Strawberry Thanksgiving and Communion

You're warmly invited to a special event featuring Adrian Jacobs of the Turtle Clan, Cayuga Nation, sharing on the Spiritual Covenant—a reflection on land, relationship, and reconciliation on Saturday, June 14, 2025, from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM at Rockway Mennonite Collegiate* in Kitchener.

The Strawberry Thanksgiving & Communion event was inspired and is led by Adrian Jacobs, Ganosono of the Turtle Clan Cayuga Nation, and Senior Leader for Indigenous Justice and Reconciliation with the Christian Reformed Church in North America. For nearly two decades, Adrian has been inviting non-Indigenous Christians in the Haldimand Tract to have meaningful conversations and take real actions together in their churches to move towards mutual respect and repairing relationships. This journey he calls the Spiritual Covenant – choosing to acknowledge Indigenous jurisdiction over lands and paying an annual token lease payment. But it's more than just money—it's about a heartfelt transformation through collective participation in building relationships. You can read more of what Adrian Jacobs has written about the Spiritual Covenant here and watch this video of Adrian discussing the vision behind this event.

Last July, more than 160 people from 11 different Christian denominations came together at Six Nations Polytechnic. They celebrated communion, learned about the Spiritual Covenant, shared ideas, and committed to taking action. We also enjoyed a lunch with strawberries, which are the first fruit to ripen and a special gift from the Creator in Haudenosaunee culture.

This year, Adrian has the support of a multi-denominational planning team from Mennonite, Christian Reformed, United and Lutheran churches and organizations. We’ll meet at Rockway Mennonite Collegiate, a Christian high school dedicated to truth and reconciliation in the heart of the Haldimand Tract. We're excited to partner with them and involve the next generation in this important work.

Event Timeline:

9:00am-9:30am: check-in, nametags, coffee, tea and welcome snacks

9:30-12:00: Teaching from Adrian, sharing stories, ecumenical communion, 

12:00-1:00pm: Lunch
 

Registration is required for this event.