You're warmly invited to a Strawberry Thanksgiving & Communion on Saturday, June 13, 2026, from 9:00am to 1:00pm at Six Nations Polytechnic in Ohsweken.
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 help repair relationships and move towards repair.
Inspired by an invitation from a Haudenosaunee traditional Knowledge Keeper, Adrian calls this journey the Spiritual Covenant – choosing to acknowledge Indigenous jurisdiction over lands and paying an annual token lease payment. But it's about more than just money—it's about a heartfelt transformation through collective participation. You can read more of what Adrian Jacobs has written about the Spiritual Covenant here and find resources about past gatherings here.
Last June, more than 170 people from 11 different Christian denominations came together at Rockway Mennonite Collegiate. Communion was celebrated, all learned about the Spiritual Covenant, all listened to churches that have embarked on the journey, and ended with a dance together. They also enjoyed a lunch with strawberries, which are the first fruit to ripen and a special gift from the Creator in Haudenosaunee culture.
Led by Adrian and supported by a planning team from Mennonite, Christian Reformed, United, and Lutheran churches and organizations, this year's gathering is being held at Six Nations Polytechnic. The event is also available online.
Event Details
Date: Saturday, June 13, 2026
Time: 9:00am – 1:00pm (doors open at 9 am and program starts at 9:30 am)
9:00-9:30 a.m.: Arrival and refreshments
9:30 a.m.-12:00 p.m.: Teaching by Adrian, sharing and communion
12:00-1:00 p.m.: Lunch
Venue: Six Nations Polytechnic, 2160 4th Line, Ohsweken
Registration is required for this event by RSVP here. (Scroll to the bottom of the webpage)