We are all treaty people

I was hiking in the BC rainforest, in awe of it all: the trees, rocks, streams and birds. Standing on a rock outcropping overlooking the ocean humbled me. What a gift this earth is! Prairies, mountains, forests, rivers and lakes, city parks and the people we share life with. What beauty, big and small, surrounds us!

Through the Truth and Reconciliation process with Indigenous peoples, we have learned that we are all treaty people. We acknowledge that God gifts us with creation and invites us to share the land we live on. First Nations peoples speak of the need for living life in balance with nature, being responsible in caring for and tending the earth’s resources. Those who hiked the trail with portable music blasting missed the sounds of the waterfalls and the birds, upsetting the balance for others. Those who left garbage and plastic on the trail damaged creation. Too often our approach to creation has been to take, to misuse or deplete nature. It is important that we recall that creation is God’s and we are stewards. Let us offer thanks for the beauty all around us and care for it wisely.

Thank you, God, for the wonder and beauty of creation. Help us to care for it wisely. Amen. — LG