Recognizing the Shared Sacredness of Indigenous and Catholic Traditions and Teachings

Julia and Adam Kozak, a married couple actively involved in bridge-building and peacemaking with Indigenous and non-indigenous peoples, reflect on National Indigenous Peoples Day.  Adam, a Lay Pastoral Associate and musician, was the National Project Manager for the Programs Team for the Papal Visit to Canada. Julia, a member of the Nisga’a Nation, designer and artist and she was the Maskwacis Site Coordinator for the Programs Team on the Papal Visit to Canada. 

June 21 is recognized annually as National Indigenous Peoples Day in Canada.  It is a day for people of all backgrounds to acknowledge the historic, cultural and spiritual contributions of great significance that the First Peoples across these lands develop, uphold and share.

The general societal relationship between Indigenous and non-indigenous Canadians through the centuries has oscillated at times between welcoming and cooperative to repressive and antagonistic… or worse. This is not an historical statement of judgement. This is a statement of the necessity of an ongoing journey requiring a mind seeking truth and wisdom and a heart embracing love and the sacred.

To recognize the sacredness of another means to also acknowledge the sacredness you yourself carry. The dignity you have received, not earned, is a gift. This is shown in a most powerful way through traditions and teachings.

The Seven Grandfather Teachings - Truth, Humility Respect, Love, Honesty, Courage and Wisdom - are virtuous teachings handed down through sacred traditions of many Indigenous cultures and are ways to live by to have peace with each other and with all creation.

Truth is speaking only to the extent we have lived or experienced. To know truth is to understand the original laws as given by the Creator. The shell of the Turtle has thirteen sections, representing one cycle of the Earth's rotations around the sun, reminding us to live in a way that upholds these values each day.

Saint Paul urges us to be diligent in learning and telling God’s truth. “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved by him…rightly explaining the word of truth.” (2 Tim 2:15) We are grateful for holy women and men who have lived this Truth as examples for us such as the life of Saint Kateri Tekakwitha.

Humility is recognizing there is a higher power than us, our Creator. It is shown through the consideration of others before ourselves. The Wolf teaches us this lesson. He bows his head in the presence of others out of deference and will not partake of food until it can be shared with the pack. His respect for his community is a hard lesson, but integral in the Indigenous way.

Jesus’ sacrifice for us on the cross is our ultimate example of humility. God put our need for reconciliation and salvation first by giving us His only begotten Son. We are to put others' needs before our own, will the best for others, offer our time and talent out of love for one another. Saint Paul says, “…clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience…forgive each other; just as the Lord has forgiven you…” (Col 3:12-13)

Respect is being gentle and kind with one another. The buffalo gives every part of his being to sustain the human way of living, respecting the balance and needs of others. Indigenous people of the plains believed themselves to be true caretakers of the great herds, developing a sustainable relationship with the Buffalo resulting in a true expression of respect.

We show respect by honouring our Creator and creation. Christ models this respect by honouring God, his Father, through obedience. We are to show compassion to everyone we encounter, extending these actions to those who persecute us. We show respect for our Creator when we are attentive and obedient to His will. We read, “Let love be genuine…hold fast to what is good; love one another with mutual affection; outdo one another in showing honour.” (Rom 12:9-10)


Love is a flowing out of respect for one another and all Creation. To feel true love is to know the Creator. It is expected that one's first love is to be our Creator, the father of all children, and the giver of life. Eagle was chosen by the Great Spirit to represent this law, as the Eagle can reach the highest out of all the creatures in bringing pure vision to the seeker.

When we feel down or a sense of inadequacy, it can help to remember that God sees us and loves us. The Creator who created the universe also created you in Love and sustains you in Love. Scripture says, “let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God…God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them.” (1 Jn 4:7-8, 15) Let our response to this gift be Love in return, as in the example set by Saint Kateri Tekakwitha in her last words, “Jesos Konoronkwa”. (“Jesus, I love you”)

Honesty is living with integrity by being truthful in everything. Raven and Kitch-Sabe, the sasquatch, represent Honesty.  Both understand who they are and how to walk in life. The highest honour bestowed upon someone is, "There walks an honest man. He can be trusted."

Integrity begins with honesty within ourselves. When we have sinned and need to ask God’s forgiveness, we must take time to examine our conscience and look at ourselves, our life and our thoughts and actions to prepare for offering genuine confession and repentance. Scripture says, “The integrity of the upright guides them, but the unfaithful are destroyed by their duplicity. (Pr 11:3)

Courage is living with a strong heart, facing fear and changes with confidence. To have the mental and moral strength to overcome fears that prevent us from living our true spirit as human beings is a great challenge that must be met with the same vigour and intensity as a mother Bear protecting her cub. Living of the heart and living of the spirit is difficult, but the Bear's example shows us how to face any danger to achieve these goals.

Scripture tells us the Lord has good plans for our lives. As we trust in Him, we will have confidence and fortitude to face any challenges. The Psalmist writes, “He is not afraid of bad news; his heart is firm, trusting in the Lord.” (Ps 112:7) and Jesus tells us, “I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” (Jn 16:33) Through faith and trust in our Creator, we can grow in courage.

Wisdom is living with vision and using the talents we have for good. The building of a community is dependent on gifts given to each member by the Creator and how the gifts are used. If a Beaver does not use his teeth, the teeth would continue to grow until they became useless, making it impossible to sustain himself. The Elders teach that for humans, one’s spirit grows weak if it is not fulfilling its use. When used properly, our gifts contribute to the development of a healthy community

Wisdom is using our unique gifts given to us by the Creator in ways that are honourable in order to multiply these talents. Wisdom is emphasized throughout Scripture, “Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you; love her, and she will watch over you. The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding.” (Pr 4:6-7) Through humility, we open ourselves to our Creator’s instruction and by right discernment we grow in Wisdom.

This ongoing journey seeking harmony and prosperity between Indigenous and non-indigenous people of these lands can seem overwhelming. So much so, that it is understandable many people will cower away from this journey. Thankfully, generations of women and men who have preceded us, through their own struggles and in receiving revelation, have passed down to us instruments for this journey. Sacred tradition and teachings and an openness in encountering each other through acknowledging the Shared Sacredness by the dignity given to us all.

As we recognize National Indigenous Peoples Day, let us continue to pray for ongoing understanding, dialogue and healing between Indigenous and non-indigenous peoples of this land as we walk together each new day.