RED DEER, Alb.-On January 27–29, 2023, Indian Life Ministries, Native Evangelical Fellowship of Canada and Family Life Canada joined forces to sponsor the third Indigenous Couples' Getaway in western Canada.
Eighteen couples attended this premier event held in Red Deer, Alberta, joined by three speaker couples-Kirby and Bernadette James, Conrad and Florence Flett, and Gord and Bev Mills-as well as musicians Kene and Milly Jackson, and several volunteers.
The conference was born out of 20 years of prayer by a Cree team and Family Life Canada, which has been in Quebec for 20 years and has the goal to bring help to marriages and families across Canada.
"We address felt needs within marriages and families and seek to offer health and hope," said Dan Degaris, who serves as Director of Development, Indigenous Ministy for Family Life Canada. Degaris adds that beyond offering tips and teaching for strong marriages and families, an ultimate goal is "that we will reach out to men's and women's greatest need, which is Jesus Christ."
The passion to help bring Jesus and biblical principles specifically into Indigenous marriages was brought to Family Life Canada as some Cree couples saw the need for specialized family ministry to the First Nations communities.
Indian Life Ministries (ILM) and Native Evangelical Fellowship of Canada (NEFC) came alongside Family Life Canada (FLC) to help make the event happen.
"These marriage conferences are so important," said Todd Wawryzniak, director of Indian Life Ministries. "They help strengthen and equip marriages with tools on how to handle conflict and so much more. They help bring couples closer together through the various exercises that they are encouraged to work on.
"We are excited that NEFC is able to work together with Family Life Canada and Indian Life Ministries to host this first Indigenous Couples' Getaway in Western Canada!" said Kene Jackson, NEFC executive director. "We trust that this and following events can and will be significant milestones for the families that are impacted through this."
Through the Couples' Eyes
The Indigenous Couples' Getaway included instruction, worship, fellowship, and exercises to help couples connect and communicate better. Some of the couples shared what the experience meant to them . . .
"We always hear of couples retreats, but to have an Indigenous Couples Retreat is important, more relevant to who we are and inspiring. The stories of healing and not knowing what it meant to be a husband . . . as a native man I had to learn and understand that God made our marriage better. My way alone failed, but God gave me grace, love, forgiveness. He healed our marriage."
"To be honest, every session had key points and tools that I feel have made or will make a difference in our relationship. Hearing the different speakers' own experiences in their marriages all had a big key concept. Communicate to each other. God will work in your marriage."
"The leaders were open and talked about so many issues that you don't hear a lot about. They were open and honest on such sensitive topics."
"The session that impacted us most was Session 4, The Drift. We have struggled to be one, to understand each other. We try. We know that we are all different. Good and bad through all our lives."
"Session 6 impacted us the most because it had us looking towards the future. We're only like halfway through; we've been married 17 years."
"The session about forgiving meant the most to us because there are times in life we need forgiveness so that we may move on and be happier and continue to live happily."
"All of the sessions have been real eye openers for me. I never really realized how much I was wrong about marriage and the issues that are revealed."
"The time for writing love letters gave me an opportunity to express things to my husband that I am not always very verbal about."
"I learned to deal with issues past or present that affect our relationship with each other and God. Not sweeping them under the rug."
"I liked the stories people shared of what worked for the different couples. How their lives were different and how that affected their marriage. All did amazing jobs!"
"Session 5 helped me understand more about childhood trauma . . . how addiction, adultery and abuse work together to numb the pain, block out part of our past."
"The most important thing we learned was to appreciate each other more and to accept our different spiritual pathways."
"I learned how to manage my conflicts more effectively by using God's Word to deal with them and to do this with my spouse."
"We as a couple are one. There is no 'me' or 'her' or 'I,' it's 'us.' I learned that no matter what happens, fight to hang on, stay the course! There's always sunshine after the rain."
"Take time to understand each other. Trust God; He is working through us and in us as a couple, even if we don't see it in the right time, it will show itself."
"We appreciated knowing that people are there who are willing to help us."
"I learned to listen to my husband and share his visions. To do God's will is most important."
"Stay engaged; do not isolate."
"This weekend made me love my partner even more."
"We are so glad we attended this Getaway. We met some wonderful people, made new friends. What a blessing!"
