Since 1875 anglicanjournal.com @anglicanjournal vol. 147 no. 7 september 2021 ‘Her voice will never die’ Anglicans remember Ginny Doctor as ‘We have a great task before us’ visionary leader who Sacred Circle examines key documents for emerging helped lay foundations Indigenous church while remembering the lost for self-determining Indigenous church PHOTO: ANGLICAN VIDEO National Indigenous Archbishop Mark MacDonald presides over the lighting of the Sacred Fire at the 10th Indigenous Matt Gardner Anglican Sacred Circle. STAFF WRITER Canon Virginia “Ginny” Matt Gardner Delegates offered detailed reflections on Doctor, coordinator of Indigenous STAFF WRITER wording of the documents—some approving, Ministries and a major architect of The 10th Indigenous Anglican Sacred Circle others critical. Overall impressions were the self-determining Indigenous began with acknowledgement of pain and positive. One delegate said of A Covenant: church, died on May 26. She was 71 loss. “I was amazed at the insight, the wisdom, years old. At the lighting of the Sacred Fire— the knowledge, the careful thought that was Church leaders, General Synod livestreamed from Six Nations of the Grand put into this document.… It made me feel staff and members of the Anglican River, Ont., as Sacred Circle was held online proud to be an Indigenous woman within the Council of Indigenous Peoples for the first time—National Indigenous Indigenous Anglican church.” (ACIP) expressed shock at Doctor’s Archbishop Mark MacDonald drew The children have spoken While this gathering marked the first unexpected passing and offered an attention to the destruction of Lytton, B.C. from the grave calling this time Sacred Circle has looked at A Covenant outpouring of praise and gratitude by wildfires. He noted recent revelations “ and Our Way of Life, it will not be the for their departed friend and land to justice. about unmarked graves at residential school last. MacDonald encouraged delegates to colleague. —National Indigenous Archbishop bring the documents back to their home sites. He highlighted the ongoing struggle Mark MacDonald Archbishop Linda Nicholls, of many communities with COVID-19 and communities for reflection before Sacred primate of the Anglican Church of an epidemic of suicide, particularly among Circle meets again in the fall. Canada, first announced Doctor’s young people. A Covenant and Our Way of Life In his closing message, MacDonald death in a public statement. In the midst of such catastrophe, The aim of Indigenous Anglicans to shape announced he would appoint the Rev. “Ginny has served in Indigenous the archbishop said, God appears as a their own church within the Anglican Ray Aldred to a new position—known for ministries with dedication and reassuring presence. He pointed out that Church of Canada took concrete form at the now as faith carrier—in the office of the passion, committed to the work of this Sacred Circle began on the feast day July Sacred Circle, which was based around national Indigenous archbishop. Another reconciliation and the emerging self- of the Algonquin-Mohawk saint Kateri the theme “Returning Home: Remembering new position, fire keeper, will involve determining Indigenous Church,” Tekakwitha. the Lost.” oversight and development of Indigenous Nicholls said. “We have a great task before us, and From July 14 to 17, approximately 80 ministry. The archbishop also reiterated “Her deep faith, sense of humour we have a lot of difficulties in front of us,” Indigenous delegates discussed two key calls for the Anglican Church of Canada to and steadfast support for Indigenous MacDonald said. “But today, we can say we documents that will determine what the share its wealth with Indigenous peoples, rights is remembered with have a strong and wonderful and gracious emerging self-determining Indigenous by continuing the work of the Jubilee thanksgiving. Her death is a deep God with us.” church looks like. These are A Covenant and Commission and developing systems of loss for the Anglican Council of “We live in an extraordinary time,” Our Way of Life—similar to a constitution oversight designed by Indigenous people. Indigenous Peoples and Indigenous he added. “A lot of powerful things are and set of canons, respectively. communities across Canada and in happening. The children have spoken from Each day, delegates began with gospel- Lost but not forgotten the United States.” the grave calling this land to justice, calling based discipleship, studying the day’s gospel Loss was a frequent theme throughout National Indigenous Archbishop this land to truth, and it is a very painful passage to help guide their discussion. Sacred Circle: both that of Indigenous Mark MacDonald praised Doctor’s time. But it is a time of truth and a time Breakout sessions followed in which they children whose unmarked graves continue leadership of Indigenous Ministries when we are being called back to be what studied sections of A Covenant or Our Way See DOCTOR SEEN, p. 2 God has meant us to be.” of Life. See PRIMATE PLEDGES, p. 2 3 4 Today’s The church’s children are