Adopted as an infant by Salvation Army officers, Jordan Brown-Ratcliffe grew up in a loving and faith-filled home where he was encouraged to explore the Indigenous roots of his birth family. From music and travel to art and nature, Jordan embraced life while seeking to understand his own identity and place in the world.

In 2019, Jordan passed away tragically at the age of 22. His parents, Majors Catherine and Wil Brown-Ratcliffe, established a memorial fund in his name in collaboration with The Salvation Army’s Indigenous ministries. Today, the fund continues to support Indigenous youth on their own paths of discovery, providing financial assistance to help them attend the Celebration of Culture, an annual event hosted by The Salvation Army Indigenous ministries to honour and learn about Indigenous culture.

“We recognize the importance of Jordan learning about himself and feeling comfortable with who he was as an Indigenous person of faith raised in a white family,” says Major Wil, who hopes that through experiences such as the Celebration of Culture, other Indigenous youth can come to understand their roots and embrace their contribution to the world.

“We pray that they become confident in their identity and understand that their Creator formed them, loves them and has a unique plan and purpose for them.”

Family Ties

Jordan was adopted by Majors Brown-Ratcliffe when he was just a few months old. At the time, the officers were stationed in Saskatchewan as divisional youth secretaries and had not yet had children of their own.

The adoption process unfolded gradually and according to God’s plan. Majors Brown-Ratcliffe prayed about it, and when Jordan was four months old, they received the call that Sarah, Jordan’s birth mother, would like them to adopt him.

Sarah had also been adopted by Salvationist parents, and was one of six Indigenous children adopted into the family. Sarah knew the Brown-Ratcliffes could provide a stable and loving home for Jordan.

“I was 40 at that point, so I knew that we likely wouldn’t have any other children unless we adopted them, and so Jordan would be the one and only,” explains Major Catherine. “We were excited but scared all at once, and just wanted to be sure it was the right thing for Jordan and us. But the Lord made it clear.”

From the beginning, Majors Brown-Ratcliffe were committed to raising Jordan with an understanding of his Indigenous heritage. It was an open adoption, and Jordan always knew where he came from and visited his birth family regularly.

“It was a really lovely thing,” says MajorWil.

The One and Only

“Jordan was light-hearted and fun-loving. He had a spark to him,” says Major Catherine. “He would light up a room with such a big, warm smile and contagious laugh. He was witty and had a good sense of humour, and was intelligent and inquisitive about many areas of life, such as science and faith.”

Jordan was a person of faith and was passionate about music, nature, travel and the arts. He was athletic, outdoorsy and adventurous, and was known as a good friend and encourager. But for Jordan, growing up as an Indigenous person raised in a white family brought up questions about his identity. “Many teenagers question their identity,” Major Catherine says. “But for Jordan, it was more complex.”

Jordan attended his first powwow in Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory in Ontario, and slowly began to learn more about his heritage. “He was fascinated by global Indigenous cultures in places such as Australia and in British Columbia,” says Major Wil. “He collected totem poles and Indigenous art.”

As he grew older, Jordan sought to learn more about his Indigenous heritage, often through art and nature. During their family trip to the Grand Canyon, he purchased a Native American flute, a woodwind instrument similar to a recorder, and taught himself to play it. He would compose music on it and play it for his parents.

The year before his passing, Jordan created an Indigenous design and had it tattooed. It was a design that was special to Jordan, and has since been incorporated into his headstone, along with imagery of lakes and mountains to honour his love of nature.

“Jordan’s birth dad was part of the Nekaneet First Nation in Maple Creek, Sask., and his name was Buffalo Calf,” says Major Wil. “So Jordan made up a nickname for himself that would combine our family with his birth family’s heritage—White Buffalo.”

Though Jordan never attended The Salvation Army’s Celebration of Culture, he had intended to.

“He wanted to go,” says Major Catherine. “We were hoping he would go, but he wasn’t sure if he was ready. Because he grew up in a white family, he didn’t know how much he could contribute.”

A Living Memory

In honour of Jordan’s life, Majors Brown-Ratcliffe launched the Jordan Brown-Ratcliffe Memorial Fund in 2021. 

The scholarship is need-based and co-ordinated in consultation with the Celebration of Culture committee to identify youth or families who require financial assistance, and helps to cover costs, such as registration and travel. To be eligible, applicants must self-identify as Indigenous and be under the age of 30.

“The gift that Jordan’s family is providing gives significant opportunities to Indigenous youth,” says Captain Crystal Porter, territorial Indigenous ministries consultant. “It is important to have a space where Indigenous youth can come and meet friends, learn about their culture and see Indigenous followers of Jesus as leaders.”

The Celebration of Culture is an annual Salvation Army event, in partnership with Indigenous Pathways, that brings Indigenous and non-Indigenous people together to learn about and celebrate Indigenous culture. Each year, attendees gather to experience belonging, connection, relationship building and reconciliation.

“It’s a place where Indigenous youth can authentically be themselves,” says Captain Porter. “They can be Indigenous and a follower of Jesus and realize that it’s OK to hold space in their lives for both of those things. They don’t have to compete.”

For Jordan’s parents and loved ones, the fund continues to keep his memory alive. They hope that it will help encourage young people to participate in Indigenous cultural events, and to develop a sense of pride in their identity and history.

“We hope that through this scholarship and through attending the Celebration of Culture, many young people would be confirmed in who they are as Indigenous people within the Christian faith,” says Major Catherine.

Find Your Place

For Majors Brown-Ratcliffe, establishing the memorial fund has been an important part of their own healing journey and the ongoing redemption of Jordan’s life and tragic death. “One of my biggest prayers after we lost him was that God would use this somehow for good and to help others,” explains Major Catherine.

While Jordan may not have had a chance to attend the Celebration of Culture, because of this fund, many other young people will.

“I believe Jordan would be happy and proud to know that his life, even though gone too early, will continue to benefit others who may face many of the same challenges that he faced,” says Major Catherine. “I believe Jordan would want young people to look after their mental health and any addiction issues. He would want them to speak up for themselves and to get help when they need it. He would want them to be grateful for their heritage and to take hold of their important and valued place in our world.”

For more information or to contribute to the Jordan Brown-Ratcliffe Memorial Fund, visit salvationist.ca/indigenousministries/about-us/jordan-brown-ratcliffe-memorial-scholarship.