Winnipeg celebration of 30 years of living reconciliation 

From January 23 to 25, several hundred people gathered on Treaty One Territory in Winnipeg to commemorate the 30th Anniversary of Elijah Harper’s Sacred Assembly. In 1995, Elijah Harper, a Red Sucker Lake Cree leader and politician, convened thousands of Indigenous leaders, faith leaders and public figures to share his vision for Canada. He believed that reconciliation required more than political agreements – it demanded spiritual grounding, truth-telling and relational accountability. Harper’s Sacred Assembly was unprecedented and prophetic as it called the nation to face painful truths and to act in faith. The anniversary event was a recommitment to Elijah’s vision of healing, spiritual reconciliation and justice that remains urgently relevant today. 

The anniversary of Harper’s Sacred Assembly is not something I encounter as an outsider looking in; it touches histories, losses and hopes that live close to home. I carry Indigenous ancestry through my father’s line and also live and work within the Church. That dual belonging is not always easy, but it shapes how I listen, what I notice and what I feel responsible for naming. I carry both the grief of my ancestors, cultural restoration and the responsibility of faith – a call to see, name and act in ways that honour life.

A turning point 

Addressing the Winnipeg attendees, National Chief Cindy Woodhouse‑Nepinak noted that the 1995 assembly had marked a turning point for churches confronting the harms of residential schools. It became the foundation of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. “From that time, religious leaders started to apologize,” she said. She reminded us that leadership is about love and reconciliation and must be demonstrated in both word and deed. While addressing the high numbers of Indigenous children who are apprehended by Child Welfare agencies to this day, she stated that her desire is for all children to grow up in sober, violence-free homes in their own communities and not as wards of the provinces. It is up to each of us to contribute to the well-being and healing of all Indigenous peoples, and we are stronger when we act together. For me, personally, it was a reminder that the histories and hopes I carry are intertwined with the faith communities I serve; my ancestors’ experiences and my calling as a Christian compel me to witness and act.

A common theme woven through many of the speakers was forgiveness, belonging and identity. Winnipeg Mayor Scott Gillingham opened by reminding us that forgiveness cannot be legislated – it is the work of the Spirit, it begins with our hearts, and is the work of grace. 

Rev. Daniel Kikawa from Hawai’i reflected on how belonging and identity are rooted in culture. God is a God of love, and each of us is made in a particular culture, placed on the land where we belong. He often encouraged us to “go back to the future” – to return to the people God created us to be, and to find our identity there. Cultural expression, he reminded us, is not incidental; it is a form of worship that allows the heart to open and the spirit to breathe.

Youth crises

By far the most urgent and compelling topic, however, was the ongoing crisis of youth suicide. One of the most striking examples of work in this area is seen in the approach of Bill Pagaran (president of Carry the Cure, a non-profit created in response to the youth suicide crisis in Alaska) and Jonathan Maracle (who first conceived of his band, Broken Walls, at the 1995 Sacred Assembly). These Indigenous leaders travel together into northern and remote communities, bringing presence, hope and practical support where pain is deep and resources are scarce. 

Bill shared stories of sitting with youth who are struggling to find reasons to keep going. He invites young people to name reasons to live, make commitments to life and imagine futures shaped by hope and belonging. Healing, he reminded us, begins in these quiet, faithful acts of accompaniment. 

Jonathan complements this work through free evening concerts in the communities they visit. Through music, storytelling and song, messages of restoration, dignity and self-respect are shared, and the gospel is proclaimed in ways that honour culture, identity and the sacredness of life. Witnessing their work, I felt the assembly’s vision take shape tangibly; reconciliation is not only remembered, it is lived.

‘I want to eat at the table!’

As someone who sits at the intersection of both Indigenous and Christian worlds, attending the Sacred Assembly commemoration event reminded me that reconciliation is not optional for the church. It is relational, costly and life-giving. Churches are called not merely to apologize or reflect, but to fully repent and walk alongside Indigenous communities in faithful action. Reading from the book of Amos, Adrian Jacobs, Senior Leader for Justice and Reconciliation for the Christian Reformed Church, reminded us that without justice, God hates our religious festivals and our assemblies are a stench to Him. As an Indigenous person, Jacobs stated, “I don’t just want a seat at the table, I want to eat at the table!”

Faith leaders from multiple denominations affirmed that justice is a spiritual responsibility. This includes supporting Indigenous-led initiatives, listening to stories of pain and resilience, and creating spaces where young people can experience belonging and hope.

Dual belonging is a calling 

The Sacred Assembly was prophetic in 1995 because it called the nation to face painful truths and to act in faith. Thirty years later, the Winnipeg commemoration reminds us that this work is ongoing. For those of us in the church, this means showing up: attending with open ears, supporting initiatives like Carry the Cure and Broken Walls, and engaging in the slow, relational work of restoration.

For me, the assembly was a reminder that dual belonging is not a burden but a calling. My Indigenous ancestry gives me the lens to see the deep wounds and resilient hopes in my communities. My faith gives me the mandate to act with justice, mercy and humility. Walking in both worlds, I am called to witness, accompany and affirm life – not as a spectator, but as a participant in God’s healing work.

The Sacred Assembly reminds us that justice is not abstract, reconciliation is not symbolic, and healing is not optional. It is our work together, grounded in relationship, and committed to life. At the Winnipeg commemoration, I felt the weight and the hope of Harper’s vision.