ILM Hosts Reconciliation Conference

WINNIPEG, Man.-Indian Life Ministries is holding their first "Let's Talk About Reconciliation" conference.

"At Indian Life Ministries, we want to take reconciliation from a big picture idea to a personal one," explain the directors, Todd and Krystal Wawryniak. "We want to help people answer the questions: 'What part do I play in reconciliation?' and 'What can I do?'"

The event will be held at Camp Chestermere, west of Calgary, Alberta, on December 10–11, 2021.

The conference will open on Friday night, December 10, at 6 p.m., with featured speaker Mario Swampy and the music of Milly and Kene Jackson. Swampy and the Jacksons will lead again on Saturday, December 11, at 1 p.m.

Mario Swampy has served as Pastor for the Louis Bull All Nations Church in Maskwacis Alberta since 2014, and on Chief and Council for the Samson Cree Nation since 2011. He believes these positions have given him a unique perspective on some of the challenges that exist when it comes to reconciliation both politically and at the church level between First Nations and non-First Nations. Given Canada's controversial political past concerning its First Peoples, which includes the residential schools, Mario believes that the body of Jesus Christ has an amazing opportunity right now to demonstrate true reconciliation in tangible and practical ways. First, as individuals, and then as collective bodies (churches, communities, workplaces) where courageous spaces can be created and maintained to have difficult conversations and where healing and true reconciliation becomes a possibility.

Kene and Milly Jackson are from the Whitefish Lake Band of the Cree Nation and have been working in gospel music since 1981. With more than a dozen recordings under their belts, they enjoy singing, recording, touring and songwriting. Kene is also executive director of Native Evangelical Fellowship of Canada.

An additional optional feature for the conference will be a KAIROS Blanket Exercise. Developed in collaboration with the Indigenous Elders, Knowledge Keepers and educators, the KAIROS Blanket Exercise (KBE) is an interactive and experiential teaching tool that explores the historic and contemporary relationship between Indigenous and non-Indigenouse people. During the two- to three-hour workshop, particpants are invited to step into the roles of First Nations, Inuit and later Métis peoples. It's a way to redress the wrongs and provide education. Participants are guided by trained facilitators, and the activity ends with a debriefing to help participants process feelings, ask questions, share insights and deepen understanding.

The "Let's Talk About Reconciliation" conference is free and open to the public. Participants who would like to attend the KAIROS Blanket Exercise should pre-register and may pay the $25 fee at the door.

For more information or registration, go to http://www.indianlife.org/events. For questions, contact directors@indianlife.org or call 1-800-655-9275.