Who Are We?

What is Toronto Urban Native Ministry?

TUNM is an ecumenical ministry dedicated to serving Indigenous people living in the Greater Toronto Area, a population estimated to be more than 95,000.

Established in 1996, TUNM is located at 6 Trinity Square in the downtown core and offers programming at our site, as well as other areas of the Greater Toronto Area.

 TUNM reflects a long history of Indigenous involvement with churches.  At present we are in partnership with The United Church of Canada and The Anglican Church of Canada. Through these relationships, we assist members of both the Indigenous and non-Indigenous community to enrich their lives and build right relations.

Our Background

The first position created for TUNM was one for a United Church Minister- The Reverend Grafton Antone, who served in that capacity for nine years.  He established a wonderful framework for the ministry which we now conduct with urban Indigenous people. The Reverend Evan Smith served as the United Church minister from 2014-2022, lifting up Two-Spirit and LGBTQ+ people, bringing a harm reduction framework to TUNM, and creating spaces for adoptees and 60's Scoop Survivors. 

Throughout the history of Toronto Urban Native Ministry, the work of lay people has been critical and brought vitality to our expansive ministry. A position for a social and pastoral care worker with a particular focus on the needs of Indigenous women, was added to the ministry in 2010.  Sandra Campbell is currently the primary staff person of TUNM, serving as Indigenous Outreach Coordinator for 14 years. Sandra has brought to TUNM a wealth of cultural knowledge and decades of experience in social services and advocacy. 

A position for an Anglican priest was also created, and the Reverend Canon Andrew Wesley served in this position until 2015. Reverend Andrew's gifts as an Elder and knowledge keeper empowered Residential School Survivors in sharing their truths and creating the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. In 2016, The Reverend Chris Harper joined TUNM as our Anglican Priest in 2017, then moved on to become Bishop of Saskatoon, and serves now as the National Indigenous Bishop of the Anglican Church of Canada. Our current Anglican priest is The Reverend Leigh Kern, who joined us in 2019.

Our Purpose

TUNM seeks to...

 promote principles of restoring right relations, building justice and reconciliation;

•  provide outreach services to the homeless, incarcerated, shut-ins, and to those in hospital and other institutions;

•  encourage personal healing through the use of Christian and Traditional beliefs and counseling;

•  provide worship and ceremonies that address healing needs;

•  refer individuals to existing resources: government, church, and other community services;

•  provide services integrating traditional and Christian ways: wedding, baptisms, wakes, funerals, and ceremonies;

•  address the ongoing legacy of the Indian Residential School System and institutions of genocide, their impact, preservation of their historical memory, and support churches in their fulfillment of the 94 Calls to Action of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission;

•  preserve and help to spread the teachings of the Elders, people of wisdom who have earned the trust and respect of their community through their good deeds, cultural achievements, and depth of life experience. 

What We Believe About Spiritual Development

Human beings who are supported in a safe, caring, and respectful environment learn to value their lives and the lives of others, including plants and animals and other creations of the Great Spirit.  

Song, dance, spiritual ceremonies, and other processes of healing bring wholeness and togetherness, and provide a sense of purpose in the world.  

This process creates a sense of identity, and enriches the people’s existence on Mother Earth.

In spiritual development a person's inner state connects with the community and the environment; this inner state longs to reflect inner peace, balance and personal harmony.

TUNM strives to support people and communities on their spiritual journeys. We seek to operate from a non-judgemental and harm reduction framework that respects the dignity, autonomy, and self-determination of our community members. In our week we seek to address colonial harms, such as the oppression of Two-Spirit and LGBTQ+ peoples.