Symbolic marriage unites Canadians of French and English heritage
QUEBEC CITY, QC—More than 2,000 people from across Canada gathered in Quebec City at the end of July to seek God's healing for Canada in the hopes that it can then bring healing to other nations.
Spearheaded by the prophetic group Watchmen for the Nations, the One Heart Gathering took place July 28-31 at the Quebec City convention centre, with a key theme of reconciliation between French, English and Native Canadians.
Prayer and worship, accompanied by dance troupes from several churches, marked the meetings that included a time for couples to renew marriage vows. French and English participants—joined by their native counterparts—also took part in a symbolic "marriage ceremony" to solidify their commitment to unity and renewal.
That act was the culmination of several years of "courtship" spearheaded by Watchmen for the Nations.
"Many French Canadians perceive Canada as still tied to a British model," Watchmen director David Demian writes on the group's website. "So to speak of unity is like asking them to marry English Canada and come live at their parent's house. But marriage must be a leaving and cleaving for both parties.
"I believe the grace of God is going to come upon this nation and make us fall in love with each other. I saw in my spirit a huge wedding between English and French Canada, in Quebec."
In 1995 Watchmen for the Nations began to hold "Gathering" events across Canada to promote reconciliation, and in 2003 its "La Danse" production toured the country to promote the "courtship" between French and English. That event led to the eventual "marriage" at One Heart.
Reconciliation with Native Canadians was also a large part of the One Heart event. Native leaders participated in a ceremony of reconciliation with one another on behalf of Canada's aboriginal population. Several hundred people of native background, predominantly Innu, Cree and Métis, attended the gathering.
Pierre Therrien, regional director for the Quebec district of the Canadian Bible Society and one of the society's key links with the aboriginal populations in northern Quebec, says while the gospel has barely begun to make inroads among other aboriginal groups like the Huron, Algonguin and Montagnais, significant numbers of Innu, Cree and Métis are Christian.
"It was touching, at the ceremony, to have the native people symbolically present a copy of the Scriptures in their language to the French and English delegates, as a gesture of appreciation for [the French and English] having given them the Word of God so many years ago," says Therrien.
Robert Deer, one of 150 Innu from Northern Quebec who attended, noted that, "we have come here because we want to be together, with one spirit and one heart."
March for unity
The One Heart Gathering culminated with a march through the streets of Quebec City—meant to be a public testimony to the reconciliation that took place at the previous meetings—to the historic Plains of Abraham where the British defeated the French for control of the Canadian colonies and the lucrative fur trade in 1759.
Although the marchers' colourful costumes, dozens of provincial and foreign flags and the precisely choreographed performances attracted much attention on the streets, there was no obvious mainstream media coverage and onlookers appeared puzzled by the event.
Marchers made an effort to answer questions, but a small explanatory flyer with bold letters proclaiming that "Before time, God had a dream of a nation … that nation is Canada" did little to discourage the notion that the event was a political march.
Bystanders interviewed by ChristianWeek had no clear idea what the parade was about, although the preponderance of Canadian flags caused most to guess it was a federalist political march. Only two of the additional National Assembly security guards booked to watch the parade as it went by the provincial legislature were able to tell ChristianWeek that the march had "something to do with religion and Canadian unity."
Undaunted, at the end of the march One Heart participants prayed again for reconciliation and unity.
A Chinese pastor, one of many foreign delegates from among 50 different nations represented, prayed with a fervour that got obvious support from the Christian crowd: "Make us one, make us one, make us one!"
However, the chant drew consternation from onlookers. Many Quebecois see French and English Canada as separate nations that need to learn to respectfully live with one another's differences rather than a single nation that needs to be healed.
And, although those attending the conference expressed appreciation for the event, it remains unclear as to what next steps will be now that French and English Canada are "married."
Dear Readers:
ChristianWeek relies on your generous support. please take a minute and donate to help give voice to stories that inform, encourage and inspire.
Donations of $20 or more will receive a charitable receipt.Thank you, from Christianweek.
