Nov. 1 Drive from Chisasibi to Wemindji
7 pm service at St. John's, Wemindji, followed by open parish meeting
-service to be led by Chisasibi Lay Readers, who will be travelling with
me on this occasion
Nov. 2 evening -"Prayer and Praise" at Wemindji
Nov. 3 Drive from Wemindji to Chisasibi
-wedding rehearsal in Chisasibi
Nov. 4 Officiate at wedding in Chisasibi
-drive from Chisasibi to Waskaganish
Nov. 4-16 At home in Waskaganish
Nov. 5 8 pm -baptism preparation at Waskaganish
Nov. 6 3 pm -Baptism & Communion at St. Peter's, Waskaganish
Nov. 13 3 pm -Communion at St. Peter's, Waskaganish
Nov. 16 Fly Waskaganish to Moosonee
7 pm Biblical Survey 1 - Unit 1 At Church of the Apostles, Moosonee
Nov. 17 Fly to Kashechewan
4:00 pm -Biblical Survey 2 -Unit 17
7:30 pm -Communion(in English) Preacher-Rod BrantFrancis
Nov. 18 7:00 pm -Biblical Survey 2 - Unit 20
Nov. 19 1:00 pm -Biblical Survey 2 - Unit 25
Nov. 20 10:00 am Baptism & Communion(in Cree) Preacher-Cliff
Afternoon -fly Kashechewan to Moosonee
6:00 pm -Baptism & Communion at Church of the Apostles,
followed by repeat of Confirmation class #1
The above, with relation to Kashechewan, is the plan. But if people are not yet returned to the community by that time, it is not likely that such will actually be the schedule.
Nov. 21 7:00 pm -Confirmation class #3
Nov. 22 Travel from Moosonee to Moose Factory(probably by helicopter)
evening -open "Select Vestry" meeting at St. Thomas, Moose Factory
Nov. 23 Travel Moose Factory to Moosonee to Waskaganish
Nov. 23-25 At home in Waskaganish
Nov. 25 Drive Waskaganish to Mistissini
Nov. 26 Parish Development workshop at St. John's, Mistissini
Nov. 27 Morning worship at St. John's, Mistissini
Afternoon -drive Mistissini to Waswanapi
Evening worship at St. Barnabas, Waswanapi
Nov. 28 Workshop/Parish Meeting at Waswanapi
Nov. 29 Drive Waswanapi to Waskaganish
Nov. 29
to Dec. 2 At home in Waskaganish
Wednesday, October 26, 2005
Kashechewan Water Crisis
Kashechewan was my home for about 10 1/2 years, from January 1994 to June 2004. When I was last in the community there was an announcement on the radio that the water was safe only for flushing the toilet. That evening there was an emergency community meeting regarding the water treatment plant. E.Coli had been found in the water system, and has now been traced to the water intake pipe. Now residents are being evacuated, and it is not known how long it will be, before they can return to their community. A number of people have skin rashes, stomach upset and diarrhea, which likely result from the poor water quality.
I recall that when I first moved to Kashechewan, in 1994, most places did not have any running water. I was one of the privileged few. That water came from the old water treatment plant, and it was known that the water was not safe to drink from the tap. In the time of my predecessor, the Rev. Doug Jacques, the Rectory apartment was fitted with a Culligan water treatment system. This purified the tap water, so that it could be used for drinking. (That purification system has not been operable for a number of years.)
When the new water treatment plant was completed(about 1997), we were told that the water was safe to drink. At first, with the new plant, the water was clear, and no longer a dirty brown colour. But then there were frequent times when there was a boil water order on, and the water was once again a muddy brown colour. For the longest time before I moved(2 years? 4 years?) the boil water order was in place.
News reports about the situation speak of the people of Kash as being among the poorest of the province. When moving to Kash in 1994 I was told of a South African priest who had visited the community. He commented to someone that he did not realize that such living conditions as he found there, existed in Canada. He thought they only existed in the third world.
