It is a historical fact that in the course of the colonization of North America by Europeans in the sixteenth century through the present, the Indigenous Peoples of Canada were in various ways mistreated, oppressed and subjugated by newcomers to Canada. And often this happened at the hands of people who claimed Jesus Christ as their Lord and Saviour. This mistreatment in its various forms led to intergenerational effects and trauma that continue today to impact the Indigenous Peoples of Canada. The Shelbourne Street Church wishes to acknowledge that this happened and that the church of Jesus Christ was complicit in not sufficiently loving and treating with respect and dignity those First Canadians they found living on lands the newcomers later occupied as their own.

While the lands of the earth ultimately belong to our Lord, the lack of love, equity, and respect shown to the First Canadians by European settlers (most of whom considered themselves Christian) when they not only took these lands for themselves, but also oppressively applied laws and governmental strength in coercive, prejudicial ways as they did so, was sinful. As part of this admission, we wish to acknowledge that the land from which the Shelbourne Street Church operates according to the provisions of the Province of British Columbia was originally part of the home and means of sustenance and life shared by the Songhees, Esquimalt, Tseycum, Tsawout, Pauquachin, Tsartlip and Malahat peoples. It is our intention that, in addition to this admission of wrongdoing by Christians (as a first step), we will move forward in seeking truth and reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples, desirous for unity and love, ministering in unifying, reconciling, helpful ways, and being mutually blessed in relationship with the descendants of those who first inhabited the wonderful place God has allowed us to call home here in Greater Victoria.