We gather for worship and offer our ministry on the traditional, unceded territory of the Algonquin Anishinaabe nation. May we dwell on this land with respect and peace. 

This territorial acknowledgement has been used regularly to begin liturgies in the Area Parish of Mississippi Lake for quite some time. We borrowed it from our Diocesan liturgies, and it has served us well so far. It reminds us that the work of reconciliation belongs to our generation, and must remain in the forefront of everything we do.

One of the key recommendations of the TRC report is:

“to ensure that their respective congregations learn about their church’s role in colonization, the history and legacy of residential schools, and why apologies to former residential school students, their families and their communities were necessary.”

#59; Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada: Calls to Action

A group of parishioners from the Area Parish of Mississippi Lake are engaged in a course of study offered by the University of Alberta called “Indigenous Canada”, a program that explores Indigenous histories and contemporary issues in Canada. Members of that group have been asked to write a new territorial acknowledgment for use in our Parish. Stay tuned for what we hope will arrive early in the new year.

If you would like to know more about our study group and other faith formation activities in the Parish, contact the Rev’d Canon Mary Ellen Berry at 613-257-3178 ext 22.