But Kashechewan is part of what some have called the "the fourth world". Called this because not only do many aboriginal people in Canada live in poverty, but it is said that they have also lost their culture and much of their identity as aboriginal people. I would put Kashechewan in the "fourth world", though, for other reasons. The people of Kashechewan have by and large retained their cultural identity. They have not lost their language, though it is true that there are aspects of their culture which are dying. But there is a high rate of attempted suicide in the Canadian aboriginal community. Something of their spirit has been lost. In South Africa, in the dark days of apartheid(which was in the period when the South African priest visited Kash), the black population did not have a high rate of attempted suicide. The rate was actually higher amongst the privileged white minority of the nation at that time!
In spite of the poverty of the community, there is also a certain richness of life. This is seen in the comments of a young woman of Kash who was once on the same plane flight as myself, going out to Timmins. She commented that when she left Kash she greatly missed it, as it was and is her home. Yet at the same time she realized that from a material point of view there is not much there, and there are a host of social problems.
In the midst of the poverty of the community there are some who have an incredibly rich and deep faith in Christ. They are sustained by that faith, and face the difficulties of life with a firm assurance that Christ walks with them, and that they can entrust all to Him.
I recall that when I first moved to Kashechewan, in 1994, most places did not have any running water. I was one of the privileged few. That water came from the old water treatment plant, and it was known that the water was not safe to drink from the tap. In the time of my predecessor, the Rev. Doug Jacques, the Rectory apartment was fitted with a Culligan water treatment system. This purified the tap water, so that it could be used for drinking. (That purification system has not been operable for a number of years.)
When the new water treatment plant was completed(about 1997), we were told that the water was safe to drink. At first, with the new plant, the water was clear, and no longer a dirty brown colour. But then there were frequent times when there was a boil water order on, and the water was once again a muddy brown colour. For the longest time before I moved(2 years? 4 years?) the boil water order was in place.
News reports about the situation speak of the people of Kash as being among the poorest of the province. When moving to Kash in 1994 I was told of a South African priest who had visited the community. He commented to someone that he did not realize that such living conditions as he found there, existed in Canada. He thought they only existed in the third world.
But Kashechewan is part of what some have called the "the fourth world". Called this because not only do many aboriginal people in Canada live in poverty, but it is said that they have also lost their culture and much of their identity as aboriginal people. I would put Kashechewan in the "fourth world", though, for other reasons. The people of Kashechewan have by and large retained their cultural identity. They have not lost their language, though it is true that there are aspects of their culture which are dying. But there is a high rate of attempted suicide in the Canadian aboriginal community. Something of their spirit has been lost. In South Africa, in the dark days of apartheid(which was in the period when the South African priest visited Kash), the black population did not have a high rate of attempted suicide. The rate was actually higher amongst the privileged white minority of the nation at that time!
In spite of the poverty of the community, there is also a certain richness of life. This is seen in the comments of a young woman of Kash who was once on the same plane flight as myself, going out to Timmins. She commented that when she left Kash she greatly missed it, as it was and is her home. Yet at the same time she realized that from a material point of view there is not much there, and there are a host of social problems.
In the midst of the poverty of the community there are some who have an incredibly rich and deep faith in Christ. They are sustained by that faith, and face the difficulties of life with a firm assurance that Christ walks with them, and that they can entrust all to Him.
