Wednesday of the Second Week of Advent
Does a legacy of deliberate harm have any chance of being repaired? Can what was done intentionally also be intentionally undone?
How can we execute policies that protect rather than marginalize, while following the lead of Indigenous peoples, who know what is best for the restoration of their communities and culture?
These are not easy tasks, but they have been asked of us, so we must try. If we believe in the dignity of the human person, then it is our responsibility to invest in the survival of Indigenous peoples, including their languages.
-Meditation by Administrative Assistant and Indigenous Solidarity Collective Member Revalon Wesson.
The 2022 Advent Calendar is a project of CTA's Indigenous Solidarity Collective, a working group that addresses the Catholic Church's historical and current role in colonialization. To support more projects from working groups like this one, please consider making a contribution!
Call To Action's 2022 Advent Calendar, planned and written by the Indigenous Solidarity Collective, provides 27 days of prayer and study to lead into action and solidarity with Indigenous communities. Here is today's meditation.
Call to Action: 14 Language and Culture
“14. We call upon the federal government to enact an Aboriginal Languages Act that incorporates the following principles:
i. Aboriginal languages are a fundamental and valued element of Canadian culture and society, and there is an urgency to preserve them.
ii. Aboriginal language rights are reinforced by the Treaties.
iii. The federal government has a responsibility to provide sufficient funds for Aboriginal-language revitalization and preservation.
iv. The preservation, revitalization, and strengthening of Aboriginal languages and cultures are best managed by Aboriginal people and communities.
v. Funding for Aboriginal language initiatives must reflect the diversity of Aboriginal languages.”
December 7th, 2022
Resource Tool for Indigenous Language
Native Land Digital is an Indigenous-led Canadian nonprofit that provides digital maps documenting Indigenous peoples, cultures, and languages throughout the world. This resource tool can help you research which languages are native to where you live.
The watercolor paintings featured on this calendar were created by Duane Yazzie, an artist of Hopi and Navajo ancestry. Yazzie creates artwork that reflects his Indigenous heritage and his childhood spent in the Southwest.
