Truth and Reconciliation

Today we honour and remember those that people tried to silence. Our native people who survived the efforts of churches and political leaders who were tried to erase their culture. Children were ripped out of their homes and forced to attend a boarding school, most often very far from their home. The last such school to finally close was Kivalliq Hall which closed in 1997. I am just beside myself to know that these terrible schools were still being allowed in our recent history! The historian John S. Milloy argued that the system’s aim was to “kill the Indian in the child”. The assumption, of course, was that the “Europian civilization“ was superior to the native culture.

I commend these survivors of such terrible circumstances are now trying to reclaim their heritage and culture. There is a resurgence of learning to speak their own languages. We’ve even had hockey commentators call the game in Cree. Tantoo Cardinal (Dances with Wolves) tries to redefine her movie rolls to give the authentic story of her people. The Native Peoples of Canada are relearning their culture of medicine and how to deal with the land and are being listened to for their wisdom. My thoughts to our Aboriginal people - Please keep on continuing to survive your terrible ordeal. You are shining!