Mass celebrants pray for peace at Oka

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Sacred Heart Church (10821-96th st.) was crammed with both Native and non-Native people last week as they celebrated a mass to pray for a peaceful end to the Oka crisis.

The audience at the Sept. 5 mass was predominantly non-Native and middle-aged or older but it indicated there's a lot of support for Native people.

Priests with leather vestments over white robes and several Natives in ceremonial dress mixed with the crow.

Before the service began a medicine bundle was opened on the dais and sweetgrass was burned, which was then carried down the aisles as the processional came forward.

Chief Jerome Morin of Enoch Cree Nation said "the opportunity given to meet as one people in the house of the Lord is a great honor and privilege. Many chiefs met to discuss Native issues and Oka in particular. The Catholic church was asked to become involved to offer prayers for our people.

"My heart bleeds every day for our people - spiritual people who rely on the creator for his blessing and divine intervention. These sad times will affect the rest of our lives. Pray for the Indian people as brothers and sisters, that injustice will be served and the governments will deal in a sincere and expedient manner. Our time is not forever," he said.

Songs and sweetgrass blended in the airs as Archbishop MacNeil entered the standing room only church.

After an opening prayer, he compared the Mohawks' situation to the injustice and persecution Jesus and his followers suffered. "The Jews were an enslaved ace and survived. Wars and oppression have plagued the world since the beginning of time.

"The warm hospitality offered by Native peoples has been met by them being driven from that land to sections of country worthless to white society," said MacNeil

"Blessed are the peacemakers responding to a call for justice, who are never satisfied. Working and praying we all will live with dignity and in peace with each other and God," he said.

"The mission of Jesus was the great gift of peace. Peacemaking begins at home."

Prayers were then offered in both English and Cree.