Feeding a Movement
Four unique gatherings fed the faithful movement for justice this fall. Like twigs and bark lay the foundations of a warming fire, ideas of new stories, old stories, a place of retreat, a conversation on spirituality, a commitment to solidarity, a quest for knowledge, all laid the foundation to oxygenate and spark new thoughts and connections and renew strong longstanding networks.
BC-Yukon Gathering: OUT of the Ashes | New/Ancient Stories Still Rise
A serendipitous meeting a week earlier had Kukpi7 Judy Wilson, former chief of Neskonlith Indian Band, ask, “Would you like me to give a welcome to the territory? Could my mother and sister join us for dinner?” The hugs and stories and memories that followed set the tone for the BC-Yukon Gathering, OUT of the Ashes | New/Ancient Stories Still Rise UPat the Sorrento Centre. The Gathering featured stories of pain, loss and hardship and stories of resilience, reciprocity and relationship. To hear that her mother, Minnie Kenoras had traveled to Ottawa on the KAIROS “banner train” to advocate for the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) more than a decade ago, added the depth of generational connections to the stories.
The place, the land and water, fed and rejuvenated the movement and the people. A silent walk through the woods, a morning stretch with the geese on the beach, a circle of song held by a circle of trees in the afternoon sunshine, a collection of autumn seeds holding the promise of the future. The presenting was done in the form of story or poetry, which prompted people to open up to one another, sharing the stories of their lives with a depth rarely found in a group newly gathered. Winding and threading and tying knots to make tiny dream catchers gave everyone a chance to use their brains and hands differently and add layers of mutuality, reciprocity and respect to the relationships in the room.
Northwest Ontario and Manitoba KAIROS Gathering: Justice for All – Action for Migrant and Indigenous Rights
A visit to an actual sacred fire marked the beginning of the Northwest Ontario and Manitoba KAIROS Gathering, Justice for All – Action for Migrant and Indigenous Rights. As guests at Camp Morgan, a solidarity camp calling for the landfill search for the remains of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, visitors were nourished with stories and the chance to offer prayers at the fire.
The physical act of solidarity grounded the conversation the next day. Leah Reesor-Keller, Transitional Executive Director, offered her broad view of movement that KAIROS is and is growing, in the context of the world we live in. Steadfast Indigenous network members, Yvonne Bearbull and Ellen Cook, reflected on their experiences of the local and global challenges, which includes the justice movement.
Another unwavering justice advocate, Diwa Marcellino, spoke of the struggles for migrant workers, of networks of solidarity and needs that continue to grow. An exercise in drawing “life as a river” allowed the flow of more than five decades of justice work to feed the present-day movement, offering energy and inspiration.
KAIROS Prairies North Gathering: Grounding the Future: Spiritual resources for responding to climate change
Delicious food by an Indigenous caterer in Edmonton kept the movement fueled for a full day of Grounding the Future: Spiritual resources for responding to climate change, the KAIROS Prairies North Gathering. Michelle Nieviadomy, Cree woman (iskwew), started things off in a good way, sharing some of her own spirituality and encouraging relationship building and tending with Mother Earth and all her human and non-human relations.
Matthew Oliver, applied scientist, theologian and Red River Métis, shared a story of transformation as a settler friend moved, over the years, from more colonial ways to small, progressive changes towards living in right relationship with the Earth and the interconnect web of life. Rev. Shawn Sanford Beck, an ecumenical priest, shared his perspectives on Christian animism, a faith-filled, Christian perspective on the world where each being is alive, sentient and related. Nova Laurin taught with practical steps how an urban community can embrace a divine conversation with nature through Wild Church worship. This was the spiritual grounding for the discussion of active advocacy and solidarity through the work of staff and regional networks. Danielle Kamtié highlighted that discussion with her presentation. Danielle, KAIROS’ Africa Partnerships and Global Climate Justice Program Coordinator, showed how the work of KAIROS partners supports the United Nations Social Development Goals (SDGs).
Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Regional Gathering: KAIROS Momentum
Finally, a quest for knowledge to feed the movement led planners of the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Regional Gathering to invite KAIROS subject matter experts to share at KAIROS Momentum. The online format allowed for the largest showing of the movement, 189 registered to receive the recording and 79 participated live. Elizabeth Snell, KAIROS Guelph, and Bruce Weaver, Mohawk, offered a land acknowledgement and opening reflection respectively, both highlighting the Dish with One Spoon Wampum Belt Covenant. This covenant commits everyone to take only what is needed and leave resources for others, using only a rounded spoon. Bruce encouraged participants to use no sharp edges that cut and harm in words or in actions. Five key presenters covered the areas of gender justice, Indigenous rights, migrant justice and ecological justice. If you too are questing for knowledge of the KAIROS priority work, find the recording of KAIROS Momentum here.
Each choice of topic, invitation, presentation, coffee-time conversation, shared laugh or smile; each new thought or Aha! moment, re-commitment to solidarity, act of reciprocity or reconciliation is another stick in the fire or tributary towards the river of a movement, streams of justice!
What will you do to feed the movement? How will you be fed by the movement in the coming year?
By Shannon Neufeldt, KAIROS’ Member Relations and Network Coordinator