Monday, October 03, 2005
October schedule
( map of Diocese of Moosonee)
Oct. 1-3 Moosonee
fly Moosonee to Waskaganish morning of Oct.3
Oct. 3-7 Waskaganish
Oct. 5 8:00 pm -Baptism Preparation
Oct. 7 drive Waskaganish to Val D'Or
Oct. 7-9 Val D'Or - attending wedding of Tim Whiskeychan & Bertha Dixon
Oct. 9 drive Val D'Or to Waskaganish
3 pm Baptism & Communion at St. Peter's Church
Oct. 12 fly Waskaganish to Moosonee
7 pm Baptism Preparation at Church of the Apostles
Oct. 13 fly Moosonee to Kashechewan
At St. Paul's, Kashechewan
Oct. 13 4 pm Biblical Survey course - Unit 24
7:30 pm Holy Eucharist(in English)
(celebrant-Cliff; preacher-Rod BrantFrancis)
Oct. 14 7:00 pm Biblical Survey course - Unit 25
Oct. 15 Biblical Survey course - sessions arranged for students who missed
previous classes
Oct. 16 10 am Baptism & Communion(in Cree)
(celebrant & preacher -Cliff)
afternoon - fly to Moosonee
At Church of the Apostles, Moosonee
Oct. 16 6 pm Baptism & Communion,
followed by Confirmation class #2
Oct. 17 morning flight Moosonee to Waskaganish
Oct. 18 drive Waskaganish to Timmins
Oct. 19-21 Diocesan Executive Council, in Timmins
Oct. 21 evening - drive to Amos
Oct. 22 drive Amos to Waskaganish
Oct. 22-28 in Waskaganish
Oct. 23 3 pm -Communion at St. Peter's Church
Oct. 28 10 am Wedding of Wilfred Hester & Michelle Stephen,
at Waskaganish Cree Pentecostal Church
(officiant & preacher - Cliff)
drive to Chisasibi
At St. Philip's, Chisasibi
Oct. 28 7 pm Baptismal preparation
Oct. 29 11 am Communion at Chisasibi Hospital
Oct. 30 10:30 am Baptism & Communion(Cree)
(celebrant - Cliff, preacher -one of Chisasibi Lay Readers/Catchechists)
7:00 pm Communion(English)
(celebrant & preacher - Cliff)
Oct. 31 1:00 pm - meet with Chisasibi Lay Readers/Catechists
( map of Diocese of Moosonee)
Oct. 1-3 Moosonee
fly Moosonee to Waskaganish morning of Oct.3
Oct. 3-7 Waskaganish
Oct. 5 8:00 pm -Baptism Preparation
Oct. 7 drive Waskaganish to Val D'Or
Oct. 7-9 Val D'Or - attending wedding of Tim Whiskeychan & Bertha Dixon
Oct. 9 drive Val D'Or to Waskaganish
3 pm Baptism & Communion at St. Peter's Church
Oct. 12 fly Waskaganish to Moosonee
7 pm Baptism Preparation at Church of the Apostles
Oct. 13 fly Moosonee to Kashechewan
At St. Paul's, Kashechewan
Oct. 13 4 pm Biblical Survey course - Unit 24
7:30 pm Holy Eucharist(in English)
(celebrant-Cliff; preacher-Rod BrantFrancis)
Oct. 14 7:00 pm Biblical Survey course - Unit 25
Oct. 15 Biblical Survey course - sessions arranged for students who missed
previous classes
Oct. 16 10 am Baptism & Communion(in Cree)
(celebrant & preacher -Cliff)
afternoon - fly to Moosonee
At Church of the Apostles, Moosonee
Oct. 16 6 pm Baptism & Communion,
followed by Confirmation class #2
Oct. 17 morning flight Moosonee to Waskaganish
Oct. 18 drive Waskaganish to Timmins
Oct. 19-21 Diocesan Executive Council, in Timmins
Oct. 21 evening - drive to Amos
Oct. 22 drive Amos to Waskaganish
Oct. 22-28 in Waskaganish
Oct. 23 3 pm -Communion at St. Peter's Church
Oct. 28 10 am Wedding of Wilfred Hester & Michelle Stephen,
at Waskaganish Cree Pentecostal Church
(officiant & preacher - Cliff)
drive to Chisasibi
At St. Philip's, Chisasibi
Oct. 28 7 pm Baptismal preparation
Oct. 29 11 am Communion at Chisasibi Hospital
Oct. 30 10:30 am Baptism & Communion(Cree)
(celebrant - Cliff, preacher -one of Chisasibi Lay Readers/Catchechists)
7:00 pm Communion(English)
(celebrant & preacher - Cliff)
Oct. 31 1:00 pm - meet with Chisasibi Lay Readers/Catechists
Thursday, September 29, 2005
Nishtum ohtu kah weetumaan(First posting)
I am beginning this blog today for a number of reasons:
-to help friends keep track of me
-to provide news to interested persons about my activities
-to reflect on what I experience in the light of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, in a way that others may access, in the hope that these reflections will be of help to others in their walk with Christ, and in the hope that those who do not walk with the Lord Jesus may be helped towards such a walk
-to give honour and glory to Jesus Christ, my Lord and Saviour
DCIP meeting -Friday, Sept. 30, Sat., Oct.1
Tomorrow afternoon(Friday) I will be flying to Moosonee, for a meeting of DCIP(Diocesan Council of Indigenous People). A part of my position as the Mahmow Program Coordinator is that I am the Diocesan staff support person for DCIP. DCIP also serves as a Board for the Mahmow Program. DCIP is composed of at least one member from each of the Cree parishes of the Diocese, and meets twice a year. This is the first meeting since the 2005 Diocesan Synod(in this Diocese the Synod meets every three years).
