Dear Friends,
Members of the Pacific Mountain Indigenous Ministries and its Executive Council gathered for a weekend of conversation and much needed reconnecting at its AGM held this year at Cape Mudge on Quadra Island.
Nearly 30 people gathered in person with another four folks meeting over Zoom from all over Turtle Island. Friday night, our Moderator, with deep family connection to Cape Mudge, The Right Rev. Dr. Carmen Landsdowne, spoke into our connectedness and challenged those of us gathered to go back to our home communities and ask people, where they see the place, the significance, the relevance of the ‘UCC’ in their lives. President of the Region, The Rev. Dr. Simon LeSieur, inspired and strangely warmed the hearts of those who gathered on Sunday morning in the little church overlooking the passage between Quadra Island and Campbell River with a sermon that included cozy cabins, loving lights in the darkness and the healing power of the earth. 
Members of the Executive Council were affirmed and three new members will be joining Ray Jones – Co-Chair, Keetah Levac – Co Chair, Mimi Smienk, David Clellamin. They are Alisia Henkle (?) – Cape Mudge, Rev. Nancy Walker – Bella Coola; Brady Bolton – Gitsegukla.
Cultural Dancers performed several dances one evening. Food was spectacular. A free afternoon meant a trip to do some local gift getting and museum touring. We prayed, sand and drummed next to the beach. We explored our role on the national Indigenous Council and the National Elders’ Council. Rev. Rob Shearer reported on the important, faithful work of reconciliation and healing being done through Alberni Valley United Church. Charlene Burns, Western Canada Capacity Development Coordinator zoomed in with reports on M&S Grants and funding, and property supports and improvements. Tim Hackborn – Indigenous OV, talked about the Parallel Pathway and Ministry development – 17 Indigenous students in the system across the country. Ray Aldred of VST talked about the ISP and the teaching House Traveling program.
Laughter, tears, frustration, joy… Three new young adults joined the meeting. New members from Prince Rupert and Bella Coola were there. Guests from Alberta were also invited to attend in their former roles on the NIC and NEC.
To the people of Cape Mudge United Church, and members of the Band Office who opened their spaces to us, Thank you! To those who fed us, body and soul, and drove us back and forth each day, Thank you! We continue to send Christ’s healing light to our IM Executive’s Co-Chair, Ray, as he grows stronger after his February accident; and to Mimi who, as co-host with Keetah at Quadra Island’s United Church, had the fortunate unfortunate timing of a much awaited knee surgery coming do which kept her home on the couch and on Zoom for the duration.
What was very clear was that we’ve missed each other. We’ve missed the opportunity Presbytery meetings provided for us to get together. We were thankful to be able to hear each other’s experiences in their particular place within the region with some similar challenges and some, very different. It was good to be together and to reconnect and, at times, dance and laugh together.
We have been blessed in the mess…and trust the blessings will 
continue.
Blessings,
*Lepled/Rev. Teri Meyer (she/her), BA, MDiv, CRJ
Acting Indigenous Minister
Pacific Mountain Regional Council of The United Church of Canada
Living in, and working from, Haisla Territory, Kitimat, BC.
*Lepled – Haisla for Minister/Spiritual Leader