Kevin Annett

Kevin D. Annett (aka. Kevin McNamee-Annett, and Eagle Strong Voice born 1956 in Edmonton, Alberta) is a Canadian writer and former minister of the United Church of Canada. He has authored two books about Canadian aboriginals: "Love and Death in the Valley" and "Hidden from History: The Canadian Holocaust".

Education and ministry

In the 1980s, Annett graduated from the University of British Columbia with a Bachelor's degree in anthropology and a Master's degree in political science. In 1990, he graduated from the Vancouver School of Theology with a Master of Divinity, and was subsequently ordained by British Columbia Conference of the United Church of Canada. In 1990-1991 he served in churches in rural Manitoba, and in 1991-1992 served at the Fred Victor Mission in Toronto, an outreach street-ministry of The United Church of Canada. Beginning in 1992, he was the minister to St. Andrew's United Church in Port Alberni, British Columbia and resigned from this position in January 1995.cite web| url=http://www.united-church.ca/communications/news/general/070501| title=Kevin Annett and The United Church of Canada|publisher=The United Church of Canada|date=January 2008|accessdate=2008-03-24] cite news|url=http://www.ucobserver.org/justice/2008/05/hard_truths/|title=Reconciled to hard truths|first=Mike|last=Milne|date=2008-05-02|accessdate=2008-05-13|publisher=United Church Observer] Since 1997, Annett has been placed on the Discontinued Service List of The United Church of Canada, and can no longer function as a minister of that denomination. [cite web| url=http://www.bc.united-church.ca/Faithful_Public_Witness/First_Nations/response_081997.htm|title=Formal Hearing Panel Decision|publisher=United Church of Canada|accessdate=2006-10-02]

Residential school work and writings

Annett has written two books on the subject of residential school abuse in Canada. The first, "Hidden from History: The Canadian Holocaust", was published in two editions: 2001, and 2005. The second, "Love and Death in the Valley", was published in 2002.cite web|url=http://canadiangenocide.nativeweb.org/kevin_bio.html|title=Kevin Annett biography|publisher=Kevin Annett|accessdate=2008-03-24] In 2006, Kevin produced a documentary on this topic: "Unrepentant: Kevin Annett and Canada's Genocide" which won the 2006 award for 'Best Director' at the New York International Independent Film & Video Festival [ [http://www.nyfilmvideo.com/2006/nynov2006/awards/ny-nov-06-awards.htm New York Film and Video Festival ] ] .

Critics of Annett's work claim his work will threaten Canada's recent initiatives in Truth and Reconciliation with residential school survivors. Whereas other activists support Annett, for instance Noam Chomsky is reported to have said that Annett is "more deserving of the Nobel Peace Prize than many who have received it in the past." [ [http://thetyee.ca/Views/2008/04/30/TruthAndAbuse/ Truth and Native Abuse :: Views :: thetyee.ca ] ]

2008 protests

On March 22nd, 2008 "Friends of the Disappeared" disrupted the Easter Sunday Mass of Vancouver's Holy Rosary Cathedral. [ [http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20080323/native_protest_080323/20080323?hub=Canada CTV.ca | First Nations protesters disrupt Easter services ] ] In addition to causing a disturbance in the actual sanctuary, the protesters harassed parishioners as they arrived for Easter Mass by calling them "murderers." [http://www.canada.com/theprovince/news/story.html?id=2208cea3-e7c4-4afd-9043-73bbd532fb2c&k=90648 Two parishioners kicked out of church for protesting to the priest ] ] Annett claimed these actions were "authorized" by Squamish First Nation's hereditary chief Kiapilano. On March 17 the Squamish First Nation issued statements that Annett "is not a member of the Nation and has no association with the Nation whatsoever", that they do not recognize Gerald Johnston (Kiapilano) as a hereditary chief, and that he has "neither the authority nor the capacity" to act on their behalf. [cite web| url=http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/March2008/17/c4940.html|title=Gerald Johnston - Disruption of Church Services|publisher=CNW Group|accessdate=2008-03-17]

References

External links

* [http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-6637396204037343133 Unrepentant: Kevin Annett and Canada's Genocide (documentary)] : Google Video (108 minutes)