Quiet Processes and Small Circles: An Introduction to the Quaker Aboriginal Affairs Committee
By Jennifer Preston and Monica Walters-Field
Jennifer Preston and Kenneth Deer (Mohawk), co-chair of the International Indigenous caucus, in Mexico at a meeting on the UN Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.Friends often reflect on Rufus Jones’ words, “I pin my hopes to quiet processes and small circles, in which vital and transformative events take place.” The transformative power of small circles is the basis of the interfaith work of the Quaker Aboriginal Affairs Committee (QAAC) of the Canadian Friends Service Committee. Our mandate states that the goals of QAAC include: “to focus on issues of aboriginal concern such as spirituality . . . acknowledging the right of peoples to worship in the way of their own cultures and faith traditions.”
QAAC is able to build relationships with indigenous partners based on mutual trust because we value their spiritual traditions and emphasize that our faith and spiritual practice is rooted in egalitarian relationships. The projects that come to QAAC are usually brought by a concerned Friend who has a relationship with a specific aboriginal group, and we build upon the personal connections and dialogue that already exist. We recognize that when we commit to financially supporting aboriginal work we also commit ourselves to an ongoing dialogue, and we envision our work as a partnership in support of work our aboriginal friends are doing in their communities. We as Friends are deeply enriched by the strengths and knowledge that we gain from these partnerships.
Though recent projects using this principle of partnership might appear relatively small in scope, they have had positive impact on communities. QAAC supports the work of Dan and Mary Lou Smoke (Seneca and Ojibway, respectively) who host an award winning First Nations radio show from the University of Western Ontario radio station. “Smoke Signals First Nations Radio” is a voice to tell aboriginal stories through aboriginal eyes. Dan says:
The unwavering support we have received from your committee... has helped us immensely in both our personal and professional lives. We are continuing to produce... a much needed First Nation Program. ... Your support over these seven years has been a lifeline for us, to be able to tell our stories.
Two young participants at the Beausoleil First Nation Pow Wow.Another project we have supported is the Beausoleil First Nation Pow Wow. This Chippewa community has been influenced by Christian theology to the expense of its spiritual traditions. The pow wow is one of the ways the community is reclaiming its traditional spiritual heritage. “Our powwow helps us to bring strength, insight and belief back to our people,” Kathleen Peters, an organizer of the event, has observed.
Individual QAAC members continue to forge links with aboriginal groups, endeavoring to support “that of God” in them and to honor them for their spiritual beliefs. It is from this source of friendship and mutual respect that we have been able to work at the international level on indigenous issues, where we have supported the United Nations around the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. We recognize the connection between grassroots community work and global initiatives to promote and protect the human rights of indigenous peoples.
None of our work in grassroots support, educational initiatives and global standards for indigenous rights would be possible without the personal relationships we have with our indigenous partners. We recognize the need for Friends to always honor and respect the spiritual traditions of our partners, and to remember that Christianity has often played a negative role in past relationships. Our common work for peace and justice comes from our mutual respect for our spiritual paths.
Monica Walters-Field is a member of Toronto Monthly Meeting, Canadian Yearly Meeting, and serves on the Quaker Aboriginal Affairs Committee of Canadian Friends Service Committee (CFSC). Jennifer Preston is a member of Hamilton Monthly Meeting, also Canadian Yearly Meeting, and the program coordinator for the QAAC. More information on CFSC and QAAC can be found on the internet at http://cfsc.quaker.ca.
