Walking Together in Calgary

Walk As We is a small but growing urban, ecumenical, Indigenous ministry in Calgary, Alta., that is rooted in friendship, humility, and a shared journey toward reconciliation. While not one of the three official Urban Indigenous Ministry Centers supported by the Christian Reformed Church (in Winnipeg, Edmonton, and Regina), Walk As We has deep connections with local CRC congregations and has been supported by CRC Indigenous ministry resources.

For example, NewGround, a Diaconal Ministries Canada program that helps local churches build sustainable, community-empowering initiatives, has provided Walk As We with a small grant. Walk As We has used this support to focus on listening, learning, and relationship-building. Rev. Layne Kilbreath, director of Walk As We and a member of the Canadian Indigenous Ministry Committee (CIMC) and Lantern Community (CRC) Church, believes these foci are foundational to lasting reconciliation.

The seeds for Walk As We were planted during the COVID-19 pandemic when Kilbreath met Alphonse Nepoose, who was part of a drumming group renting the basement of Lantern Community Church. Out of that friendship, the rhythms of drum circles, recovery meetings, and shared meals came a vision: to walk with Indigenous neighbors rather than for them.

“What would it look like if we didn’t do things for people, but did it with them?” Kilbreath asked. That’s the focus of Walk As We: “journeying together as equals, learning from one another.”

The ministry began at Lantern Community Church, which hosted early gatherings and a “no-barriers” food market led by Indigenous leaders. As The Lantern discerned its next steps, God opened new doors through partnerships with other congregations, including The Road Church and St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church, where the Neechi Mart (All My Relations Food Market) now operates.

Walk As We reflects an ecumenical spirit supported by respected Indigenous and church leaders Adrian Jacobs (CRC), Rev. Mary Fontaine (Presbyterian Church in Canada), Rev. Tony Snow (United Church of Canada), and Rev. Laurie McKay (St. Andrew’s Presbyterian).

The ministry follows a path of learning, friendship, and action. Kilbreath said, “The first stop on the path is learning” where they use learning tools such as the CRC’s Hearts Exchanged and The Blanket Exercise as well as a course from Indigenous Canada. The next stop on the path is friendship, where they create spaces where Indigenous and non-Indigenous people can build genuine communities. From there they focus on action (ReconciliACTION), joining Indigenous-led initiatives such as the Reconciliation Journey Walk, a 16-kilometre (9.9-mile) walk around the Glenmore Reservoir in Calgary to raise awareness for residential schools before each Canadian National Day for Reconciliation.

In 2025, Walk As We helped lead the Reconciliation Journey Walk and the AMA’HNA’BINO Walk, launched the Jesus-Centered Sacred Sharing Circle Church, and supported a new SoberCrew women’s circle. Each activity is rooted in relationship and Indigenous leadership.

Through it all, Walk As We keeps Jesus at the center, lifting up values of humility, trust, collaboration, and “truth before reconciliation.” Kilbreath describes the ministry as “highly relational,” one that’s “re-introducing people to Jesus over the long term.”

“These ministries give us a chance to experiment with how we love our neighbors as ourselves,” Kilbreath said. “People might call it social justice, but really it’s biblical justice.” He said, “This is part of our identity.”