wfn.org | (LWF) Canadian Groups Amplify Voices of World*s Native Peoples

["Frank Imhoff" <franki@elca.org>]

LWF Tenth Assembly, Winnipeg, Canada, 21-31 July 2003

PRESS RELEASE NO. 34

Canadian Groups Amplify Voices of World's Native Peoples
Call to Join in Common Journey on the Path of Healing

WINNIPEG, Canada, 31 July 2003 * Presentations by native Canadians at the
Tenth Assembly of the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) have placed the cries
of Indigenous Peoples all over the world high on the agenda of the global
communion.

"In many countries, Indigenous Peoples are discriminated against, in terms of
land rights, ethnic background, language and/or culture," declared a Message
concerning Indigenous Peoples received by the Assembly July 30.  

The Assembly acknowledged that the Indigenous Peoples feel "powerless and
voiceless regarding self-determination, and access to education, health care
and job opportunities."  It declared land rights as "fundamental to the
survival of Indigenous Peoples and their cultures," and called on LWF member
churches to "continue to recognize and support the basic human rights of
Indigenous Peoples" all over the world.

It is not enough to speak out against discrimination of all kinds or to
defend human rights of all peoples, the message declared. Churches must also
"take the next step of empowering and working with others to effectively
remove the systemic barriers," including "patterns of discrimination and
exclusion."

Lutheran churches were also urged to "acknowledge and seek the presence of
Indigenous Peoples" within their churches, "affirm Indigenous Peoples as
equal partners" and "challenge paternalistic patterns" which keep Indigenous
Peoples out of participation in life and decision-maing.

There are about 370 million Indigenous Peoples in more than 70 countries who
seek recognition of their identities, ways of life and right to traditional
lands and resources, according to the Assembly of First Nations, an
organization representing 700,000 indigenous Canadians living in 633
communities in rural and urban areas.

During the LWF Assembly, representatives of Indigenous Peoples, including
native people from other continents, shared concerns and need to "stand
together in addressing common issues."

A caucus of native Canadians asked the LWF Assembly to join the Indigenous
Peoples in a "common journey on the path of healing" by understanding their
theology and culture and by including them in decision-making processes.

According to a 1996 Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples, "the physical and
spiritual decline of Aboriginal communities in Canada is the result of a
federal Aboriginal policy that denies Aboriginal rights" and which "deprives
Aboriginal Peoples of their traditional lands." 

The solution to many of the problems faced by Aboriginal Peoples requires
compromises from non-Aboriginal members of society that would return land and
resources to them 

The Tenth Assembly of the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) is taking place
21-31 July 2003 in Winnipeg, Canada, under the theme "For the Healing of the
World." It is being hosted by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada
(ELCIC).

There are around 820 men, women and youth participants in the Tenth Assembly
including 380 delegates from the 133 churches with full membership and three
associate members. The Assembly is the highest decision-making body of the
LWF, and meets normally every six years. Between Assemblies, the LWF is
governed by its Council that meets annually, and by its Executive Committee. 

Further information including photos, video and audio news, is posted on the
Assembly Web site www.lwf-assembly.org

To order photographs, please contact LWF-Photo@lutheranworld.org

*	*	*

The LWFis a global communion of Christian churches in the Lutheran tradition.
Founded in 1947 in Lund (Sweden), the LWF now has 136 member churches in 76
countries representing over 61.7 million of the 65.4 million Lutherans
worldwide. 

The LWF acts on behalf of its member churches in areas of common interest
such as ecumenical and interfaith relations, theology, humanitarian
assistance, human rights, communication, and the various aspects of mission
and development work. Its secretariat is located in Geneva, Switzerland.