Some of the agenda items: structure of DCIP for this new triennium, selection of a DCIP facilitator, review of 2005 Diocesan Healing Gathering, 2006 Diocesan Healing Gathering, 2006 James Bay Great Chapter(combine with Healing Gathering?), issues arising from 2005 Sacred Circle, Mahmow Program update, Diocesan financial priorities, Eeyou Diocese progress
Natalie Gill, Diocesan Youth Coordinator, is a partner for the meeting
The DCIP meetings are open to any members of the Cree parishes to attend. The travel costs for designated DCIP members only are provided for in the Diocesan Budget. Others are welcome to attend, but their travel costs will not be provided by the Diocese. However, the hosting parish will endeavour to provide meals and accommodation for all who come from beyond Moosonee/Moose Factory.
The meeting will be held at the Church of the Apostles, Moosonee. It begins on Friday at 7 pm. Then there will be meeting sessions throughout Saturday.
Delegates expected for the meeting: Charles Bobbish(Chisasibi -Diocesan ACIP rep("Anglican Council of Indigenous Peoples" - a national Anglican Church body of indigenous peoples), Christopher Napash(Chisasibi), Janie Pachanos(Chisasibi), Mary Georgekish(Wemindji), Donald Gilpin(Eastmain), George & Gladys Matoush(both of Mistissini -Gladys is also representing Waskaganish, where she was raised and continues to spend a significant amount of time), Ronnie Otter(Waswanapi), Caroline Chum(Moose Factory), Grace Delaney(Moose Factory -alternate Diocesan ACIP rep), Norm Wesley(Moose Factory), Philemon Wesley(Kashechewan), Edna Sutherland(Constance Lake), Evelyn Pewenish(Constance Lake), & various members of Moosonee parish(Katie Normand, Moosonee's designated DCIP rep is away, however)
Church of the Apostles, Moosonee -Sun., Oct. 2
At 11 am I will be preaching and celebrating Eucharist. At 6 pm I will be leading a special service of healing. (The Church of the Apostles is a parish which has no incumbent. I am the priest-in-charge of the parish, and make monthly visits. The regular Sunday services are usually led by Parish Lay Readers)
The DCIP meetings always cover alot of ground. For the working sessions of the meetings we sit in a circle, on chairs, but with no tables. Following informal opening worship we have a sharing circle. In the sharing circle we go round the circle, each person introducing themselves and responding to a question. Following the opening circle we set the agenda for the rest of the meeting. I am perhaps the only person who has been at every DCIP meeting since the first one, with the first edition of DCIP in 1997. At that meeting I was invited to be one of two non-indigenous partners. People share stories of sorrow and joy, and I am always deeply moved by the stories and people. I eagerly look forward to each DCIP meeting, where my own faith is always both challenged and strengthened. There are heartbreaking stories from the communities of youth suicide, family violence, alcohol and drug abuse, and other tragic happenings, but always there is the light of Christ, and a sense we find together that Christ is at work bringing healing and hope.
