Document addresses spiritual violence against Indigenous Peoples in Canada

Document addresses spiritual violence against Indigenous Peoples in Canada

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Mon, 09/21/2026 - 18:49

An ecumenical collaborative document is addressing spiritual violence against Indigenous Peoples in Canada—and suggesting ethical guidelines and calls to healing.

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Photo: Marcelo Schneider/WCC

Organized by the The United Church of Canada, the document responds to Indigenous Christians who ask that their relatives in Christ help them address ongoing spiritual violence in their communities—violence that is being committed by Christians.

"This document, and the ethical guidelines it recommends, are borne out of a conviction that Christians are called to love others, to do everything possible to prevent harm to others, and to help others heal from harms that they and churches have caused,” reads the introduction. “ This violence continues to occur against Indigenous Christians, including some who are also recovering, exploring, maintaining, or deepening traditional Indigenous spiritual practices.”

The concerns raised in the document relate directly to the central question of how Christians witness to their…