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**Revised Draft Covenant of the First Peoples of Canada (5th June 2006), final version will be made available at the First Peoples Summit 2006 in Ottawa, Canada.**
THE COVENANT OF THE FIRST PEOPLES OF CANADA
WHEREAS the First Peoples of Canada, being First Nations, Inuit and Métis pastors, leaders and community members, hereinafter, the 'First Peoples of Canada', acknowledge the one true God, who made the world and everything in it, is the Lord of heaven and earth, and that He himself gives all men life and breath and everything else. He made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth. He determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live, and in him we live and move and have our being.
AND WHEREAS the First Peoples of Canada, as unique and distinct nations, are made in the image of God, and believe that the sovereign Lord of heaven and earth has placed upon all nations a sacred trust to be the stewards and keepers of his creation. As sovereign nations we are united in our sacred relationship with the Lord God of heaven and earth and with one another.
AND WHEREAS the First Peoples of Canada, are bound together by the love of Christ, and in our common origin, history and experience, and our faith and hope in God. We are brothers and sisters, leaders and warriors of our nations, purchased and redeemed by the blood of Jesus Christ to be a Kingdom and Priests to serve our God and reign on the earth.
AND WHEREAS the First Peoples of Canada, know therefore, that the Lord is God and He is a faithful covenant-making and covenant-keeping God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commandments, and in the prophetic destiny of our people, we hereby resolve to remain true and faithful to the Lord, God of heaven and earth, who has dominion from sea to sea, and from the River to the ends of the earth.
NOW, THEREFORE, the First Peoples of Canada having met in a Sacred Convocation of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis pastors, leaders, and community members in Ottawa, Canada DECLARE:
Article 1. The First Peoples of Canada hereby affirm to respect, recognize and honour our identity as diverse peoples; and in solidarity to pray for the peace of Jerusalem and to bless Israel in accordance to the Word of the living God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
Article 2. The First Peoples of Canada, as a healed, restored and released people, hereby affirm to co-exist and co-labour as partners in transformation with one another and with the Church in Canada, nations and governments. We will walk together in peace, prosperity and freedom. We commit to the restoration, advancement and promotion of the moral and spiritual and political integrity of our society, and the release for all from a negative past. We declare healing for our land and revival in Canada; and Canada will be a banner of healing for all nations worldwide.
Article 3. The First Peoples of Canada hereby affirm to strengthen these bonds of love, mutual respect, honor, integrity, and cooperation. Under the leadership of the Holy Spirit, as friends and allies, we will move forward in wisdom to exercise our spiritually guided governmental authority in concert with other peoples, nations, the greater Christian community, and governments in our regions. We present ourselves as nations under God.
Article 4. The First Peoples of Canada hereby affirm to inform, pray, assist and support each other in the spiritual, social, economic and political development of our peoples and to achieve our common vision to see the advancement of our peoples and Canada within the Kingdom of God.
Article 5. The First Peoples of Canada hereby affirm, at this historic Sacred Convocation of First Nations, Inuit and Métis pastors, leaders and community members, that we will convene again on many occasions and that the spirit of understanding and fellowship among our peoples, which we cultivated here, will grow ever stronger as we take our rightful place in Canada and in the world.
Article 6. The First Peoples of Canada hereby affirm, the foregoing Covenant, among First Nations, Inuit and Métis pastors, leaders and community members, and enter into this Covenant, in faith, hope, love, and in obedience to our Lord God; and in honour of our ancestors who believed in God the Creator, and who welcomed the Gospel, and for the sake of our future generations.
Article 7. True copies of this Covenant shall be held by each of the initial signatories to the Covenant. Duly certified copies thereof shall be transmitted to all First Nations, Inuit, and Métis pastors, leaders and community members, the Church in Canada, nations and governments in Canada.
Article 8. A true copy of this Covenant duly signed on National Aboriginal Day on June 21, 2006 shall be made available for signature on the website of Gathering Nations International at www.gatheringnations.ca, and other First Nations, Inuit and Métis websites duly recognized and authorized for such purpose.
CERTIFICATION
On behalf of the First Peoples of Canada, in unity, solidarity, mutual respect and friendship, we the undersigned attest that this Declaration represents the collective Covenant of those convened in Ottawa, Canada.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the members have hereunto, interchangeably, set their hands and seals, on this date of June 21, 2006 on National Aboriginal Day in Ottawa, Canada.
(24) SIGNATORIES:
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(12 Witnesses) IN THE PRESENCE OF:
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