need for PM# 40069670 watching pruning 2 anglican journal • september 2021 INDIGENOUS Primate pledges help in ISSUES4 identifying school dead Continued from p. 1 “become more Indigenous in your to be discovered at residential faith than you ever have before, to school sites, and of Indigenous show your people and the world Anglicans who had recently the beauty of the gospel message died. when it is in Indigenous hands, Archbishop Linda Nicholls, when it is spoken in Indigenous primate of the Anglican Church language and celebrated by of Canada, in her opening Indigenous culture.” message acknowledged that Revelations about unmarked revelations about unmarked burial sites emerged around the burial sites would not come as a same time as the unexpected surprise to delegates or anyone death of Canon Ginny PHOTO: ANGLICAN VIDEO who had read the report of Doctor, Indigenous Ministries “She gave so much to so many”: Indigenous Ministries coordinator Ginny the Truth and Reconciliation Doctor at Sacred Circle 2018. Commission. coordinator, on May 26. (See “The lack of dignity and “ ‘Her voice will never die,’ ” respect for the lives of children p. 1) Delegates and speakers at the schools, and leaving throughout Sacred Circle Doctor seen as ‘visionary’ their burial sites unmarked, repeatedly paid tribute to Doctor. unrecorded and forgotten, is a While reviewing A Covenant, for Indigenous church stain on the history of Canada one delegate called for a moment and of the churches that must of silence “to honour Ginny be addressed,” Nicholls said. Continued from p. 1 of Canada, taking over the role from Doctor, whose influence is all and her role as a mentor. Donna Bomberry. Anglican archivists at the over this document” and to “give Doctor, he said, “was always very Bomberry, currently a volunteer for national and diocesan levels thanks for Ginny’s life, for her effective at taking the dynamics and the national church and member of are ready to assist in searching faith, for her dedication and limitations of what the church system ACIP, was a strong supporter of Doctor for any information that could for all that she has meant for us gave to Indigenous people, particularly carrying on her work. The two continued help identify missing children, in this Sacred Circle as she has women … and putting it together in to collaborate on projects in recent the primate said. National journeyed with us.” such a way as to provide a way forward years. She reported being “shocked and archivist Laurel Parson is Bishop Te Kitohi Pikaahu, for people.” overcome with sadness and loss” at currently working with a chair of the Anglican Indigenous Doctor’s death. committee of Indigenous “There is a large group of young Network, praised Doctor for “her “Ginny was Mohawk Turtle Clan leaders to determine how best Indigenous—and a number of non- example of Christian service and and I am Cayuga Turtle Clan, so I called Indigenous people as well—who have to approach that work. her Cuz,” Bomberry said. “I, along with discipleship” and “theological been mentored by her,” he added. “She The church also plans many, will greatly miss Ginny and her insight, precision and force.” has a trail of people who will carry on to join in pushing the talents and contributions to the Anglican “In my mind, she is one of the School’s her work over the years.” government to provide Church and especially Indigenous sufficient funds and resources giants that we remember in the Former primate Fred Hiltz, who Ministries.” for ground searches, Indigenous church around the ex-staff worked closely with Doctor during Teresa Mandricks, program associate Nicholls added. She thanked globe,” Pikaahu said. much of her time as Indigenous speak out at the secretariat of the National Indigenous Anglicans for their A video tribute produced Ministries coordinator, described her as Indigenous Archbishop, worked with witness to the gospel in light of by Anglican Video honoured For nearly half a a “very spiritually strong woman” who Doctor and MacDonald for many years so much suffering perpetrated Indigenous Anglicans who had century, Nancy took pride in her Mohawk heritage and at Church House. “Her laughter and by those who claimed to also died. These included Doctor, Dyson and Dan ancestry. humour spread all around, even when be followers of Jesus. the Rev. Vivian Seegers, the Rev. Rubenstein rarely Hiltz praised Doctor as a great there were challenges,” Mandricks said. “I know that your Margaret Waterchief, the Rev. spoke about their teacher and writer, and a “real visionary Anglican Video senior producer faithfulness is costly, as family Lloyd Young, the Rev. Caroline experience as for the self-determining Indigenous Lisa Barry collaborated with Doctor and community members childcare workers church.” on many projects and said the two Chartrand, Canon Angus cannot understand such loyalty at the Alert Bay “If you look at all the documents developed a strong friendship and bond Sewap, Canon Barry Bear and to the very institution that Student Residence, that have been produced over the years, of trust.