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January 2016 Issue No. 42
Happy new year to our readers. We have changed our newsletter format to make it mobile-friendly.
Let us know what you think. -- Jenn, Monica, Bekah and Esther
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Action for reconciliation
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(photo credit: Adrian Wyld, Canadian Press)
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In December, the federal government took two major steps toward reconciliation with Canada's Indigenous peoples. On December 8, it announced an official inquiry into missing and murdered Indigenous women (MMIW). The Native Women's Association and many other groups have been demanding such an inquiry for years. According to RCMP sources, some 1200 Indigenous women have been murdered or gone missing since 1980. Then on December 15 government representatives, including the prime minister, attended the ceremony in which the final report of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission was released. The 4000-page seven-volume report documents the experience of survivors of the Indian Residential Schools System. It also includes 94 Calls to Action which will foster healing for Indigenous peoples and reconciliation between them and non-Indigenous peoples. Prime Minister Trudeau committed the government of Canada to acting on these calls and to establishing a new nation-to-nation relationship with Indigenous people. MCC joined the call for the MMIW inquiry some years ago, and many MCC staff have participated in TRC-related events over the past six years. So we welcome the government's actions. We will continue to advocate for government action and policies that reflect a renewed relationship, even as we encourage churches, individuals and society as a whole to join the journey of reconciliation.
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Arms Trade Treaty
Just over a year ago an international Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) went into force. This ground-breaking international convention contributes to international peace, security and stability by limiting and regulating the trade and transfer of conventional (non-nuclear) weapons. Up till now, more regulations have governed the trade of bananas than weapons! Despite the fact that Canadians - through Project Ploughshares and other organizations - contributed significantly to the development of the treaty at the UN, Canada has not signed on. In fact, it is the only member of the G7 and the only member of NATO that has NOT signed on to the treaty.
In his mandate letter to Foreign Minister Stephane Dion, Prime Minister Trudeau identified that acceding to the treaty should be a key priority for the minister. In our letter of congratulations to Minister Dion on his appointment, MCC also once again encouraged action on the ATT. Project Ploughshares and several other organizations did the same. Over the years, many of you have supported our call to the federal government to sign on to the ATT - thank-you! We await a favourable response from the government soon.
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KAIROS' Winds of Change campaign invites Canadians to support the TRC's Call to Action #62. This call urges the provincial and territorial governments to make the residential school legacy, the Treaties, and past and present Indigenous contributions to the country a part of the mandatory school curriculum.
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The latest issue of Intersections, MCC's quarterly on theory and practice, focuses on Food Assistance. Food assistance remains a significant part of MCC's international program. Various contributors write about topics such as: new modalities in food assistance (such as cash and vouchers rather than food itself), the need for gender analysis in food assistance projects, the importance of social protection strategies to prevent hunger and need, and ways that food assistance can prevent conflict and build peace.
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Our annual student seminar is only weeks away. Don't miss the exciting opportunity to learn about Canada's response to the issues of refuge, asylum, and displacement from MPs, civil servants, and NGOs. Registration continues until January 25, 2016. More information is available here.
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Staff update 
There's a new Advocacy Research Intern at the Ottawa Office! We are pleased to welcome Esther Isaac who recently completed her undergraduate degree at the University of Ottawa with a major in Political Science and a minor in Global Studies. Her interest in politics began with a mission trip in Guatemala with the Ontario Christian Gleaners in 2012. Since that trip, Esther has spent time in Lesotho, South Africa, Bangladesh, Kuwait, and other European countries. Both her travel experiences as well as her education have furthered her desire to work in politics as it relates to social justice.
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