2019 Indigenous And Faith Leaders Retreat On The Climate Crisis
From Sept 22 to 25, 2019, a 4-day retreat was held for reflection, ceremony, and intense and brave dialogue with 21 Indigenous and Faith Leaders – gathering their collective guidance and wisdom for communities in the face of the climate crisis.
One of the event organizers, lead Minister Russell Daye, St Andrews United Church Halifax, said, “In our time, the climate crisis is our ultimate faith concern. If we ignore it, we betray our faith traditions; if we come together to respond, we may just enrich those traditions and create a common vision for humanity moving forward.”
One of the other organizers said, “To me the climate crisis is, at its root, a spiritual crisis. We are losing our connection to the earth and to one another, the sacredness of all of life. I wanted to have this conversation with my fellow faith leaders and Indigenous elders.”
Grand Chief Ron Tremblay teaching about Long House principle and the creation story. 
Mi’kmaq closing traditional feast with donated wild salmon, scallops, lobster, striped bass and moose, with all the trimmings.
The retreat Thinkers
Russell Daye, St Andrews United Church, Halifax
Christine Heming, Annapolis Shambhala Meditation Centre, NS
Jim Drescher, Shambhala Buddhism Windhorse Farm, NS
Cathy Martin, Facilitator, Millbrook First Nation, NS
Robert Cervelli, Centre for Local Prosperity
Albert Marshall, Elder, Eskasoni First Nation, NS
Elizabeth Bachem-Jennings, St George & St Andrew United Church, Annapolis Royal
Ben Grieder, Ecology Action Centre, Faith Communities, Halifax
Dr Joanne Langley, Baha’i Community, Halifax
Joe Michael, Elder, Indian Brook First Nation, NS
Rev Marian Lucas-Jefferies, Anglican Environmental Network, Diocese of NS-PEI
Ron Tremblay, Elder, Wolastoq Grand Council Chief, NB
Sarah (Sadie) Francis, Elder, Pictou Landing First Nation, NS
Rev Dr George Palamattam, Holy Redeemer Catholic Church, Charlottetown, PEI
Eric Tusz-King, Diaconal Minister, United Church of Canada, Sackville, NB
Imam Abdallah Yousri, Ummah Mosque, Halifax
Stan Johnson, Collaborative Environmental Planning Initiative, Cape Breton
Irene Woodard, GreenFaith Movement Board Member, NYC
Bill Martin, Pastor, retired, Canadian Baptists of Atlantic Canada
Dayle Eshelby, Centre for Local Prosperity
Ethan Neville, Artist, Filmmaker
Visit the Tatamagouche Light for an article about this retreat:
