National Indigenous Peoples Day

June 21 is National Indigenous Peoples Day in Canada.

We live on the unceded traditional and ancestral territories of the Stó:lō people, specifically the Semá:th (Sumas) and Máthxwi (Matsqui) Nations. This day invites us to pause, listen, and learn.

As I began to look more intentionally into Indigenous history and culture, I was struck by how much their values resonate with our own Christian values. There is a deep sense of the sacred that connects all living things—those who have gone before us, those who are living now, all creatures, and the land itself. Based on this belief, they honour both past and future generations, care for what has been entrusted to them, and practice generosity toward neighbours and strangers alike. These values are often expressed through their stories, arts, and crafts, which reflect their way of life.

Yet, as we look around today, we may notice how easily such wisdom— Indigenous or Christian—can be pushed to the margins. It becomes something we admire, but then put aside too easily. We find ourselves too busy to pause and notice the small wonders of creation, too distracted to notice the changing seasons, and too focused on our own comfort to respond to those who are hurt or forgotten.

In a culture shaped by busyness and consumption, ways of living rooted in attentiveness, gratitude, and relationship can seem insignificant or merely ideal. But Scripture reminds us that God spoke to Elijah not in the strong wind, the earthquake, or the fire, but in a gentle whisper. Often, what is most essential and previous is not loud or forceful, but quietly invites our attention and response.

So on this National Indigenous Peoples Day, we are invited not only to acknowledge and honour Indigenous peoples through differences, but also to remind of common ground and purpose we share. As we truly honour and respect their wisdom and efforts, we can make stronger connections among ourselves, and we may stand with one another and walk together on the path toward true reconciliation.

Are we attentive to the sacredness of creation? Do we honour those who came before us and consider those who will come after? Are we living our faith as something active and shaping, rather than occasional or convenient?

Fr. James