First Nations Ministries
Nick and Vivian are both indigenous Christians of Nēhiyawa (cree) heritage. Nick is from the Peepeekisis First Nation and Vivian is from the Whitebear First Nation.
While they are proud of their indigenous heritage, their spiritual identity is firmly founded upon Jesus Christ.
Their ministry to first nations spans and is infused into all other areas of ministry, and includes distribution of both print and audio bibles in Cree. Ministry to the first Nations communities both in Regina and surrounding reserves through weddings, wakes, funerals, as well as visitations, transportation, and visible involvement in the indigenous community.
Peepeekisis First Nation is a nēhiyawa reserve located 19 kilometers east of Balcarres, Saskatchewan on Highway 10. It is unique among Saskatchewan First Nations because of its history. Chief Can-ah-ha-cha-pew (Making Ready the Bow) signed Treaty 4 on September 21, 1874. Upon his death his son Peepeekisis (Sparrow Hawk) became chief, and in 1884 the band moved from the Cypress Hills to settle on a reserve in the File Hills, about 12 km east of Balcarres. When Indian Agent W.M. Graham arrived at the agency in 1896 the band was without a leader and was unable to prevent Graham's creation of the File Hills Colony on the reserve. The plan brought young male industrial school graduates (members of bands other than Peepeekisis) to live, farm and eventually become members of the Peepeekisis Band. The original Peepeekisis Band members were displaced from their homes and deprived of the use of their communal lands. Their complaints led in 1945 to questions raised about the validity of the transfers into the band, but it was not until 1986 that they were able to submit a specific claim to the Department of Indian Affairs. In 2004, the Indian Claims Commission found Canada in breach of its lawful obligations to the band, and recommended that the claim be accepted for negotiation under Canada's Specific Claims Policy. The Peepeekisis band vote to accept settlement of 150 million was ratified on December 12th, 2020.
The White Bear First Nations is located 13 kilometers north of Carlyle Saskatchewan It is also unique among First Nations due to it's history. Chief Wahpemakwa signed Treaty No. 4 on behalf of the population of 24 families (82 people) in 1875, and accepted a reserve on the east side of Moose Mountain in 1877. In 1901 the Ocean Man and Pheasant Rump Bands were amalgamated onto the reserve, with the promise that its boundaries would be extended; but it was two years before this occurred, and only after the band agreed to pay $1.23 an acre for the land. Descendants of the amalgamated communities became involved in a claim against the federal government to regain the surrendered reserves. in 1986 an agreement was reached, in 1990 the Ocean Man and Pheasant Rump Bands regained band status and in 1992, the land they purchased under the agreement was granted reserve status. The name White Bear First Nations is used, as opposed to First Nation, owing to the fact that there are Four Nations living on White Bear; Cree, Saulteaux(Anishanabe), Nakota and Dakota.
Reconcilliation
The gospel message of Jesus Christ to Canada's Indigenous peoples has been tarnished by the historical actions of individuals under the banner of various church denominations.
In spite of this however, the church has an exciting opportunity to demonstrate the love of Jesus Christ to a deeply wounded people by becoming better educated about the historical injustices suffered, a willingness to confront the racist myths and paradigms of the Canadian culture, being commited to listen without reservation to the expressions of the sincere and oppressed, entering into the dialogue with Christ-like humility.
Many Canadians are ignorant of the many deliberate oppressive policies Indigenous peoples have faced that stripped them of the right to participate as equals in the Canadian economy. Many are horrified at the evidence being uncovered of racist, inhumane treatment of indigenous children at the hands of those who represented Canadian authority. Many Canadians have believed the myths taught about settler history, regarding the land, resources, and the people they displaced. Many Christians have unwittingly echoed racist sentiment when encountering Indigenous cultural beliefs and practices, dismissive of the profound faith that underlies those cultural practices.
The 60's Scoop
The 60's scoop was a phenomenon that swept Canada in response to the rapidly growing First Nations urban populations. "The Sixties Scoop refers to a practice that occurred in Canada of taking, or "scooping up", Indigenous children from their families and communities for placement in foster homes or adoption.
Despite the reference to one decade, the Sixties Scoop began in the late 1950s and persisted into the 1980s. It is estimated that a total of 20,000 aboriginal children were taken from their families and fostered or adopted out to primarily white middle-class families as part of the Sixties Scoop. Each province had different foster programs and adoption policies.
Saskatchewan had the only targeted Indigenous transracial adoption program, called Adopt Indian Métis (AIM) Program. While most "scooped" children were placed in foster care or for adoption in Canada, some were placed in the United States or Western Europe.
[Wikipedia: Sixties Scoop accessed Oct 29, 2019]
Nick himself is a product of the 60's scoop having experienced 25 different placements during his childhood. He met the first of his natural brothers and his mother at the age of 19, in 1986. The second youngest of 9 brothers and 3 sisters, he finally met his last brother Anthony in 2019 at the age of 52.
The Residential School Era
The residential school situated on the Gordon's First Nation just 120 km north of Regina, Saskatchewan was the last residential shool in Canada to be closed in 1996. Supplementary to the residential school system was the day school system both of which the Canadian government relied to assimilate Indigenous children. While the Canadian government under Stephen Harper offered an apology in 2007 and class actions of survivors have been settled, the intergenerational and individual trauma suffered by indigenous communities contintues to deeply impact Canadian society and likely will for decades to come.
Nick and Vivian have consistenly brought the compassionate message of Jesus Christ into the indigenous world throughout their time as faith missionaries.
Men's Ministries
Nick served as Pastor of Men's Ministry at Healing Hearts Ministry for over 15 years. His ministry to the men in North Central started with a vision:
"I drove out on a secluded road to spend time in earnest prayer seeking God's direction in ministry. While I was praying, I saw a street corner of North Central community where men were walking to and fro.
As I watched, the men became as boys dressed in costumes; this one was dressed as a cowboy, another dressed as a biker, another dressed as a fighter and so forth. They were all dressed in costumes of pretense. As I watched, other men came behind each boy to walk with them, some behind, some taking the boy by the hand, some leading.
And as they walked with these older men, the boys began to grow up and become men until each pair became two men walking together.
And then was brought to my mind the scripture verse from Ephesians:
Ephesians 2:10 (ESV)
"For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them."
"I realized that my ministry would be to
lead men into fellowship with other, older men,
who could mentor the men of North Central
to become the men who God created them to be."
"I believe that leading men to faith in the context of strong mentoring relationships with other, older, mature Christian men is a keystone of my ministry. The modern church has traditionally followed the model of ministering primarily to women and children, which is why so many men are leaving the church.
It has been said that when you lead a child to faith in Jesus Christ, you get one changed life; when you lead a woman to faith in Jesus Christ, you get one household, but when you lead a man to faith in Jesus Christ, you affect a community.
Jesus Christ began his church by mentoring 12 men in their faith, and leaving them with the command to 'go and make disciples'. I believe that his methodology has been largely abandoned in the community of North Central Regina, in favour of reaching out to women and children.
This cannot mean that outreach to women and children should be abandoned. Just that outreach and ministry to men should not be abandoned."
All of Nick's ministry efforts as Men's Pastor in North Central employs many approaches to leading men into mentorship roles with older, more mature Christians. These efforts include music ministry, bible studies, prison ministry, hospital outreach, breakfasts, men's camps as well as speaking to Churches about men's ministry.
"In all of my efforts, I seek to help men develop
discipling relationships with other men."