-to help friends keep track of me
-to provide news to interested persons about my activities
-to reflect on what I experience in the light of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, in a way that others may access, in the hope that these reflections will be of help to others in their walk with Christ, and in the hope that those who do not walk with the Lord Jesus may be helped towards such a walk
-to give honour and glory to Jesus Christ, my Lord and Saviour
DCIP meeting -Friday, Sept. 30, Sat., Oct.1
Tomorrow afternoon(Friday) I will be flying to Moosonee, for a meeting of DCIP(Diocesan Council of Indigenous People). A part of my position as the Mahmow Program Coordinator is that I am the Diocesan staff support person for DCIP. DCIP also serves as a Board for the Mahmow Program. DCIP is composed of at least one member from each of the Cree parishes of the Diocese, and meets twice a year. This is the first meeting since the 2005 Diocesan Synod(in this Diocese the Synod meets every three years).
Some of the agenda items: structure of DCIP for this new triennium, selection of a DCIP facilitator, review of 2005 Diocesan Healing Gathering, 2006 Diocesan Healing Gathering, 2006 James Bay Great Chapter(combine with Healing Gathering?), issues arising from 2005 Sacred Circle, Mahmow Program update, Diocesan financial priorities, Eeyou Diocese progress
Natalie Gill, Diocesan Youth Coordinator, is a partner for the meeting
The DCIP meetings are open to any members of the Cree parishes to attend. The travel costs for designated DCIP members only are provided for in the Diocesan Budget. Others are welcome to attend, but their travel costs will not be provided by the Diocese. However, the hosting parish will endeavour to provide meals and accommodation for all who come from beyond Moosonee/Moose Factory.
The meeting will be held at the Church of the Apostles, Moosonee. It begins on Friday at 7 pm. Then there will be meeting sessions throughout Saturday.
Delegates expected for the meeting: Charles Bobbish(Chisasibi -Diocesan ACIP rep("Anglican Council of Indigenous Peoples" - a national Anglican Church body of indigenous peoples), Christopher Napash(Chisasibi), Janie Pachanos(Chisasibi), Mary Georgekish(Wemindji), Donald Gilpin(Eastmain), George & Gladys Matoush(both of Mistissini -Gladys is also representing Waskaganish, where she was raised and continues to spend a significant amount of time), Ronnie Otter(Waswanapi), Caroline Chum(Moose Factory), Grace Delaney(Moose Factory -alternate Diocesan ACIP rep), Norm Wesley(Moose Factory), Philemon Wesley(Kashechewan), Edna Sutherland(Constance Lake), Evelyn Pewenish(Constance Lake), & various members of Moosonee parish(Katie Normand, Moosonee's designated DCIP rep is away, however)
Church of the Apostles, Moosonee -Sun., Oct. 2
At 11 am I will be preaching and celebrating Eucharist. At 6 pm I will be leading a special service of healing. (The Church of the Apostles is a parish which has no incumbent. I am the priest-in-charge of the parish, and make monthly visits. The regular Sunday services are usually led by Parish Lay Readers)
The DCIP meetings always cover alot of ground. For the working sessions of the meetings we sit in a circle, on chairs, but with no tables. Following informal opening worship we have a sharing circle. In the sharing circle we go round the circle, each person introducing themselves and responding to a question. Following the opening circle we set the agenda for the rest of the meeting. I am perhaps the only person who has been at every DCIP meeting since the first one, with the first edition of DCIP in 1997. At that meeting I was invited to be one of two non-indigenous partners. People share stories of sorrow and joy, and I am always deeply moved by the stories and people. I eagerly look forward to each DCIP meeting, where my own faith is always both challenged and strengthened. There are heartbreaking stories from the communities of youth suicide, family violence, alcohol and drug abuse, and other tragic happenings, but always there is the light of Christ, and a sense we find together that Christ is at work bringing healing and hope.
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