Is there something fundamentally incompatible between Indigenous Canadians and Christianity or other faiths? Some might say so, but many Indigenous Canadians would strongly disagree. As part of our Indigenous Voices of Faith project, we’ve interviewed 12 Indigenous Canadians about their religious faith and its interaction with their culture.

Andrew P.W. Bennett

Dcn. Gilbert Pitawanakwat shares his story of becoming a Catholic deacon and how that relates to his Anishinaabe identity.

Dcn. Rennie Nahanee’s embrace of Catholicism sees him serving as a deacon in a church in the Squamish Nation where much of the Mass is translated into the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh sníchim language.

After decades away from her Catholic faith, Dr. Rose-Alma McDonald has returned to Catholicism and speaks about how it integrates Mohawk culture.

Melissa Mbarki speaks with Fr. Dcn. Andrew Bennett about her gradual embrace of Indigenous spirituality and the variety of religious views among Indigenous Canadians.

Tal James, whose Indigenous name is Yum’Yom ala’thut, is an evangelical Christian who says, “It’s a blessing to be able to be part of both cultures, the church culture and First Nations culture.”

Andrew P.W. Bennett

Father Deacon Andrew Bennett, program director for Cardus Faith Communities, interviewed Marilyn Crowchild in Calgary, Alberta, on November 4, 2022.

Father Deacon Andrew Bennett, program director for Cardus Faith Communities, interviewed Maria Lucas in Toronto, Ontario, on October 27, 2022.