June 11th marks the 1 year anniversary of the apology issues for the abuse of aboriginal children

[Cora'Sahn]

June 21, 2009 is National Aboriginal Day in Canada.

Litany for a National Aboriginal Day
One: Creator, in you we live and move and have our being!

All: You made the world and everything in it. You are Lord of Heaven and Earth. You
give all people life and breath and everything else.

One: From one person you made every nation of people that they should inhabit the
whole earth.

All: You determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live.

One: From the Carrier First Nation in British Columbia to the Mi’kmaq in the Maritimes,

All: From the Lubicon Cree in Alberta to the Chippewas of Sarnia,

One: From the Mohawks of the Bay of Quinte to the Birdtail Sioux First Nation of
Manitoba,

All: From the Burnt Church Band in New Brunswick to the Inuit of the Eastern Arctic.

One: You did this, God, so that people in every place and every time would seek after you and find you because you are not far from each one of us.

All: For the First Peoples of Canada, each nation rich in culture and language and
heritage, we thank you.

One: Each nation of people, a celebration of your creative Love and shared Life.

All: You sent the costly gospel of the Kingdom through French and English. It was good and powerful. Many who heard of the Creator’s Sacrifice to find them were saved.

One: But the good seed of the gospel was mixed with a will to rule, to gain territory, and to accumulate wealth. And much damage was done.

All: Hectares of land, kilometers of water, and generations of Aboriginal Peoples have been scarred by greed and broken promises.

One: As God’s people, we know the potency of confession and forgiveness to heal.

All: As God’s people, we know the peace of covenant faithfulness.

One: By Grace, our nation’s government has said our actions and attitudes were wrong. We are sorry. Please forgive us. Truly, justice and righteousness are signs of his Kingdom among us.

All: May your Kingdom come here!

One: As truth is spoken in days to come, as indignities still buried are uncovered, as
voices long silenced, are heard again,

All: May your Kingdom come here!

One: As the identity and dignity of Aboriginal Peoples are restored, as relationships are reconciled, as we learn to walk together in new ways,

All: May your Kingdom come here!

One: As taught by the grace of the First Nations, may ownership give way to
stewardship, may pride give way to gratitude, may self-sufficiency give way to
community.

All: May your Kingdom come here!

One: As the gospel of the Kingdom reaches the First Peoples of Canada, soften hearts made hard by hatred, open eyes blinded by deep hurt.

All: May your Kingdom come here!

One: We hold on to the Creator’s promise that the desert and parched land will be glad when people see the glory of God!

All: Until that day, we will strengthen the feeble hands, and steady the knees that give way.

One: We will say to those with fearful hearts, “Be Strong, do not be afraid; your God will come.”

All: “He will come and save you.”

One: The whole creation waits and groans for this. The Creator’s Spirit intercedes for
this. The Creator’s Son, Jesus, lives for this.

All: In this Nation of nations, He alone will have dominion and together we will declare his praise from sea to sea to sea!

And despite such horrific events, they maintain their faith. I think that's amazing. Is it hope? Is it insanity? Such horrible acts committed by people who claimed to represent God, and their litany "He alone will have dominion..." and there is no reclaiming of the traditions and culture they were raped of. I just don't get it.