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Mapping the Ground We Stand On

In the wake of the release of the final report of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission in 2015, PWRDF’s former Executive Director, Adele Finney, spoke with public engagement staffer, Suzanne Rumsey, about how PWRDF might create an education piece in response. Adele and Suzanne, together with Esther Wesley, former Coordinator of the Anglican Fund for Healing and Reconciliation, developed a narrative and a process called “Mapping the Ground We Stand On.” The resulting workshop explored Indigenous presence and Settler arrival on the map of Turtle Island/Canada.

Piloted at PWRDF’s National Gathering in the fall of 2015, this “education for reconciliation” resource was further developed and delivered in parishes and other venues. In 2019, PWRDF launched a new five-year strategic plan. The fifth goal is “Mutual Reconciliation: We will accompany and support First Nations, Métis and Inuit peoples, guided by the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and the priorities of Indigenous communities and organizations in Canada.” In 2019, a decision was taken by PWRDF to train a national network of Mapping Exercise facilitators in Winnipeg. Filmmaker, Tim Wilson, joined the training to document that process and produced two videos, available on PWRDF’s Youtube channel.

The facilitators are:

  • B.C./Yukon: Nancy and John Denham (Diocese of New Westminster), Michael Shapcott (Diocese of Kootenay)
  • Rupert’s Land: Elizabeth Bonnett (Diocese of Rupert’s Land), Jennifer Marlor (Diocese of Rupert’s Land)
  • Ontario: Greg Smith (Diocese of Huron), Cheryl Marek (Diocese of Toronto), Audrey Lawrence (Diocese of Ottawa), Karen Luyendyk (Diocese of Ottawa)
  • Canada: Gillian Power (Diocese of Nova Scotia/PEI), Tom Mugford (Diocese of Eastern Newfoundland and Labrador)

Territorial Acknowledgements

Click here to see our interactive map of Territorial Acknowledgements from across Canada.

Bring a Mapping Exercise to your community

In late May 2021, with the encouragement of our facilitators, PWRDF launched a virtual Mapping Exercise workshop to be delivered over Zoom. The workshop is approximately two and half hours long, with breaks, breakout rooms and interactive elements. We hope it will prove to be a helpful complement to the in-person workshop as we move into a post-pandemic world, reaching audiences that might not be able to participate in-person.

The map of truth and reconciliation in Canada is still very much incomplete. PWRDF remains committed to being part of the journey towards finding a more complete map.

To inquire about bringing a virtual or in-person Mapping Exercise to your parish or community, please fill in the form at the button below and we will contact you as soon as possible.

Request a virtual or in-person workshop

Watch these videos describing the Mapping Exercise

Share a trailer for our video!

Each ecclesiastical province group has been equipped with a large floor map of Canada and is ready to bring this education for reconciliation resource to you. It is ideal for a synod, clergy retreat day, youth gathering or Indigenous awareness event in your parish or community.

If you would like to host a Mapping Exercise (virtual or otherwise), PWRDF will cover any travels for our volunteer facilitators. Local hosts are asked to cover any costs associated with the venue or refreshments and provide tech support. We’ll bring the map!