“STAND WITH ISRAEL” ABORIGINAL MISSION TOUR 2005

 B’nai Brith to accompany largest representation of First Nations leaders
 who depart this weekend on special educational Mission to Israel

B’nai Brith will be accompanying 44 Aboriginal leaders on a “Stand with Israel” Mission Tour that departs on August 13, 2005. The “New Allied Christian Caucus for Israel” group, the largest Aboriginal representation to travel to Israel, will be led by the head of Winnipeg’s First Nations Family Worship Centre Pastor Rev. Raymond McLean. B’nai Brith Canada’s Midwest Regional Director, Alan Yusim, who worked closely with the aboriginal leaders to develop the trip’s itinerary, will be representing the Jewish human rights organization.

The group will begin its journey in Jerusalem and visit holy sites. During their stay, Jerusalem’s Mayor Uri Lupolianski will honour Rev. McLean along with the delegation of First Nations leaders who will participate in the opening ceremonies of Israel’s National Festival of Arts and Music. The group will also make a special stop at the Yad Vashem Holocaust Memorial. B’nai Brith has also initiated meetings with Israeli Government officials and experts, who will participate in talks with the Aboriginal leaders on economic development, infrastructure building and techniques for combating poverty based on the Israeli experience.

This Mission to Israel is the third consecutive collaboration between B’nai Brith and the Aboriginal community. The initial B’nai Brith-sponsored 2003 ‘Holocaust and Hope Educator’s Tour’ followed directly the outbreak of the David Ahenakew affair. The mandate of the Aboriginal group is to build on the positive foundations already established between the Assembly of First Nations and the Jewish community, to fight antisemitism, and to create awareness of Israel as a sister democracy. 

Latest pictures from the aboriginal mission:

The following photographs were taken at the Winnipeg airport at the time of the group’s departure for Israel: