press release
The Inter-Faith Council of Halifax
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 17, 2000Inter Faith "Let Us All Pray Together"
Spiritual Leaders Ask God to Guide Atlantic Fisheries Disputes Prayer
Gatherings for Sharing Natural Resources On October 23, 2000 at 7:00
p.m. at Citadel Hill, Halifax and a number of other locations across
Canada, people across Canada will join in Prayer to help to guide the
way to sharing natural resources between First Nations and non-native
people.
The " "Let Us All Pray Together" project began after Human rights
activist Willi Nolan and United Church minister Wade Reppert agreed to
put a proposal before their various spiritual leaders to engage in
public prayer to ask the Creator-God to help First Nations and Canadian
people to find the best ways to harvest natural resources. Both have
been working to assist in constructive dialogue between Aboriginal and
non-native fishers in the area surrounding Burnt Church.
The joint proposal states "The air, the water and the land must be
respected by all people, because they were given to the people so that
we can live. Our people, Aboriginal and non native, French and English,
Christian and Traditionalist, government and citizen, have been fighting
about natural resources for too long. "
About the prayers, Wade and Nolan's proposal states, "In Prayer, we will
honour and celebrate the rights of the First Nations and non-native
fishers to protect and defend their and their children's future
well-being. Without judgment or condemnation, we will pray that they
can set aside their anger and come together on good terms." Armed with
the approval of members of the Mi'kmaq Nation and the Maritime
Conference of the United Church, Nolan and Reppert know that the higher
power called at Prayer Gatherings will bring a just and peaceful
resolution to the conflict that has been tearing families and
communities apart.
The Inter-Faith Council of Halifax extended an invitation to assist
Nolan and Reppert with Prayer Gatherings in their local communities.
Noel Knockwood, Native Spiritual leader and Keptin of the Mi'kmaq Grand
Council, will attend in prayer at Citadel Hill in Halifax on the 23rd,
along with other members of the Inter-Faith Council.
Faith groups are encouraged to pursue the theme from the Prayer
Gatherings during their regular ecumenical gatherings, and to
participate in awareness and training sessions available through the
Christian Peacemakers Team and the United Church's Maritime Conference.
-30- For information, please contact:
Noel Knockwood, Mi'kmaq Elder, Mi'kmaq Grand Council: (902) 422-7850
Martha Martin, United Church/Inter Faith Council of Halifax: martha.martin@msvu.ca
Willi Nolan 506-785-4660, willi@web.net
Wade Reppert: 506-384-0843, wreppert@yahoo.com
------------ backgrounder
Background: Inter Faith Prayer Gatherings , 7:00 p.m.
October 23, 2000 Human rights activist Willi Nolan and United Church
minister Wade Reppert have been working to assist in constructive
dialogue between Aboriginal and non-native fishers in the area
surrounding Burnt Church.
Together, they agreed to put a proposal before their various spiritual
leaders to engage in public prayer to ask the Creator-God to help First
Nations and Canadian people to find the best ways to harvest natural
resources.
The Inter-Faith Council of Halifax has graciously extended an invitation
to assist with Prayer Gatherings in their local communities. Noel
Knockwood, Native Spiritual leader and Keptin of the Mi'kmaq Grand
Council, will attend in prayer at Citadel Hill in Halifax on the 23rd,
along with other members of the Inter-Faith Council.
Utilizing public spaces for Prayer Gatherings was thought to be a
practical way to highlight celebrations that bring together Spiritual
people of all faiths in support of the quest for peace and cooperation
with First Nations and Canadian fishers.
First Nations and Non-native fishers are to be celebrated and blessed;
both hold the need to protect and honour the elements close to their
hearts. In dialogue considering their common interests, First Nations
and Canadian fishers can decide the best ways to fish the waters.
Building upon common interests, three areas of common interest were
identifies as themes of the prayers, Conservation and Protection of the
Earth, Fishers Participation in Community Management of Resources and
Current Mediation Efforts. Disagreeing parties should be named in
prayer without judgment or condemnation, seeking only the guidance of
the Creator-God in their efforts to come together on good terms.
Prayers should also be offered for the work of the official mediator and
for the peacemakers and observers who stand in the way of violent
confrontation.
Spiritual leaders of all faith groups are asked to announce the Prayer
Gathering event scheduled for 7:00 p.m. on October 23rd to their
members at Sunday services on the 22nd. Elders, Bishops, Presidents and
other denominational titular heads should have the pre-eminent voice.
Invitations to pray have been sent to First Nations elders and Spiritual
Leaders from Burnt Church and within Mi'kmaq and other First Nations
communities. Members of the Big Cove First Nation have already held
prayer gatherings in support of this work. The invitation has been
accepted by the Maritime Conference of the United Church of Canada.
Faith groups are encouraged to pursue the theme from the Prayer
Gatherings during their regular ecumenical gatherings, and to
participate in awareness and training sessions available through the
Christian Peacemakers Team and the United Church's Maritime Conference.
The group encourages the participation of those who welcome spiritual
influences in their deliberations, such as the Maritime Fishermen's
Union, Common Front (New Brunswick), Coastal Communities Network (Nova
Scotia), Aboriginal Rights Coalition, New Brunswick Environmental
Network and the Conservation Council of New Brunswick.
We anticipate that this work will grow international in scope, engaging
Spiritual leaders from all corners of the Earth in this worthy
undertaking.
---------------- invitation
---------------- "LET US ALL PRAY TOGETHER"
INTER-FAITH PRAYER GATHERING Inter Faith Council of Halifax We invite
Spiritual people of all nations and religions to strengthen our prayers
on October 23, 2000 at 7:00 p.m. Citadel Hill, Halifax On this day, we
will join people across Canada in Prayer to help to guide the way to
sharing natural resources between First Nations and non-native people.
The air, the water and the land must be respected by all people, because
they were given to the people so that we can live. Our people,
Aboriginal and non native, French and English, Christian and
Traditionalist, government and citizen, have been fighting about natural
resources for too long.
Our special prayers at this time are for understanding, cooperation and
peace among the fishers of the Maritimes who have been at war with one
another. We know that many people feel that they are being treated
unfairly. Communities, friendships and families have been afraid, hurt
and torn apart.
In Prayer, we will honour and celebrate the rights of the First Nations
and non-native fishers to protect and defend their and their children's
future well-being. Without judgment or condemnation, we will pray that
they can set aside their anger and come together on good terms. We pray
that our communities and families will live in peace and harmony.
We ask all those who pray to the Creator-God to join us in their
communities on October 7th at 7:00 p.m. (Atlantic time), and add
strength to our prayers.
"All prayers are heard by the same God."
Sponsored by the Inter Faith Council of Halifax and the United Church of
Canada For information, please contact:
Noel Knockwood, Mi'kmaq Elder, Mi'kmaq Grand Council: (902) 422-7850
Martha Martin, United Church/Inter Faith Council of Halifax:
martha.martin@msvu.ca Willi Nolan 506-785-4660, willi@web.net - Wade
Reppert: 506-384-0843, wreppert@yahoo.com
"The old people said to live beautifully with prayers and song. Some died for beauty too."
"How do we do that, Uncle Ralph, live for beauty?"
"It's simple, Pumpkin Flower," he said. "Believe!"