What's Going On? A Community of Practice
Hearts Exchanged is a learning and action journey designed to equip Reformed Christians to go beyond the headlines into deep work that wrestles with how we can embrace God’s call to reconciliation with Indigenous neighbours. It’s an educational journey developed by the Indigenous Ministry of the CRC in Canada that includes personal reading/learning/reflection and then also monthly gatherings with a group to process the learning and dig deeper. At its center is the desire to engage our “hearts” for its only through our hearts being moved and changed that we can see the damage of our current relationships with Indigenous Peoples and wonder how we could do better.
About 13 of us from Mountainview have completed this course and have been moved by the stories of Indigenous people who have suffered for generations; we have wrestled with the history of colonization; we have wondered how to change the erroneous “story” that so many of us believe about Indigenous people. We have learned about the beauty of Indigenous Culture and Peoples, their deep connection with the land, their love of Creator, and their desire for reconciliation with settlers.
Hearts Exchanged is intended to result in a ripple effect: participants become catalysts, engaging their local churches in further dialogue and action, resulting in Canadian CRC churches that are communities of reconciliation and belonging.
With this “ripple effect” in mind, we’ve been asked to take part in a “Community of Practice” with a few other churches (Jubilee and Meadowlands) to continue our learning and action plan toward reconciliation. This grant project gives us $1000 with which we can plan events or attend events that will continue our journey in our Indigenous and settler reconciliation. Right now, Jubilee is hosting a Film Festival featuring Indigenous writers, actors, and stories. There are “on-the-land-learning” events led by Indigenous Christians happening in Ontario that we can access as well. We will probably have a book study in the fall (stay tuned for details). We are very excited to be hosting another Blanket Exercise as part of this “Community of Practice.”
A blanket exercise is a visual/physical way to understand the history of Indigenous Peoples. This method is one of the very best ways to make real the complex history between Indigenous Peoples and settlers and it is used throughout North America in schools, churches, and meetings.
Please visit the Indigenous Ministry page for a brief description and video that provide helpful details about blanket exercises. Also, please consider attending and participating with an open heart, and a posture of humility and listening.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qXicVUhb5Qg
The Blanket Exercise will be hosted at Mountainview on Sunday evening, May 24 @ 7 – 8:30 PM will be co-facilitated by Adrian Jacobs and Cindy Stover. We will begin with a potluck at 6 PM. More details to come.
Adrian Jacobs is Ganosono, Turtle Clan, Cayuga Nation, Six Nations Haudenosaunee Confederacy, Grand River Country in Southern Ontario, Turtle Island. He is a single father of five and grandfather of four. An artist, writer, indigenous advocate, entrepreneur, and public speaker he founded an Indigenous church on his home reserve. Currently he is Senior Leader for Indigenous Justice and Reconciliation for the Christian Reformed Church.
Cindy Stover serves as the Canadian Justice Mobilizer for the Christian Reformed Church. In this role, she supports Canadian churches and communities through learning experiences, relationship building, and resource development with a concentration on advocacy, Indigenous justice, climate care, and refugee justice.
Ruth Ann
- on behalf of our Hearts Exchanged participants