CPTnet
5 December 2005
KENORA, ON: Vigil for missing people
by John Spragge
On 2 December 2005--a cold Northern Ontario day, with snow on the ground and
a wind blowing across the lake--a circle of men and women, Aboriginal and
newcomers, met to pray for the thousands of men and women who have gone
missing. We named our four CPT friends and colleagues in Iraq that a
previously unknown group now holds. We remembered the thousands of Iraqis
missing and in the hands of criminals who kidnap for ransom, or in military
jails. We also remembered the missing sisters, the hundreds of Aboriginal
women who have disappeared in Canada. (The Native Women's Association of
Canada estimates that 500 aboriginal women have gone missing over the past
thirty years in Canada. Most are still unaccounted for.)
One of our missing friends, Jim Loney, links these two very different
worlds, for he has worked in Kenora and at Grassy Narrows First Nation,
where he has earned respect and made many friends. At the vigil, a veteran
of the Grassy Logging Blockade broke down as she described what Jim had
meant to her and her community. Aboriginal elders attended both our public
vigil and the silent worship we held in the church where we stayed. People
in Sioux Lookout and Grassy Narrows have also held vigils for our missing
co-workers.
Throughout these difficult weeks, the outpouring of solidarity, support, and
love from an abused First Nations community continues to move me. However
good our intentions, we have not done very much for them; surely our efforts
fall far short of what they need, and what justice requires. Yet they give
us unconditional support and love, and they grieve for Jim's predicament.
The love that people all over the world have shown Christian Peacemaker
Teams during this crisis boldly challenges the destruction done by armies,
defence contractors, and the politicians they serve.
_______________
To stop receiving messages from CPTNET on MennoLink, send a message with
only the word, "suspend," in the body to server@MennoLink.org.
Christian Peacemaker Teams (CPT) seeks to enlist the whole church in
organized, nonviolent alternatives to war and places teams of trained,
peacemakers in regions of lethal conflict. Originally a violence-reduction
initiative of the historic peace churches (Mennonite, Church of the Brethren
and Quaker), CPT now enjoys support and membership from a wide range of
Christian denominations.
To express concerns, criticisms or affirmations to CPT's Chicago office send
messages to peacemakers@cpt.org. To express concerns, criticisms or
affirmations to CPT's Canadian office, send messages to
guest.996427@MennoLink.org.
To receive news or discussion of CPT issues by e-mail, fill out the form
found on our WEB page at http://www.cpt.org/subscribe.php
Donate to CPT on-line with your credit card! Go to
http://cpt.org/donate.php and click the DONATE button to make a
contribution through Network for Good, a secure way to help support CPT.
This archive was generated by hypermail 2b29 : Mon Jan 02 2006 - 08:56:38 EST