KAIROS
KAIROS: Canadian Ecumenical Justice Initiatives is a faith-based organization that works for social change in Canada and around the world. The Presbyterian Church in Canada is a member of Kairos.
The word means "time" in the sense of the opportune time, the right time, or the fullness of time.
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KAIROS Guelph met in Knox Church parlour on April 25.In KAIROS thirteen Canadian churches,including The Presbyterian Church in Canada, work together to promote social justice- that is, fairness for all peoples.
Since I have been a member, annual campaigns have focussed on encouraging Canada to sign The United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP).
After Canada signed this Declaration, KAIROS took actions to require Canada to implement UNDRIP in Canada. This year the message the people of KAIROS are
proclaiming is: Truth, Reconciliation and Equity: They Matter to Us!
KAIROS Guelph promotes and attends events to educate ourselves about social justice issues. We heard women from Grassy Narrows Reserve speak about their hopes
for the lives of their grandchildren; we heard Marty Molengraff and members of Duff's Prespyterian Church tell about how they are becoming engaged with the
people of a northern reserve; we participated in a weekend seminar on Spirituality and Native Wisdom.
We care about all Creation- the water, the air, the earth matter to us.
If you have a heart for social justice work, come on out!
Next meeting at Knox May 30th @7:30.
We will be gathering before the meeting at the canoe near RiverRun for a picture with our latest poster.. Call Joy Killen for details. 519 821 1105
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Dear KAIROS Guelph friends,
Some thoughts and photos from last Thursday's meeting with Guelph MP Frank Valeriote...
Frank Valeriote, our hard working and committed MP, is well named, because I found him to be extremely 'frank' about every topic discussed at the meeting at his office last Thursday the 23rd. He is fully engaged in all the issues that affect his constituents and the wider Canadian public and speaks candidly and passionately about helping make situations better. This man is definitely "part of the solution and not part of the problem" in Canadian society. I have a feeling all of you already know this about Frank.
Barbara, Joy and Elizabeth presented excellent papers on First Nations, Climate Change and Mining. And the tea served was delicious - after we politely declined the bottled water offered by the young lady from the office. The presentations were a demonstration of what can be achieved with focused action. I was very honoured to be there for this meeting.
Before joining us, Frank was interviewed in his office by CBC, Global, and CTV about the elections robo-call reports. During our meeting he spoke of how some days he feels like "Sisyphus" trying to constantly counter the present government's drive for pushing through legislation with questionable merit to Canadians. Perhaps he will feel some hope with the news that continues to unfold this week regarding this issue, as it becomes a full blown government scandal.
Peace and blessings, Stephen.
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KAIROS Guelph met January 25th in Knox Parlour. [Thank you, Knox!]
The focus this year is on social justice for aboriginal people around the world.
On the morning of Saturday, January 21 Cutten Fields conference room was jam-packed with people, including most of the KAIROS members, for a presentation hosted by Frank Valeriote and organized by the Rotary Club
for the purpose of informing Guelphites about the dire problems facing native peoples, why this is so and what we can do to make sure all Canadians are treated justly. We learned that The Indian Act is no longer helpful to indigenous people but rather hinders them from becoming who they want to be because of an out-dated colonial attitude.
To progress, there need to be changes to or abolition of the Indian Act in order to allow grass-roots responsibility and government to flourish.
As a follow-up, KAIROS will meet later this month with our Member of Parliament to discuss aboriginal issues, as well as climate change and mining.
KAIROS Guelph will meet February 22 at 7:35 in the parlour.
All people with a heart for social justice are welcome!
KAIROS Guelph 2010/11 Summary of Activities by Elizabeth Snell
The Guelph Committee developed their program around the The Land, Our Life theme, reviewing material from the regional conference. Several members’ churches participated in the drum beating for Indigenous Rights and action on climate change on December 5. Some pews were particularly resonant. The public event KAIROS Guelph co-hosted to hear the voices from Grassy Narrows was packed and the presentations moving. The committee took part in a Banner Bee that generated four banners from Guelph for the banner train.
KAIROS Guelph was represented at a community roundtable discussion on Water and gave a presentation at a panel discussion on food security hosted by Frank Valeriote, MP.
