From left: Steve Ward, Rev. Chris Warne, John Maddaus, Rev. Ted Kanellakis, Sister Gobnait, Mary Beth DiMarco, Richard Farnsworth, Rev. Annette Joseph, Rev. Myrna Koonce, Patricia Welton, and Elizabeth Maddaus.
On Saturday, Aug. 8 the Council on Indigenous Relations met with Rev. Isaiah “Shaneequa” Brokenleg, The Episcopal Church’s interim missioner for the Office of Indigenous Relations, to do some visioning for the future of our work. Rev. Brokenleg used the Technology of Participation (ToP) model, developed by the Toronto-based Institute of Cultural Affairs, to assist us in this process. Employed by many organizations worldwide for strategic planning, it uses a series of steps in order to build consensus and narrow down broad goals into achievable projects.
Guided by Rev. Brokenleg, the ToP process helped us to establish a focus on six categories (not in order of importance):
- Building allies with Wabanaki through parish engagement
- Cultural inclusivity through spiritual engagement
- Federal, state, and local policy advocacy for Wabanaki sovereignty
- Creating space for spirit, healing and trust
- Activating the entire diocese for transformational justice with all Indigenous neighbors
- Educational initiatives for understanding and enrichment.
Our next step is to take a small goal and make it actionable. We were so pleased with our day and the process we went through. It really brought us together to explore what is on our hearts and minds.
We were also thankful for just having time together and not meeting online. This is something we would like to foster more actively even though we all come from different areas of the state. Everyone needs more connection these days and even our goals project this need for connectedness with one another and our Wabanaki neighbors.
If you’d like to learn more, please consider joining us for CIR meetings on the second Monday of each month.
If this has inspired you to find places of engagement and connection here are some upcoming events.
Wednesday, Sept. 2, 6 p.m. The Watertown Treaty of 1776: A Wabanaki Perspective, Maliseet Ambassador Osihkiyol (Zeke) Crofton-Macdonald, Harbor Theater; 185 Townsend Ave, Boothbay Harbor. Learn more here.
Sept. 6-7, Metaksonekiyak Community Days, Littleton. Learn more here.
Sept. 10-13, Doctrine of Discovery Learning Weekend, the Cathedral of St. Luke, Portland and online. Learn more here.
Sept. 12–13, Motahkomikuk Community Days-Passamaquoddy at Peskotomuhkati Motahkomikuk (Indian Township) in Maine. Learn more here.
Monday, Oct. 12, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Indigenous Peoples’ Day celebration hosted by the Wabanaki Alliance at Capitol Park, Augusta. The free public event features traditional drumming, dancing, discussions on tribal sovereignty, and panels on Wabanaki youth in policy. Learn more here.