One of the best things about being a graduate of Regent College is getting to go back and audit classes at half the price. Last May I audited a class called "Darkness is my Only Companion," with a rather bleak title taken from Psalm 88. The class was about mental illness and pastoral care, which definitely falls into the "need-to-know" category for me in my work! In fact, during the two weeks of the class, I had two friends hospitalized for suicidal tendencies brought on by bipolar disorder and depression...
My first thought is that reconciliation can happen on both the macro and micro levels. We will need to figure out how to seek reconciliation as large groups and communities, but some of the most challenging and meaningful work will happen on the grassroots level of individual relationships between First Nations people and Christians. Which means that we need to seek out these relationships with one another, and do the hard and rewarding work of learning to love each other. First Nations Christians may be helpful by acting as bridges between their people and the Church...
As a Christian white person listening to all these survivor stories, I had the overwhelming urge to do something or say something to express my horror and remorse. I was tentatively hoping that this kind of thing might happen during the "Expressions of Reconciliation." This was the time in the weekend when representatives of churches and other organizations gave speeches in front of the whole gathering. Some were apologizing, and some were not. (One thing I learned that weekend is that the word "apologize" is a legal term, and carries the responsibility to make reparations, as opposed to a word like "regret.") Yes, words alone can be cheap, but words can also be very powerful and healing, so I knew it would be important for these representatives to choose their words carefully...
I'd like to share some quotes from the many statements I was privileged to hear last weekend, since (as I wrote about last time) I feel a responsibility to bear witness. The limitation in doing this in written form is that you don't get to hear the emotion behind the statements. The commissioners stressed that the conference was a "tear-friendly" zone, and that's a good thing, because everyone cried - those giving the statements, and those listening - everyone except the man who confessed he could no longer cry, which you'll read about below. During every session, health support workers walked around, handing out kleenexes and collecting them in bags. After the sessions, as you left the room, you were invited to wash your face in a tear-collecting canoe-shaped basin. The pain the survivors carried and brought to the surface during these sharing circles and panels was palpable and immense...
In many First Nations along the West Coast, especially those with ceremonies in longhouses, there is a tradition of choosing witnesses. These people are given a small amount of money, and are formally charged with carefully observing what happens at that ceremony, so that they can tell future generations, and others who are not present...
The phrase "Truth and Reconciliation" often brings to mind race-based conflicts in places like South Africa, Rwanda, El Salvador, and Guatemala. Due to the absence of a high-profile genocide or civil war, many Canadians are surprised to discover that Canada is also currently in the middle of a nation-wide Truth and Reconciliation process...
As we walked, we stopped at various places to remember parts of the crucifixion story. At each site, we each planted a wildflower seed and sang, "Unless the seed falls to the ground, ain't gonna be no life at all." We also read excerpts of poetry by Bud Osborn at each stop. Bud Osborn is one of the coolest people I know. Actually I don't really know him at all, but I know his work, and every time I see him in the neighbourhood, I feel like I want to ask for his autograph...
