Drinking Downstream

In the fall of 2009, Canada’s Governor General hosted an opening ceremony for the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) on Indian Residential Schools. In response to media reports on this event there were streams of deeply unfortunate online comments – some of which are too hateful to recall. Many of the comments reflected an idea that those who did not have direct connections to the Residential School system have no responsibility for healing and reconciliation. In Kent Nerburn’s novel, The Wolf at Twilight, the character Dan challenges this notion with this response,

I’m not saying any of this is your fault or even that your grandparents did any of it. I’m saying it happened, and it happened on your people’s watch. You’re the one who benefited from it. It doesn’t matter that you’re way downstream from the actual events. You’re still drinking the water.

Canadian churches, with or without a heritage of Residential schools, all people of faith, and all people in Canada are, as Dan says, drinking downstream. As the Prime Minister’s apology (June 11, 2008) implies, the Residential Schools and the assimilation policies behind them, are a shameful part of the history of this nation. That apology, in the voice of the Rt. Hon. Stephen Harper, from the floor of the House of Commons, is our apology. If the words of apology and new relationship are to mean something they demand action – and the TRC is a significant first step in that direction.

Over the next 5 years the TRC will hear the stories of survivors and record the truth of the residential schools. Hearing these stories publically – and in national scope – honours the speakers and affirms the truth of what they say. As Justice Murray Sinclair, the TRC chair has suggested: we need to hear what went wrong, and how far things went wrong in order to make things right.

For the listening to begin it’s critical to challenge the often heard brush-off: it’s in the past, get over it. As Justice Sinclair said, “We and you are not out of that past yet.” The past of residential schools is with us: children have been taken from the love of their parents and communities have deep scars. These scars are at the root of a brutal cycle of social problems in too many Aboriginal communities. The brokenness in those communities is a direct result of residential schools and assimilation policies. This past has significant implications for non-Aboriginal Canadians too. Terry Leblanc, Director of My People International and an Indigenous Christian theologian, put it this way:

The Prime Minister and leaders of the opposition admitted that we were wrong – this raises a counterpoint: Native communities can legitimately say we were right to struggle for our culture and our language. Parliamentary leaders also acknowledged that Canada robbed the nation of the contribution that Aboriginal people might make – the counterpoint is, again, that Aboriginal people have a contribution to make to this place and nation – we need to do things to ensure that this contribution can be re-acquired. If there was a wrong, there is a right. This needs to move from personal change to collective responsibility at multiple levels. Therefore the apology was not resolution – it was only a beginning point for a new relationship that is characterized by mutual responsibility.

The sins of assimilation have robbed Canada of the full contribution of Aboriginal people to the life of this place and nation that we call Canada. Committing to a journey of listening, healing and reconciliation through the TRC is a key part of restoring trust and wholeness – because we are all treaty people. We all drink downstream – our mutual health depends on restoring the river of our relationship.

With understanding comes a need for action. Here are a few ideas:

• Follow and participate in the proceedings of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, and encourage others to do the same. Public National Events start in the Spring of 2010.
• Pray for courage for the truth tellers, wisdom for the Commissioners, and open listening hearts for all of us. Creator, Spirit, Jesus walk with us!
• There are a host of excellent resources on truth and reconciliation available. Here are just a few to consider:
  • MAMOW BE-MO-TAY-TAH: Let Us Walk Together. A 2009 resource from the Canadian Ecumenical Anti-Racism Network is designed to help Canadians to engage with the Truth and Reconciliation Commission on Indian Residential Schools and to better understand the legacies of colonization that Aboriginal peoples live with today.
  • KAIROS’ Indigenous Rights Program is committed to building new relationships through education and Advocacy. CPJ is part of the heritage of their important work going back to the days of Project North and the Mackenzie Valley Pipeline.
  • Good Books: Kent Nerburn’s novels – Neither Wolf Nor Dog and The Wolf at Twilight, John Raulston Saul – A Fair Country (reviewed by CPJ in the 2009 Summer Catalyst) and, CPJ’s 2001 book Nation to Nation: Aboriginal Sovereignty and the Future of Canada, a collection of essays that address culture, community, and collaboration with non-native Canadians.