Former Anglican priest Ralph Rowe has been convicted of further sexual abuse charges that took place in several First Nations communities in Northern Ontario.
"In the fullfilment of an aspiration long held by indigenous Anglicans in the north, the ecclesiastical province of Rupert's Land is poised to have a new diocese by 2014. The 47th session of the provincial synod, held in Brandon, Man., June 7 to 10 [2012], unanimously approved a resolution from the diocese of Keewatin to divide the diocese and create a fully independent indigenous diocese from the portion known as the northern Ontario region. 'We have been walking together and now we are dancing together', said the Rev. Wayne McIntosh, rector of St. John the Baptist Anglican Church in Fort Frances, Ont., after seconding the motion at the synod. The region's current bishop, the Rt. Rev. Lydia Mamakwa, will head the diocese. Two-thirds of the diocese lies in First Nations parishes, and five languages are spoken there: Cree, Oji-Cree, English, Ojibway and Dene. Many diocesan clergy and lay people speak at least two languages on a daily basis". [Text of entire article.]
The Most Reverend Desmond Tutu, Archbishop of Capetown, has accepted an invitation by the Osnaburgh Band to visit the Osnaburgh Indian community in northern Ontario, August 13-14, 1990. The visit is expected to highlight issues of poverty, injustice and racial discrimination for Native Canadians.
The Anglican Church of Canada, in co-operation with the Osnaburgh Band, will provide media relations services to accredited media. If you wish to attend the event, please contact the Communications office (see below), before May 31st. A questionnaire is attached.
Although details of the planned events are not yet available, it is expected that presentations will be made by several representative groups. All sessions will be open to the public. The events will take place outside, as weather permits, or inside the Community Hall. The Band Council will also provide tours of the community and interpretation services to media personnel. We will make background and briefing materials available as soon as possible.
Notes
For more information, please contact: Diane Engelstad, Media Relations Officer, The Anglican Church of Canada, Toronto, Ontario, M4Y 2J6, tel. (416) 924-9192 ext. 312, fax. (416) 968-7983
Two page colour advertisement for and description of the work of the Anglican Appeal. Includes photos and donation information. Article includes: A Message from the Primate / Fred J. Hiltz; a section story about an "Internet ministry called Virtual Church School that provided weekly Sunday school lessons based of the Gospel for the day" [www.dioceseofkeewatin.ca/virtual-church-school] developed by the Diocese of Keewatin; Canadian Theological Students overseas [Jeffery Hooper and Michelle Taylor in Uganda and Nicolas Alexandre in the Philippines]; and Dr. Carolyn Langford, a Volunteer in Mission in Uganda. All of these programs are supported by Anglican Appeal.
The Diocese of Keewatin has asked for an apology from Indian Affairs Minister Robert Nault for criticism of a visit to the diocese by a member of the Burnt Church community.
Kenora, October 17, 1996 -- Canada's first aboriginal person to become a diocesan bishop is the Right Reverend Gordon Beardy, elected here Wednesday [16 October]. Bishop Beardy was elected on the sixth ballot from a field of six candidates.
Bishop Beady, 46 is a former Oji-Cree chief who has been suffragan bishop in the Diocese of Keewatin since September 1993. His election as the diocesan, or senior bishop, will be seen as significant by the church, especially by native Anglicans who make up a majority of the diocese.
"My first priority will be to listen to the people of the diocese, to hear what they have to say about the future of Keewatin. We will continue to work together as the Body of Christ," says Bishop Beardy.
The Diocese of Keewatin covers about 300,000 square miles in northern Ontario and Manitoba. It stretches from Rainy River and Fort Frances, in the south, up to Fort Severn and Churchill on the shores of Hudson's Bay. There are more than 50 parishes in the diocese, about 3/5 of them dotted across its northern regions, and served by non-stipendiary (unpaid), locally raised and educated, indigenous priests.
Bishop Beardy is among those who have given leadership to the training of native clergy. As a young man, he assisted his father, the Reverend Eliezer Beardy, with the translation of study materials from English into native languages. Later he became an instructor with the "Train an Indian Priest" (TAIP) program.
He was a Band Counsellor [i.e. Councillor] and, from 1983 to 1987, Band Chief, at Muskrat Dam, Ontario. A skilled political leader, together with the First Nations Council, he initiated economic development programs so successful that the small community was force to begin importing workers from neighbouring settlements.
In the church, Bishop Beardy has served in several capacities beyond parish and diocesan boundaries. He has been a member of the church's national executive council, and has served on the Primate's commission on evangelism.
For further information, contact: Susan Barclay or Margaret Lavergn, c/o Keewatin Synod Office, 8078-547-3353, 807-547-3356
Kenora, Ontario - Rt. Rev. Harry E. Hives, bishop of the Anglican diocese of Keewatin, a 225,000-square-mile area in Northwestern Ontario and Manitoba, is resigning his post, effective January 31.
The English-born bishop, now 67, has been associated with Indian work since his ordination 42 years ago and covers his huge diocese by airplane. He keeps in touch with about 8,000 native people among the 15,000 Anglicans in the territory that stretches north to the western shores of Hudson Bay from the United States border. His fluency in the Cree language has proved a great asset in his service to the Indians.
Bishop Hives obtained his B.A. at the University of Saskatchewan in 1926 and graduated in theology the same year from Emmanuel College, Saskatoon. After serving at Cumberland House and Lac le Ronge in the diocese of Saskatchewan he held charges in the diocese of Saskatoon and from 1943 until 1950 was rector of Battleford. He was consecrated Bishop of Keewatin in 1954. He is married and has two daughters.
Bishop Hives' successor will be elected next year.