By Alicia DesMarteau
It is a crucial question for the future of Canada: what role will Canada’s First Nations and indigenous peoples play in the country’s destiny?
In a time when many are concerned about Canada’s future, First Nations Christian leaders such as Kenny Blacksmith feel that Canada’s native people must rise up as spiritual leaders of the nation.
“The First Nations as the original peoples of the land are taking their place,” Blacksmith said. “As spiritually accountable – being the stewards of the land to be able to come before God and make things right with Him.”
Despite a past filled with conflict and oppression, First Nations and indigenous believers feel this is a critical time of reconciliation for Canada’s native and non-native population.
Gathering the Nations International founder and former Deputy Chief for the Cree First Nations people Kenny Blacksmith said the time had come for a new chapter in relationships, “One that is forgiving and one that releases us to love, respect and honor one another even more. Then God will be able to use us . . . to impact and bring about change in the land of Canada.”
Mohawk pastor and director of Spirit Alive Ministries Ross Maracle said: “When we pray and declare that our time has come to lay aside the cruel weapons of anger and resentment and hatred that have been in us as an oppressed people, and if we repent, the Bible says our God will heal our home and native land.”
Many non-native leaders agree. Among them is James Lunney, a Member of Parliament from Nanaimo and Alberni, British Columbia. Lunney said, “I personally feel that we’re on the edge of a major movement in this country.”
National Team Member of Watchmen for the Nations Alain Caron said: “that the First Nations people will own their own part is very significant . . . and the healing of the land will be for all.”
Indigenous leaders maintain that their position as Canada’s original inhabitants makes them spiritual gatekeepers of the nation. But what is a spiritual gatekeeper?
Canada Awakening director Roger Armbruster said that a gatekeeper over a particular region was one who was in the position of authority to be able to decide what would be permitted to enter within that given sphere of influence or territory.
In other words, the First Nations are the key to unlock Canada’s God-ordained destiny; a future in which Canada will flourish agriculturally, economically and spiritually.
Kenny Blacksmith said that “great doors of opportunity . . . will be opened and many will come, many will hear, many will receive God’s love and forgiveness.”
“I see that happening across the nation that there’s a tremendous awakening to real spiritual values,” concurs James Lunney. “And that to me it’s extremely important if we’re going to have a future with a stable society.”
But some suggest that this promising future will be withheld from Canada if her indigenous believers are not in the position to exercise their spiritual authority. It is critical that non-native believers acknowledge the essential role that First Nations people play.
Furthermore, many believe that First Nations’ traditional art, music and dance styles can be legitimate and powerful expressions of Christian worship. Among these is Mohawk musician Jonathan Maracle, whose group Broken Walls performs Christian music in First Nations styles.
“As a native person, you don’t have to give up your native heritage any longer,” Maracle said. “The good things of our culture . . . are usable . . . and the drum is a gift back to the modern society. Our drum being played and our worship being sung on that drum is a gift to the body of Christ and to the world.”
Many believe that the destiny of Canada is inseparable from that of the First Nations. As the land of Canada lives in their hearts, the key to its future lies in their hands.
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