In Celebration of National Indigenous Peoples Day

In honour of National Indigenous Peoples Day on June 21, Rosella Kinoshameg discusses her Indigenous Catholic spirituality. Rosella is an Odawa elder from the Wikwemikong Unceded First Nation Territory (Manitoulin Island). She is chair of the board for the National Indigenous Reconciliation Fund and serves the Indigenous communities in the Diocese of Sault Ste. Marie.

1. You’ve had a very busy retirement after a long career as a public health nurse. What are some of the ways your faith and culture help you with everything you take on?

I have heard that when you retire, you get busier; this is quite true.

It is a great blessing to have had five children who are all adults and very busy with their work and various interests. As children, I had kept them busy with figure skating and competitions, piano and Powwows. I have seven grandchildren, youngest is 15, and six great-grandchildren ranging from 2 to 12 years old. I enjoy their visits when we get together for all the birthdays.

I have always been busy doing life cycle presentations as part of my nursing career of 57 years, plus my volunteer role in the Church even long before being mandated as Diocesan Order of Service in 2000. I have had requests to do Opening, Closing and Meal Prayers and to translate a prayer card for the Year of St. Joseph. I do one intercession for Chrism Mass plus the Smudging Ceremony. I prepared a Litany of Sorrows for the Indigenous Delegates’ trip to Rome in 2022. I have done an Advent Wreath Prayer, Blessing of Sacred Medicines for Easter Vigil, and reflections at wake services. My translations are unpublished.

I took time off as chair of Anishinabe Spiritual Centre since last May to concentrate on my much-needed healing from my cancer journey.

2. In what ways would you recommend Catholics – Indigenous and non-Indigenous – celebrate National Indigenous Peoples Day in a meaningful way?

There are many National Indigenous Day celebrations happening. Attend any, all are part of reconciliation. We need allies but not telling us what to do.  

Donations can be made to the Indigenous Reconciliation Fund through the Archdiocese of Toronto or your local dioceses.

3. Given your work in reconciliation efforts, what do you think are the next steps along the path of reconciliation?

As Indigenous and non-Indigenous Catholics attending any National Indigenous Day celebrations that are happening in a lot of places, it is important to keep in mind the following as this is about reconciliation:

• Mutual recognition, respect, and shared responsibility
• Respect the sacredness of life
• Maintain harmony and peace
• Partnership and walking hand in hand
• Love, understanding, sincerity, and trust

As part of my poem “Healing Relationships: Walking Together” says:

Accept me for who I am.

Acknowledge that I am sacred, precious, special, a gift from the Creator.

Respect my beliefs, my traditions, my culture and my language.

Respect my sacred ceremonies and sacred objects.