Honouring the Declaration

"How can churches carry out their commitment to the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples? Honouring the Declaration provides academic resources to help The United Church of Canada and other Canadian denominations enact their commitment to the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and offers a framework for reconciliation between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples in Canada. Featuring essays from scholars working from a range of disciplines, including religious studies, Indigenous legal studies, Christian theology and ethics, Biblical studies, Indigenous educational leadership within the United Church, and social activism, the collection includes both Indigenous and non-Indigenous voices, all of whom respond meaningfully to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's Calls to Action. The texts explore some of the challenges that accepting the UN Declaration as a framework poses to the United Church, and other Canadian denominations, and provides academic reflection on how these challenges can be met. These reflections include concrete proposals for steps that Canadian denominations and their seminaries need to take in light of their commitment to the Declaration, a survey of the pitfalls that need to be avoided on the way, a study of a past attempt of the United Church to be in solidarity with Indigenous Peoples, and discussions of ethical concepts and theological doctrines that can empower and guide the church in living out this commitment. Don Schweitzer is McDougald Professor of Theology at St. Andrew's College, Saskatoon, and an ordained member of the United Church of Canada. Paul L. Gareau is Me tis and French-Canadian from St. Isidore-de-Bellevue near Batoche, Saskatchewan. He is an assistant professor in the Faculty of Native Studies at the University of Alberta."--