exercise is based on a method that uses participatory education to weave storytelling and land-based learning…
Post filed in: Indigenous Rights
Wet’suwet’en: des leaders chrétiens réclament un règlement pacifique
February 21, 2020
Le conflit qui oppose les chefs héréditaires de la Première Nation des Wet’suwet’en au projet de gazoduc Coastal GasLink peut et doit se régler de manière pacifique, estime Erik Oland, le supérieur provincial des Jésuites du Canada. Dans une lettre…
Post filed in: En français, Indigenous Rights
Indigenous rights are lived responsibilities
February 20, 2020
Pipelines, mines, and projects that extract resources while compromising the earth and water are not the only solutions to escape poverty. Anyone who offers these as the only possibilities are either not thinking or lying. There are other options. Indigenous…
Post filed in: Indigenous Rights
We stand with the Wet’suwet’en Peoples and hold our government accountable for its actions
February 14, 2020
A path that respects the human rights of Indigenous peoples does not include armed police officers, violent acts, arrests and check points that prevent Indigenous peoples from accessing their lands. A path that respects the human rights of Indigenous peoples…
Post filed in: Indigenous Rights
The National Council of Churches in the Philippines has issued a statement condemning the attack against the Lumad Indigenous people
February 5, 2020
The National Council of Churches in the Philippines (NCCP), a KAIROS partner, has issued a statement condemning the attack, harassment and intimidation against the Lumad Indigenous people seeking refuge in the United Church of Christ in the Philippines (UCCP) –…
Post filed in: Asia-Pacific, Indigenous Rights
KAIROS wish list for 2020
February 5, 2020
In 2020, KAIROS Canada wishes the following….
Post filed in: Calls To Action, Indigenous Rights
Canadian ecumenical response to attacks on the Lumad evacuees in Mindanao
February 3, 2020
KAIROS joins churches in Canada in signing the following ecumenical statement condemning the attacks against Indigenous Lumad evacuees at the United Church of Christ in the Philippines-Haran (UCCP-Haran) evacuation centre in Davao, Mindanao. In September 2019 KAIROS staff visited the…
Post filed in: Asia-Pacific, Gender Justice/Women of Courage, Indigenous Rights
Learning history through participation – The KAIROS Blanket Exercise
January 31, 2020
The KAIROS Blanket Exercise program was held in Weyburn on Wednesday, January 29th, brought here by South East District in partnership with Weyburn Arts Council, Southeast Regional Library, PLURA Churches, and Canadian Mental Health Association, Weyburn Branch. While I’ve read and heard…
Post filed in: Indigenous Rights
Sharing an Indigenous point of view at KAIROS Blanket Exercise
January 28, 2020
Seeing, hearing for yourself, and experiencing the relationship between Indigenous and non-indigenous people in Canada is something that a group of people in Strathmore practiced last night at the KAIROS Blanket Exercise. The free public education session was held at…
Post filed in: Indigenous Rights
Wet’suwet’en land defenders are not criminals
January 22, 2020
On January 13, the RCMP set up an Access Control Checkpoint on Wet’suwet’en territory, exactly one month after the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination called on Canada “to guarantee that no force will be used against Secwepemc…
Post filed in: Indigenous Rights
Strong medicine for toxic resource extraction
January 15, 2020
The final report of the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG) Inquiry released on June 3 outlines 231 recommendations for addressing the ongoing discrimination and violence targeted against Indigenous women in Canada. The detailed report diagnoses patriarchy and…
Post filed in: Gender Justice/Women of Courage, Indigenous Rights
New understanding of Indigenous history inspires MHCC staff
January 15, 2020
As twenty Mental Health Commission of Canada (MHCC) staff members seated themselves in a circle in a small, windowless room, a sense of trepidation was in the air. While some had experience working with Indigenous communities, others were only faintly…
Post filed in: Indigenous Rights
Hoy 12 Tz´i´ en el calendario maya día para pedir justicia para las mujeres y la Madre Tierra
November 25, 2019
(Translation in English provided below) Es propicio para pedir justicia para las mujeres, que cese la violencia en su contra. Hoy 25 de noviembre, día en que se conmemora y se recuerda la lucha de las mujeres, como las hermanas…
Post filed in: Gender Justice/Women of Courage, Indigenous Rights, Latin America
Priorities for Canada’s 43rd Parliament
October 25, 2019
Canadians have elected a minority government. Collaboration is critical for the survival of Canada’s 43rd Parliament and is urgently needed to appropriately address mounting and systemic issues. Indigenous rights and wellbeing, the climate crisis, migrant justice, and support and protection…
Post filed in: Ecological Justice, Gender Justice/Women of Courage, Indigenous Rights, Migrant Justice
Acción Ecológica’s releases analysis of October 2019 mobilizations
October 24, 2019
Acción Ecológica, KAIROS partner organization in Ecuador has released their analysis of the mobilizations that occurred earlier this month and the events that led to these. In it, Acción Ecológica celebrates the organizing efforts and achievements of the Ecuadorian people,…
Post filed in: Ecological Justice, Indigenous Rights, Latin America
Cariboo region hosts eight Blanket Exercises in eight months
October 22, 2019
The Cariboo Region is pleased to have hosted eight KAIROS Blanket Exercise sessions for provincial government staff in Williams Lake, Quesnel and 100 Mile House over the past eight months. Participants included FLNRORD, MIRR, BCWS, BCTS and CSNR staff. The…
Post filed in: Indigenous Rights
Indigenous still waiting for vows to turn into action
October 21, 2019
Chrystal Désilets likes to remain hopeful when she hears promises flow from the mouths of would-be MPs on the campaign trail. But too often, particularly surrounding Indigenous issues, it becomes the same old story. There’s plenty of talk while her…
Post filed in: Indigenous Rights, UNDRIP Blog Updates
Indigenous leaders reach deal with government of Ecuador
October 15, 2019
After almost two weeks of mass mobilizations, the people and Government of Ecuador reached a deal late Sunday night. In a dialogue aired live on national television and online, the President of Ecuador agreed to cancel Decree 883, the austerity…
Post filed in: Indigenous Rights, Latin America
Spirited Reflection: Orange Shirt Day as solidarity and visibility
September 29, 2019
Orange Shirt Day began in 1973 when six year old Phyllis Webstad entered the St. Joseph Mission Residential School in BC. Young Phyllis was wearing a brand new orange shirt for her first day of school – new clothes being…
Post filed in: Indigenous Rights, Spirited Reflections
The next Session of Parliament must prioritize protection and fulfillment of the Human Rights of Indigenous Peoples
September 14, 2019
OPEN LETTER TO ALL CANDIDATES IN THE FEDERAL ELECTION The Truth and Reconciliation Commission, the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls, and numerous reports by international human rights bodies have all documented the profound and tragic…
Post filed in: Indigenous Rights, UNDRIP Blog Updates
A huge win for First Nations kids!
September 6, 2019
The Canadian Human Rights Tribunal has ordered the federal government to pay compensation to a huge number of First Nations children, youth and families harmed by the child welfare system. First Nations Child and Family Caring Society of Canada tweeted:…
Post filed in: Indigenous Rights