Fall plans include sponsoring a public meeting where speakers will discuss the experience of a local church partnership with Webiquie First Nation, the effects of climate change on native life and culture, and insights indigenous wisdom can offer on redirecting society in a sustainable direction. We also plan our 20th annual MP visit.
As a follow-up to the "Voices from Grassy Narrows" presentation, you might be interested in this hopeful article which appeared in the Globe and Mail.
Ontario first nation declares victory in 11-year logging dispute
Toronto - The Canadian Press
Last updated Wednesday, Aug. 17, 2011 3:43PM EDT
A northwestern Ontario aboriginal community is declaring victory in its 11-year court battle to stop logging on traditional lands — a ruling their lawyer says could have legal implications for similar disputes across Canada.
The Grassy Narrows First Nation challenged the province's right to permit industrial logging on its traditional lands, saying it infringed on their hunting and trapping rights under a treaty they signed in 1873.
The territory cited in the court case — called the Keewatin Lands — is about 51,000 square kilometres. Ontario Superior Court Justice Mary-Anne Sanderson ruled Tuesday that the province doesn't have the power to interfere with the First Nation's treaty rights, saying it's an area of federal jurisdiction.
The judge's ruling also condemned the federal government for failing to protect aboriginal rights under Treaty 3, said Grassy Narrows First Nation Chief Simon Fobister.
“Eleven years is a long time, of course, especially in this particular court battle,” he said Wednesday at the Ontario legislature.
“But it was well worth the wait and we're very happy with the decision.”
Robert Janes, a lawyer for the First Nation, said the judge noted in her 300-page ruling that the federal government promised to defend their rights, but hasn't done so for many years.
The ruling will likely have legal implications for similar disputes in Ontario — such as the massive Ring of Fire chromite deposit in the north — and in other parts of the country, he said. It may even change government policy.
“Madam Justice Sanderson was very clear that each treaty has its own history, has to be dealt with on its own, but there's clear implications for the other treaties and the way they're to be interpreted,” he said.
Ms. Sanderson also made it clear that the federal government has a duty to protect the rights of aboriginal people, Mr. Janes said.
“That is a very important decision,” he said. “That will have implications across the country.”
The Ontario government wouldn't immediately say whether it plans to appeal the ruling, but Mr. Janes said it likely will.
Former chief and elder Bill Fobister Sr. said he hopes the ruling marks a new beginning where aboriginal groups are consulted by the government about development on their traditional territory.
“Today is a turning point for the First Nations and the federal government to start to work together, the way it was meant to be at the time of the treaty,” he said. “And I'm really thankful for that.”
Joseph Fobister, one of three trappers who launched the case in 2000, said his people's way of life has been threatened by clearcutting that has contaminated their water and destroyed their lands.
But he wouldn't say if the First Nation will end a blockade it set up in 2002 to stop logging trucks, saying it's up to the community to decide.
In 2008, AbitibiBowater pulled out of the Whiskey Jack Forest north of Kenora, saying it couldn't wait four more years for the province and the First Nation to agree on logging practices.
The First Nation said it was concerned logging in their territory would resume when Ontario approved a plan in 2009 that identified 27 areas to be clearcut in the Whiskey Jack Forest — 17 of which were more than 260 hectares.
About 800 people live at the Grassy Narrows, or Asubpeeschoseewagong, an Ojibwa community located about 80 kilometres north of Kenora.
The community says residential schools, hydro damming, relocation and mercury contamination of its river system in the 1960s by a paper mill upstream plunged it into extreme poverty and it never recovered.
Many of its residents rely on the forest for hunting, trapping, fishing and gathering berries and plant medicines, they say.
On the morning of Saturday, January 21 Cutten Fields conference room was jam-packed with people, including most of the KAIROS members, for a presentation hosted by Frank Valeriote and organized by the Rotary Club
for the purpose of informing Guelphites about the dire problems facing native peoples, why this is so and what we can do to make sure all Canadians are treated justly. We learned that The Indian Act is no longer helpful to indigenous people but rather hinders them from becoming who they want to be because of an out-dated colonial attitude.
To progress, there need to be changes to or abolition of the Indian Act in order to allow grass-roots responsibility and government to flourish.
As a follow-up, KAIROS will meet later this month with our Member of Parliament to discuss aboriginal issues, as well as climate change and mining.
KAIROS Guelph will meet February 22 at 7:35 in the parlour.
All people with a heart for social justice are welcome!
