Opening and Closing Relations

At a time when fewer Canadians than ever identify with a conventional religious tradition and Canadian institutions are becoming increasingly secular, there is evidence of a resurgence in Indigenous spirituality and a new recognition of and respect for its significance in Canadian public life. Opening and Closing Relations examines this growing engagement with expressions of culture, law, and spirituality in Indigenous communities as well as broader public institutions. The contributors argue that the resurgence of Indigenous spirituality encourages the creation of new laws, practices, customs, governance structures, and institutions – and not just for Indigenous people, but for all Canadians. Despite exceptions, we are witnessing a sea change in attitudes and practices regarding Indigenous spirituality in Canadian society and public life. Non-Indigenous Canadians are arguably more willing to recognize, honour, and integrate Indigenous spirituality than ever before in Canadian history. Examining this dynamic and its limitations in legislation, healthcare, sustainability, projects of Indigenous sovereignty, and more, the book also integrates examples of resurgence in particular Indigenous communities and Indigenization in Canadian public institutions. While rooting their work in their particular academic specializations, the authors also write reflexively on their own (Indigenous or settler) experiences and identities, challenging the boundaries of mainstream academic disciplines through forms of storytelling, poetry, photography, and personal memoir. An invaluable resource, this book serves as both a scholarly reference and a meaningful conversation-starter on reconciliation and resurgence.