Blogs Posts from the Anglican Indigenous Network

The Archbishops have announced the election of the Rt Rev Don Tamihere as the next Pihopa o Aotearoa, or leader of the Maori Anglican Church.

Bishop Don, who is 45, and who has Ngati Porou ties, now succeeds the late Archbishop Brown Turei not only as Anglican Bishop of Te Tairawhiti, the tribal district which covers the eastern seaboard of the North Island, but also as Pihopa Mataamua, leader of Te Pihopatanga and co-leader of the three tikanga church.

The two sitting archbishops, the Most Revs Philip Richardson and Winston Halapua, are delighted that Bishop Don has been chosen:

"We rejoice with the people of Te Pihopatanga o Aotearoa," they say, "and look forward to sharing the primacy of our church with Bishop Don”.

The full article can be found here

[Bishop Mark McDonald Anglcain Journal] The recent acquittal of Gerald Stanley in the death of Colten Boushie has revealed a deep and abiding difference in the experience of Indigenous peoples and non-Indigenous people across Canada. For many Indigenous people, this was both heartbreaking and familiar. For many other Canadians, there was both dismay and some surprise. The enormous gaps in the performance of justice, the widespread and obvious denial of basic respect and dignity for Indigenous people in the legal system, have become clear in a way that is a sharp jolt to a broader public.

Many of the responses to the verdict have been useful and good; Senator Murray Sinclair’s comments stand out as practical, wise and constructive. While holding onto these practical steps forward, it is very important to recognize some of the deep truths this matter reveals. The deep and wide presence of systemic evil in Canadian society and culture has become clear to a larger group of Canadians. Recognizing this, may we perceive that there is no healthy way forward for Canada without an effective dismantling of the systemic evil we call racism.

The conscious attitudes of individuals are where most people locate racism. For significant parts of Canadian society, therefore, outright prejudice against Indigenous people is no longer accepted in polite conversation and behavior. But, the systemic nature of racism is revealed in that long after direct statements of prejudice are rejected, bias and fear of “the other” are still embedded in all the various structures and institutions of our society—including the institution of the church. Sadly, and with deadly impact, bias and fear of the other linger in the hidden and habitual attitudes of great portions of our society.

The full article can be found here

[Anglican Journal by Joelle Kidd] Archbishop Fred Hiltz, primate of the Anglican Church of Canada, is calling on people of faith to pray for those affected by the shooting death of Colten Boushie, an Indigenous young man, and the subsequent trial and acquittal of Gerald Stanley, the Saskatchewan farmer accused of killing him. Hiltz also sought prayers for “the needs for reform in the justice system.”

“With great empathy, we especially remember the Boushie family and Red Pheasant First Nation,” said Hiltz, in a statement released February 21.

The statement also encourages people of faith to respond through action. “We encourage you to attend or organize public events in your community. They could be opportunities for listening, learning, advocacy, and action concerning human rights, racism, and justice.”

Boushie, a 22-year-old Cree man, was fatally shot Aug. 9, 2016, after he and four others drove onto Stanley’s cattle farm near Biggar, Sask. Stanley testified that the shot was accidental and possibly due to a malfunction known as a hang fire. On Feb. 9, 2018, a Saskatchewan jury found him not guilty of second-degree murder.

The full article can be found here

[Anglican.ca by Matt Gardner] Indigenous Anglicans from around the world recently met in southern Ontario to discuss issues affecting Indigenous people within and across national (political) borders. Climate change and intergenerational trauma were two of the main issues that came under discussion, as well as the shared striving towards self-determination for Indigenous peoples.

The conference of the Anglican Indigenous Network (AIN), which meets every two years, took place on the territory of the Six Nations of the Grand River and in Toronto from Aug. 28-Sept. 3. Delegates included Indigenous people from the Anglican Church of Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia, The Episcopal Church in the United States and Hawaii, the Anglican Church of Australia and Torres Strait Islands, and the Anglican Church of Canada.

Discussions in a sharing circle format underscored progress that has been made and the many challenges that still remain for Indigenous people around the world. Among the 29 delegates was a 10-person contingent from the Anglican Church of Canada, who signed the resulting communiqué on behalf of Indigenous peoples within the church.

“I think that the level of support and encouragement for each other was really at an all-time high,” National Indigenous Anglican Bishop Mark MacDonald said. “I think people were … very supported by it, very encouraged by it.”

Bishop MacDonald said delegates from other countries were “very supportive of Canada and they were very impressed [by] the Primate and his knowledge and understanding of Indigenous issues, of his engagement in the issue of self-determination … and felt that we were close to taking some important and significant steps.”

The full article can be found here

[Photo AIN delegates attending local service at St. Luke’s Anglican Church on Six Nations Reserve on the Grand River Territory, Oshweken, Ontario, Canada. Photo: Edward Hanohano/Diocese of Hawaii.]

Bishop of Aotearoa, Archbishop Brown Turei has announced the Ven Richard Rangi Wallace (QSM) has been elected Bishop of Te Waipounamu.

Electors from the Anglican Maori Diocese of Te Wai Pounamu gathered in Christchurch from September 23-25, where they nominated Archdeacon Richard Wallace as successor to the late Bishop John Gray.

The full article can be found here