--------------------------------------------------
KAIROS Guelph 2010/11 Summary of Activities by Elizabeth Snell
The Guelph Committee developed their program around the The Land, Our Life theme, reviewing material from the regional conference. Several members’ churches participated in the drum beating for Indigenous Rights and action on climate change on December 5. Some pews were particularly resonant. The public event KAIROS Guelph co-hosted to hear the voices from Grassy Narrows was packed and the presentations moving. The committee took part in a Banner Bee that generated four banners from Guelph for the banner train.
KAIROS Guelph was represented at a community roundtable discussion on Water and gave a presentation at a panel discussion on food security hosted by Frank Valeriote, MP.
Fall plans include sponsoring a public meeting where speakers will discuss the experience of a local church partnership with Webiquie First Nation, the effects of climate change on native life and culture, and insights indigenous wisdom can offer on redirecting society in a sustainable direction. We also plan our 20th annual MP visit.
As a follow-up to the "Voices from Grassy Narrows" presentation, you might be interested in this hopeful article which appeared in the Globe and Mail.
Ontario first nation declares victory in 11-year logging dispute
Toronto - The Canadian Press
Last updated Wednesday, Aug. 17, 2011 3:43PM EDT
A northwestern Ontario aboriginal community is declaring victory in its 11-year court battle to stop logging on traditional lands — a ruling their lawyer says could have legal implications for similar disputes across Canada.
The Grassy Narrows First Nation challenged the province's right to permit industrial logging on its traditional lands, saying it infringed on their hunting and trapping rights under a treaty they signed in 1873.
The territory cited in the court case — called the Keewatin Lands — is about 51,000 square kilometres. Ontario Superior Court Justice Mary-Anne Sanderson ruled Tuesday that the province doesn't have the power to interfere with the First Nation's treaty rights, saying it's an area of federal jurisdiction.
The judge's ruling also condemned the federal government for failing to protect aboriginal rights under Treaty 3, said Grassy Narrows First Nation Chief Simon Fobister.
“Eleven years is a long time, of course, especially in this particular court battle,” he said Wednesday at the Ontario legislature.
“But it was well worth the wait and we're very happy with the decision.”
Robert Janes, a lawyer for the First Nation, said the judge noted in her 300-page ruling that the federal government promised to defend their rights, but hasn't done so for many years.
The ruling will likely have legal implications for similar disputes in Ontario — such as the massive Ring of Fire chromite deposit in the north — and in other parts of the country, he said. It may even change government policy.
“Madam Justice Sanderson was very clear that each treaty has its own history, has to be dealt with on its own, but there's clear implications for the other treaties and the way they're to be interpreted,” he said.
Ms. Sanderson also made it clear that the federal government has a duty to protect the rights of aboriginal people, Mr. Janes said.
“That is a very important decision,” he said. “That will have implications across the country.”
The Ontario government wouldn't immediately say whether it plans to appeal the ruling, but Mr. Janes said it likely will.
Former chief and elder Bill Fobister Sr. said he hopes the ruling marks a new beginning where aboriginal groups are consulted by the government about development on their traditional territory.
“Today is a turning point for the First Nations and the federal government to start to work together, the way it was meant to be at the time of the treaty,” he said. “And I'm really thankful for that.”
Joseph Fobister, one of three trappers who launched the case in 2000, said his people's way of life has been threatened by clearcutting that has contaminated their water and destroyed their lands.
But he wouldn't say if the First Nation will end a blockade it set up in 2002 to stop logging trucks, saying it's up to the community to decide.
In 2008, AbitibiBowater pulled out of the Whiskey Jack Forest north of Kenora, saying it couldn't wait four more years for the province and the First Nation to agree on logging practices.
The First Nation said it was concerned logging in their territory would resume when Ontario approved a plan in 2009 that identified 27 areas to be clearcut in the Whiskey Jack Forest — 17 of which were more than 260 hectares.
About 800 people live at the Grassy Narrows, or Asubpeeschoseewagong, an Ojibwa community located about 80 kilometres north of Kenora.
The community says residential schools, hydro damming, relocation and mercury contamination of its river system in the 1960s by a paper mill upstream plunged it into extreme poverty and it never recovered.
Many of its residents rely on the forest for hunting, trapping, fishing and gathering berries and plant medicines, they say.