The Matoaka Covenant, as the seed of a concept and a global movement, will be formally planted and spiritually recognized for the first time on All Saints Day – Sunday November 1, 2020.  Over the next 12 months the Matoaka Covenant will grow roots and develop as it is nurtured by the collective attention and support of organizations, communities and individuals around the world.  

The Covenant is named after the woman born Matoaka, died Rebecca and most famously known as Pocahontas, as she is the spiritual iconic symbol of Hope and Purpose, was one of the very first indigenous members of the Anglican Communion, and certainly is the most influential indigenous Christian of all time.

I) As we strive for equality and justice in reconciling our history of colonialism and the suffering it has engendered for generations between us: We will continue to be as constant in our search for the truth as we are responsive to its discoveries. II) As we work together to find new solutions to the racial inequality and social justice challenges that have been long before us: We will continue to be as dedicated to the principles of self-determination as we are committed to equality and justice for all humanity. III) As we expand the theological and spiritual dialogue between our many different traditions and unique communities: We will continue to be as respectful of the integrity of Indigenous traditions as we are loving in sharing our faith and our collective spirituality. IV) As we stand together to honor, protect, and nurture our home, the earth: We will continue to be as active in stewardship of God's creation as we are diligent and purposeful in our advocacy for its care.

Adopting the faith commitments of the Matoaka Covenant provides admission to a global grassroots interfaith and multicultural collaboration of organizations, communities and individuals working together with common purpose. The founding focus of this Covenant collaboration is to enhance the quality of life for indigenous, native and First Nations communities around the world while benefiting from their ancient wisdom. As it is all connected, the Covenant collaboration is also focused on promoting and facilitating racial equality and social justice for all, in the name of remembrance, recognition, reconciliation and respect. And since all these efforts are fully dependent on a sustainable future, the Covenant collaboration is supremely focused on promoting and facilitating environmental stewardship in an effort to sustain a positive quality of life on earth.

On November 1, 1997, almost 400 years after King James I asked the Church of England to propagate Christianity in the “New World”, Native Americans and descendants of English colonists gathered and signed a new covenant of faith and reconciliation to heal four centuries of misunderstanding and mistrust. At the New Jamestown Covenant ceremony on Jamestown Island in Virginia, Episcopal Church officials and representatives from many of the surviving American Indian tribes agreed to a "new covenant of faith" between the Episcopal Church and the indigenous people in the United States. Building on the solid spiritual and intellectual foundation created by The Episcopal Church with the New Jamestown Covenant, the Matoaka Covenant is introduced in 2020 to inspire and guide a growing collaboration of faith organizations and indigenous communities around the world. The following link offers a 30 minute documentary video of the foundational 1997 New Jamestown Covenant ceremony >

The Matoaka Covenant is built on the solid foundation of the New Jamestown Covenant which was originally presented and celebrated on All Saints Day, November 1, 1997. On All Saints Day in 2007 and 2017 the Episcopal Church held Covenant commitment renewal ceremonies, assigning spiritual power to this date. In an effort to honor the past and embrace the spiritual power of All Saints Day, the seed of the Matoaka Covenant concept and global movement will be formally planted and spiritually recognized for the first time on November 1, 2020. After a period of inspection and inspiration Matoaka Covenant Participants will be asked to make a lifetime commitment by adopting the Covenant on All Saints Day – November 1, 2021.

The Matoaka Covenant is working to inspire organizations, communities and individuals to become Covenant Partners and benefit from their inclusion and participation in our global action alliance. Since the Covenant calls for a century of action, prospective individual Partners are asked to consider their adoption of the Covenant as a lifetime commitment; prospective organization / community Partners are asked to make a multi-generational investment by adopting the Covenant. In order to inform a decision of such magnitude, all prospective Covenant Partners – called Participants – are asked to first resolve to investigate and experience the Covenant before making their formal adoption commitment on November 1, 2021. Through its website, blogs, social media and personalized attention to each prospective organization, community and individual, The Pocahontas Project will offer the following benefits to Covenant Participants through October 31, 2021 and then to the Partners in the Covenant forever: Matoaka Covenant Action Portal – Connecting Participants and Partners with Matoaka Sustainability Action Plan projects and programs that match their specific goals and objectives Assistance in creating or joining a Matoaka Covenant Action Committee, and help developing a long term action plan as well as benchmarks to manage the plan Connections to other Covenant Participants and Partners – locally, regionally and globally Inspiration from the life and legacy of Matoaka / Pocahontas and through participation in the Covenant and its connection to the global Covenant movement Scrapbooking options to help Participants collect memories of their substantial events and happenings related to the Covenant, in an effort to help them make their adoption decision, and then to provide a foundation for their efforts as a Covenant Member

Kairos is an ancient Greek word meaning "the right or opportune moment". Kairos has been described as a passing instant when an opening appears which must be driven through with focused determination if success is to be achieved. The Matoaka Covenant believes this is Kairos – in 2020 the cosmos and all of humanity are aligned in a moment in time when significant transformational social change can happen quickly, but only with focused determination and strategic action. The Covenant is seizing this right and opportune moment to change the future course of world history.