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The Unsettling Settler Narrative vs. Christianity

Writer's picture: Christine VanagasChristine Vanagas

Updated: May 23, 2023

As an Indigenous believer, I often struggle with a common narrative spoken in churches around God handing over this "New World" (a.k.a. Turtle Island) to settlers to occupy and build as a new Christian Nation. This historical account is often interlaced with terms like 'discovery' and 'unsettled wilderness'. As I listen to how these stories proclaim God's goodness, I can't help feeling my heart sink because they overlook the existing inhabitants - my ancestors - whom also held their own covenant relationship with the Creator.


Stub from a reserve pass issued in Duck Lake Agency to John Constant who was traveling to visit his children at industrial school, 1889. PAS, S-E19. Canada. Dept. of Indian & Northern Affairs, File 35.a. Duck Lake Agency. Permits to Leave Reserve, 1889-1901, 1904-0905, 1932-1934

We know from "history" that there were often tensions between these newcomers and the Indigenous nations who called these territories their home. In the Northern region of Turtle Island eventually known as ‘Canada’, racist and colonial policies aggressively restricted Indigenous territories, as well as their movement, ability to gather, and subsequently, capacity to adequately sustain their on livelihood via the "pass system". While some may use the terms colonialism synonymous with Canada's distant past, the pass system was only recently removed from the Indian Act in 1995 - not 1895, but 1995.


Arguably, the most heinous weapon in Canada's colonial arsenal was the creation of the residential school system where children were forcibly removed from their families/communities and deprived of their ancestral languages, Indigenous values and cultures. Administered by churches of various Christian denominations, approximately 150,000 children were placed in residential schools where many were exposed to physical, sexual, emotional and spiritual abuse. Many Survivors witnessed the deaths of fellow classmates. At the time of writing this, the names of over 4000 children have been identified in a National Student Memorial Registry and many more are being recovered across Canada through searches for unmarked graves near former residential school sites.


Young students at Lac La Ronge Residential School. Source: Unknown

Using terms like ‘history’ creates a safe distance between the Canadian residential school system and the present. It is anything but. The last residential school closed in 1997, which is within the same decade that I graduated from high school. In actuality the harms inflicted by the residential school are very close personally – my grandparents, aunts, uncles and father were all forced to attend these institutions. I am, therefore, a witness to the suffering they experienced well after their attendance at these "schools" and how deeply the impacts are felt by subsequent generations. The present animosity felt by Indigenous peoples toward the Church is not only understandable, it is impossible to ignore.


So how could this happen? Where did things go so horribly wrong? I often wrestled with God in prayer, asking for wisdom to reconcile the tension between God's goodness presented through 'the New World' rhetoric and the horrific costs paid by Indigenous peoples. This is something that God is slowly helping me unpack. John 10:10 states "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy" (NET). We see this same thief throughout the Bible attempt to move ahead of God in numerous instances as an attempt to disrupt and delay His divine plan.


I would argue that the thief's same pattern is seen throughout colonialism in Canada as there are no shortage of examples of stealing, killing and destroying of Indigenous livelihoods and nations. God promises an abundant life - not the high levels of addiction, poverty, incarceration, and suicide we see afflicting Indigenous people today. Coming back to the settler narrative, I have difficulty believing that this shared history is what God intended.


It is critical to expose the enemy and to repudiate colonial rhetoric that overlooks the numerous injustices inflicted by greed, racism and misaligned doctrine. The more I seek God, the more I believe that the hashtag "LAND BANK" is divinely inspired. This may not necessarily translate to reversal of property (but who am I to limit God's plans?). Rather, I believe the notion behind this emerging phrase places a desire in Indigenous people that aligns with His plan for healing and restoration.


In my desperate searching for God's heart concerning Indigenous people, I was led to the following scripture:


He will give a crown of beauty for ashes, a joyous blessing instead of mourning, festive praise instead of despair. In their righteousness, they will be like great oaks that the Lord has planted for his own glory. They will rebuild the ancient ruins, repairing cities destroyed long ago. They will revive them, though they have been deserted for many generations ... Instead of shame and dishonor, you will enjoy a double share of honor. You will possess a double portion of prosperity in your land and everlasting joy will be yours. For I, the Lord, love justice. I hate robbery and wrongdoing. I will faithfully reward my people for their suffering and make an everlasting covenant with them, Their descendants will be recognized and honored among the nations. Everyone will realize that they are a people the Lord has blessed. (Isaiah 61: 3 - 9, NLT)


This passage is clear that God hates robbery and wrongdoing. I believe in my heart that God abhorred colonialism despite what some say were benign efforts to evangelize and share the Good News with the inhabitants of Turtle Island. Proverbs 5:23 outlined 7 things that God hates: "haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that kill the innocent, a heart that plots evil, feet that race to do wrong, a false witness who pours out lies, a person who sows discord in a family" (NLT). I would argue that colonialism in Canada shares features with each of these traits listed and it is crucial that the Church acknowledge its own errors and begin exposing where the thief may have gained a foothold to oppose God.


While I have began to speak this scripture over Indigenous nations in prayer (and encourage readers to do the same), I strongly felt the Spirit of God caution against our own human efforts to push God's timing. While it may seem reasonable to insist on payment as a form of restitution and in accordance with our own understanding of justice, I had the sense from this scripture in Isaiah that what we might dream up as 'fair repayment' actually amounts to much less than God's desire for Indigenous peoples. While God could grant us what we demand as 'justice', if we trust in Him, God's plans are exceedingly greater than what we can ever imagine for ourselves (1 Corinthians 2:9).


Dear God,

You are the original author of Reconciliation which was extended to us through your son at no cost to us. I ask that You send comfort to Survivors, communities affected by the residential school system and to the families whose loved ones did not return home. I ask that all Indigenous people come to know Your goodness as well as the depth, height and width of Your love for all!

Although I do not know the exact method of how You will bring true healing and restoration across this nation, I do know that nothing is impossible for You. I trust in You and believe that You will accomplish all Your plans (Job 42:2). As it says in Jeremiah 29:11, You have plans to prosper and not harm us, plans to give us hope and a future. I believe in my heart this includes the Indigenous nations across this country whom You have Your outstretched arms toward.

I stand against colonialism, all forms of oppression, and all the harms caused to Indigenous peoples, but believe that You are more than capable of working together all things for our good (Romans 8:28). You are the solution and where our help comes from (Psalm 121: 2).

Be it unto each of us according to Your Will.

In Jesus' powerful name I pray!




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