It all started in 2007 over lunch.
Ganosono, also known by his “GST name,” Adrian Jacobs, a Christian pastor from the Turtle Clan, Cayuga Nation, was sharing a meal with Rick Hill, a knowledgekeeper from the Beaver Clan, Tuscarora Nation–both from Six Nations Haudenosaunee Confederacy of the Grand River Territorythe Beaver Clan, Tuscarora Nation–both from Six Nations Haudenosaunee Confederacy of the Grand River Territory. Rick posed a question that would change the course of Adrian’s ministry: “Do the churches pay taxes?”
Knowing he was referring to property taxes, Adrian said, “No.” And Rick responded, “Good. Wouldn't it be great if the churches had a spiritual covenant with Six Nations where they could acknowledge Six Nations jurisdiction over their church lands, pay a token lease payment and continue their spiritual work—and if the churches ever decommissioned, the land could revert back to Six Nations?” Adrian recalls: “Those words were burned into my heart at that time.”
Today, that seed of an idea has grown into a blossoming, hope-filled movement of non-Indigenous churches walking together with First Nations in the spirit of right relationship.
Strawberry Thanksgiving and Communion
On June 14, 2025, over 170 people from 11 Christian denominations and members of Six Nations gathered for the fourth Strawberry Thanksgiving and Communion event at Rockway Mennonite Collegiate in Kitchener. What began as a dream in 2007 has become an ecumenical celebration of land, gratitude, and relationship, rooted in both Haudenosaunee traditional teachings and Christian theology.
“It's good for First Peoples and settler peoples to do things together and learn more about each other. To have a greater understanding of what has happened in the past and what we can do moving forward,” said Mim Harder, Blanket Exercise Facilitator with MCC Ontario.
The timing was intentional—June is when strawberries, the first fruits of Haudenosaunee culture, are harvested. “Strawberries are medicine, food, and ceremony,” Adrian explained. “We give thanks for what Creator has provided.” Communion, he added, “is also thanksgiving—joining together in recognition of Christ and the provisions of Creator.”
The gathering opened with the Haudenosaunee Thanksgiving Address, honouring the land, sun, animals, water and all creation. Adrian shared his teachings on the Spiritual Covenant, reminding participants that if the Haldimand Tract lands—granted to Six Nations in 1784 by the British Crown—had been properly leased, Six Nations communities could have earned between $2 to $7 trillion in interest by now.
This year’s event brought fresh symbolism and deepened commitments. Stirling Avenue Mennonite Church, one of the first to enter into a Spiritual Covenant, presented a handcrafted pottery communion set to Adrian. Designed by artist and congregant Katie Cowie-Redekopp, the ceramic vessels feature strawberry plants as a visual and spiritual symbol.
“In consultation with Adrian, I chose the strawberry because of its sacred place in Haudenosaunee culture,” Katie said. “Strawberry plants have deep roots, a wide network of runners and leaves—just like reconciliation work. It spreads. It transforms.”
Churches are encouraged to make token lease payments as part of their covenant. Six Nations Polytechnic was identified as a good place to direct the payments. It is a non-partisan, Indigenous-led educational institution co-founded by Rick Hill, which preserves and revitalizes Haudenosaunee language and knowledge.
But the covenant is more than financial—it’s relational. “This isn’t about guilt,” Adrian reminded attendees. “It’s about relationship, beginning a journey, however small the first step may be.”
To symbolize the Indigenous-settler dialogue, this year’s ceremony was co-facilitated by Laurie Warkentin, a Mennonite staff person from MCC Ontario, and Lana Moses, of Lenape and German ancestry, from Feather & Cross. Together they represented the strength and leadership of women, and the Two Row Wampum’s call for side-by-side journeys of mutual respect.
Broadening Support from Local Churches
Churches from various backgrounds are participating in the Spiritual Covenant, as word spreads to more communities on and around the Haldimand Tract. Wilda Thumm shared that First Baptist Church in Guelph is interested because “people feel overwhelmed - it's such a big problem! But now we know about this concrete way for a congregation to do something.”
Meadowlands Fellowship CRC in Ancaster shared that 45 members participated in the learning journey, Hearts Exchanged, which led individual donors from their congregation to contribute the bulk of a symbolic 1% of their church’s budget to Six Nations Polytechnic in the first year, with a plan for their church to cover an increasing amount so that, by year five, the full donation would be from their church’s budget. This allows those already engaged to start, while giving time to raise awareness within their wider congregation as they work towards full funding.
Other churches that have long been working towards reconciliation are recognizing the Spiritual Covenant as a way to take action. Southridge Community Church in the Niagara region has had a ‘Becoming Good Relatives’ working group for a number of years. They’re connecting locally and will donate towards the Fort Erie Friendship Centre as they continue the relationship they’ve started there.
Waterloo North Mennonite Church shared how they have been responding to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission Call to Action #59 to “learn about their church’s role in colonization, the history and legacy of residential schools, and why apologies to former residential school students, their families, and communities were necessary.” Now, their collective learning will continue as they build relationships with Six Nations.
Parkminster United Church in Waterloo started a journey of relearning our history and what it means to live into right relationship in 2017. Nancy Dykstra, a church leader, reflected that “there have been swells and dips in interest. But the Strawberry Thanksgiving and Communion came at a providential time. It reminded us we’re not alone.” Thanks to follow-up support from the CRC and MCC, congregations like Parkminster were able to deepen their understanding and continue the conversation. “The energy at this year's event was palpable,” Nancy said. “You could feel the Spirit moving among us.”
Jeremy Vanderhoek from Waterloo Christian Reformed Church echoed that excitement. “We’ve been exploring the idea of a Spiritual Covenant as a next step in our reconciliation journey - we want to be part of this movement.”
The message throughout the day was clear: reconciliation is not a moment—it’s a relationship. It’s about small steps, creative gestures, and bold commitments. Whether it’s symbolic lease payments, local learning communities, or a ceramic chalice painted with strawberries, each act affirms the covenant.
“The Churches [through residential schools] contributed to the loss of Indigenous knowledge,” Adrian said. “But now, the Church has an opportunity to be part of the restoration.”
Taking a step
As communion was served—using Adrian’s new chalice filled with strawberry juice—there was a sense of wholeness. A mingling of cultures, faiths, and histories around one table.
Adrian closed the gathering with a challenge. “Don’t be scared off by the work another church is doing. Don’t let what you can’t do keep you from doing what you can. Take that first step. Share this story with your congregation. Begin a relationship. Let the Spirit guide you.”
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Those who are ready to take that step are invited to mark their calendars to join us next year on June 13th for the 2026 Strawberry Thanksgiving and Communion.
To hear more about the Spiritual Covenant and Adrian’s fascinating faith journey, listen to this episode of MCC Ontario’s podcast, Undercurrents.
Further resources:
- “Churches Gather for Strawberry Communion” (CRC News)
- “Spiritual Covenant” (MCC story)
- “Small Steps Toward Reparation” (Canadian Mennonite)
- “Spiritual Covenants with Churches and First Nations” by Adrian Jacobs
Is your church interested in pursuing the Spiritual Covenant? We’re here to help - contact us at cimc@crcna.org or fionali@mcco.ca