Celebrating Indigenous People's Day, October 11

The Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts and The Episcopal Church have several opportunities for online gatherings offered for Indigenous People's Day, Oct. 11

An online service for the diocesan community is being organized for Indigenous Peoples' Day on Monday, Oct. 11 at 4 p.m. via Zoom. (Click here to join.) All are welcome.

The Oct. 11 diocesan gathering will be followed by an online screening of two films, "Dawnland" and "Dear Georgina," with live Q&A with the filmmakers, from 7 to 9 p.m., presented in honor of Indigenous Peoples' Day and co-sponsored by the Peabody Essex Museum, Hopelink and the Upstander Project. Register and find more information here. There is no cost to participate; a donation in support of the Upstander Project has been made by the diocesan Office for Immigration and Multicultural Ministries and the Cathedral Church of St. Paul in Boston.

Questions may be directed to the Rev. Canon Dr. Jean Baptiste Ntagengwa, Canon for Immigration and Multicultural Ministries ([email protected]).

In 2020, the Province I Indigenous Peoples Justice Network began meeting. Following a framework of "pray, learn, act and advocate," participants from the seven dioceses of New England meet monthly by Zoom; anyone may participate. A network is also starting up in the Diocese of Massachusetts, with a first meeting tentatively set for Oct. 20 at 5 p.m. Contact Martha Gardner, Missioner for Networking and Formation ([email protected]), for information about these networks and to join.

On Monday, Oct. 11, 5-6:30 p.m., The Episcopal Church is presenting an online panel discussion, "Native Voices: A Response to The Episcopal Church's History with Indian Boarding Schools," with a moderated Q&A to follow. The livestream webinar will be recorded and posted on the Indigenous Ministries Facebook page for later viewing. Find event details here.

A "Litany for Indigenous Peoples' Day," written by Bishop Carol J. Gallagher, has been shared for use by congregations on Sunday, Oct. 10 (full text below):

Creator, you made us all in your beautiful diversity
Planting us in all four corners of your sacred earth
And you call us together now on the four winds
Inviting us to be renewed and healed by your spirit.
Creator, author of all goodness, water us with your tears and bind us all as one.

Your people have been scattered, abused and broken
Yet always you sang to us by the light of sister moon
You spoke to us through the radiance of brother sun
Through the very ground you remind us we are loved.
Creator, source of compassion, you bear our pain and hear our silent screams.

They took our land and then they took our little ones
You heard our moaning and our cries in the night
Sending comfort and vision for a new generation of hope
To the seventh generation you have promised healing.
Creator, you know our hearts, help us to pray as our ancestors did.

You placed us on lush, green and fertile lands
Draped with golden mountains and deep rivers
You taught us how to care for every living thing
But strangers came and did not see your beauty.
Creator, you bring sight to the blind, help our people to see again.

Loving Creator, use our wounds for the healing of our circle
Use our voices so the songs of the silenced are heard again
Use the threads of our anger and shame for the mending of this hoop
Use our homes and our ancient lands as places of sacred promise.
Creator, make us whole again, so our mother is renewed for all. Amen.

--The Rt. Rev. Dr. Carol J. Gallagher