ACW investigates northern
suicide prevention efforts
by Ana Watts
It took the implementation of “Plan C” but the ACW members gathered in Miramichi for their annual general meeting on May 1 and 2 learned a 
lot about the Council of the North suicide prevention program. Created in response to the tragedy of suicide, especially as it affects Indigenous youth, it is a network of programs that enables lay and ordained volunteers to employ the program that best suits their community’s context. There was a time when famine, war and disease were the enemies of Canada’s indigenous peoples. Now they are alcoholism, suicide and poverty. National Indigenous Anglican Bishop Mark MacDonald calls suicide prevention “one of the great spiritual battles of our time.” With about 10 suicides a day in Canada, he says, everyone is touched one way or another. Rate of suicide in indigenous youth is five times higher than in the rest of the Anglican Church.
The diocesan ACW invited Bishop Lydia Mamakwa, one of eight Indigenous bishops in the Anglican Church of Canada (and the only woman), to attend their annual meeting on May 1. The bishop’s sister was taken ill, however, and she went to be with her in a remote northern community hospital. Plan B was Cynthia Patterson, coordinator of the suicide prevention program. She however, was called to a suicide prevention conference in Ottawa. Plan C was to have Cynthia at the meeting via Skype. She would be able to see the ACW members at the meeting on her computer, the ACW members would be able to see her through a computer image projected on the wall and everyone would be able to hear everyone else. It almost happened. Technical difficulties in Ottawa prevented transmission of the video portion of the Skype call, but the audio came through loudly and clearly.
One member asked her what sort of programs they have for youth to “keep them busy.” Cynthia said they were developing several programs with elders to teach the young people traditional skills like making canoes and trapping. These are in the early stages so they don’t have insight into their efficacy yet.
She also told them about on-line courses for clergy and other volunteers based on The River of Life Indigenous Culture. The courses are 20 to 24 hours long, computer based, accessible and culturally relevant.
Archdeacon David Edwards, the diocesan Parish Development Officer enlightened (and entertained) the ACW members with news of the Nicodemus Project enabling the church to grow spiritually, numerically and financially, and also talked about spiritual development through prayer and scripture reading. He stressed the importance of breaking down the walls in order to serve the communities in which we live and hinted at the pending announcement of a youth house in the south end of Saint John. “Nothing happened with this project until the Anglican Church got involved. We have put $20 million toward ministry in the south end over the past 20 years.”
The Rev. Kara (Thompson) Mejia who serves with her husband Nelson, also a priest, in the Diocese of Hondrous spoke about their work in a church that had a congregation of six when they went there. They now have a congregation of between 50 and 60 each Sunday and are in the process of purchasing half an acre of land to build a new church. “Once the deal is finalized we will meet outside on our new land, we'll put up a tent if it rains,” she says. Their parish runs a program for women who are single parents, or in abusive relationships. Many of them stay with their husbands/partners for financial security because if they report them to the police they are left with nothing so we are developing a sewing project for these women as a way for them to earn income.” The parish has six industrial sewing machines and the women are being trained in their use. When they are proficient the parish will lend them money to buy machines of their own so they can work at home, be with their children and still earn a living.
Captain Rose Sleeves offered a slide presentation on her recent mission to Haiti to the group on May 2. Details of that were reported in the March issue of the New Brunswick Anglican. She was also installed as ACW Chaplain at the meeting.
Glenna Geer of Hampton was installed as diocesan president for the next two years. Serving on the executive with her are Florence Joy Clement of Fredericton past president, Pauline Long of Saint John first vice-president, Patti Hoyt of Bloomfield treasurer, and Diane Todd of Hampton secretary.
15 May 2012
Diocesan Communications
