National Indigenous Spiritual Gathering, July 2026

[Image: Photo courtesy of Cheryl Jourdain |Original Art by Trinity Anderson, from Fisher River Cree Nation in Manitoba]

The National Indigenous Spiritual Gathering will take place at Carleton University in Ottawa from July 15-19, 2026. This is the triennial gathering of members of Indigenous communities of faith from across the country. Under the leadership of the National Indigenous Elders Council (NIEC), participants will spend important time together building community, and sharing in sacred ceremony, teachings, and worship.They will establish a new National Indigenous Council to give leadership to the Indigenous church on its journey of self-determination. And they will celebrate the ordination of Brian George, a member of the National Indigenous Elders Council. We invite the whole church to lift up in prayer the spiritual gathering and all who are preparing to participate in it.

Support for The National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation

[Image credit: The United Church of Canada]

Leaders of the Anglican, Presbyterian, and United churches attended an event on June 18, 2026 at the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation (NCTR) in Winnipeg. A number of Elders and survivors of residential institutions were present to lead ceremony and receive a financial contribution from the three churches to the NCTR to help it construct a new building. United Church Moderator Kimberly Heath spoke with gratitude of the NCTR’s several important roles. This includes not only preserving the legacy of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada (TRC)—managing all of the survivor statements and other TRC records, but also continuing to gather statements, collect information about missing children and unmarked burials for the National Student Memorial Register, and, critically, carrying out many educational activities.

The Moderator and General Secretary were among several church leaders who had an opportunity to take part in an NCTR-led workshop during the May 2026 meeting of the Governing Board of the Canadian Council of Churches. National Indigenous Elder Council member, Lorraine Kakegamic, joined them at the June NCTR event.

The churches’ financial contribution to the new NCTR building is one of the ways they are carrying out their commitments to support the journey of truth-telling, healing, and reconciliation.

Celebrating Indigenous Culture In Support of Art for Aid

[Image credit: courtesy Zion-Memorial Church]

Zion-Memorial United Church, Carleton Place, held its fifth Indigenous cultural fair in May 2026. It is an enriching day-long celebration of Indigenous culture and artistic talent. Organized in collaboration with the District Public Library and town of Carleton Place, the fair provides a great learning opportunity for both adults and children. An Elder leads the opening ceremonies, there is a Sacred Fire, Medicine Table, Indigenous dancers and drummers, workshops, and Indigenous vendors who sell beautiful handmade creations and food. Funds are raised for Art for Aid—an initiative by founder Colleen Gray to send art supply shipments to remote Indigenous schools in northern Canada. Feedback from participants tells organizers the fair is successfully fostering dialogue, reconciliation and relationship building between local Indigenous and non-Indigenous people. This year’s fair was supported in part by the Justice and Reconciliation Fund.

Rematriation of the Tatamagouche Centre, Nova Scotia

[Image credit: courtesy Women of First Light]

The Tatamagouche Centre rematriation project is an invitation to live into right relations by restoring Indigenous stewardship of land that has always been Mi’kmaq territory. Rematriation is not about ownership; it is about renewing relationship—with the land, with spirit, with ancestors, and with future generations.

For more than 60 years, the Tatamagouche Centre has been a place of learning, welcome, and transformation. In 2021, Women of First Light—an Indigenous women-led organization in Wabanaki—requested the land be returned, and the Tatamagouche Centre Board committed to dialogue. One year ago, in July 2025, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between Women of First Light, the Tatamagouche Centre, and the United Church of Canada (Fundy St. Lawrence Dawning Waters and Bermuda Nova Scotia Regional Councils), marking a shared commitment to rematriation.

The dream is that the land will be held in perpetuity under Indigenous stewardship as a place of healing, cultural restoration, and renewed right relations for all our relations. As Women of First Light continues capacity-building and community listening, the Tatamagouche Centre is also working to keep buildings cared for during the transition, including urgent infrastructure needs.

If you are able to support the Centre during this tender time—helping keep the heat on and cover basic costs until the transfer—donations can be made at https://www.tatacentre.ca/donate. Please include “sustain the centre” in the notes.

Thank you for walking this path with care, so the land can be returned in a good way.

Living into Right Relations will take a short summer break. The next issue will be published at the end of August 2026.