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June 27, 2008
They stand with Israel
Native Canadians celebrate country's anniversary.
RHONDA SPIVAK
In honor of Israel's 60th birthday, an aboriginal Christian leader in Winnipeg has founded a new solidarity with Israel organization called World Indigenous Nations for Israel.
Pastor Raymond McLean of the First Nations Family Worship Centre has launched the organization to galvanize support for the state of Israel. "No one in the aboriginal community has ever done this before. We will go from church to church and I believe that within two years we can have one million people registered as members," he said.
The group's motto is "Wherever we stand, we stand for Israel."
A celebration of Israel's birthday in McLean's church on Flora Street, in the heart of the North End of the city, was televised by Songs of Living Waters Ministries, an affiliate of the Miracle Channel, a Canadian Christian television station.
McLean, who was in Israel for Yom Ha'atzmaut, had brought back many Israeli flags, which were used to decorate the church, and the celebrations included the singing of Hatikvah by Dale Jack, an aboriginal woman.
"We are gong to be celebrating all year, because the Jewish people got their land back that God had promised them.... As long as we're going to be on this planet, we stand with Israel.... We are commanded to love Israel and to pray for the peace of Jerusalem," McLean told his followers. "I believe that since the Jewish people are God's chosen people, we have to stand with them," he said.
Rev. Irvin Wilson, another Christian First Nations leader who spoke at the event, said, "We are going to stand with the real indigenous nation, the people of Israel."
Those in attendance at the event sang and danced, many with Israeli flags in hand, during a celebration that lasted more than two hours.
Phyllis Godfrey, an aboriginal woman who attended the celebration, was dancing with a tabert, a hand-made decorative item that looks like a tambourine and is used during prayer services, that had a Magen David and a dove on it.
McLean, who has been to Israel eight times, will be leading a tour there in July. "I try to lead two trips a year to Israel," he said.
McLean also attended the Walk for Israel that took place in Winnipeg on May 25, in celebration of Israel's 60th birthday. He said that he is working on getting a website running to enable people to sign up as members of the World Indigenous Nations of Israel organization.
Rhonda Spivak is a Winnipeg freelance writer.
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