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October 2, 2013
NEWS. Truth and Reconciliation September marks the beginning of fall cheri and the return BROWN to school. Besides the usual reluctance for summer to end, for some this month brings terror, sadness, and grief. For residential school survivors, the overwhelming sense of dread of this time of year still persists to this day. This September was hopefully different for many, bringing in a new season of hope as the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) held its national event in Vancouver, BC from September 17th-22nd. It was the sixth of seven events held across Canada to address the legacy of the Indian Residential School (IRS) system. Government-funded and church-run schools were designed to assimilate Aboriginal children by eradicating their culture, language, and spirituality. The 150-year regime of the IRS left generations wounded through forced labour, physical, sexual, and emotional abuse, and the disruptionof family ties, community, and traditional ways of life. In all, over 150,000 children were taken and an estimated 3,000 died. TRC events foster and support healing for survivors, educate the public, and acknowledge past wrongs in a way that will bring Aboriginals and non-aboriginals together. TWU suspended classes on September 18th and arranged transportation to enable students, faculty, and staff to attend the opening day. Nine buses of Trinity Western University students,
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faculty and staff traveled to the Vancouver PNE grounds. Two elders in the audience spoke of their approval of the many students present, “They cancelled classes at the Universities. That’s very respectful.” Reconciliation Week began in Vancouver with the All Nations Canoe Gathering on September 17th. First Nations leaders, elders, and survivors paddled dozens of canoes up False Creek to formally ask permission to step ashore before being welcomed to Coast Salish territory. The lighting of the Sacred Fire and a prayer for strength and peace marked cession of survivors and supporters seum. TRC chair Murray Sinclair’s opening remarks, “This is not an Aboriginal problem. This is a problem for all of Canada. This country has been damaged as well,” received a standing ovation. A Squamish Nation Chief asked, “What is reconciliation? I don’t think there’s an answer to that. It’s whatever lies within your heart.” ciliation, Minister of Aboriginal Affairs, Bernard Valcourt said, “Policies like the IRS have no place in Canada and can never be repeated. It is important that the truth be known. Our government has committed to preserve the historical records.” All survivor statements, public or private, Other TRC events included state-
ment gathering, church archival displays, sharing circles, face-to-face apologies to survivors, an education day for high school students, screenmances. With resilience and quiet dignity, a few survivors faced the crowd of thousands and told their stories. Sainty Morris described how a priest forced him and his cousin to drown a puppy and the later punishment they faced for having a pet: “They brought me down into a dark place and made us kneel from 7 am to 10 pm with no food or water. Before that I was never afraid of the dark. Now I can’t sleep without a light. I live in fear of the dark because of the IRS system.” Leonard Alexcee was taken from Prince Rupert to Port Alberni at 11 years old. After being sexually molested and experiencing years of alcoholism, he advises Aboriginal youth on how to approach moving forward: “If your parents or grandparents want to tell you their story, listen to them. They are getting sick and tired of keeping it way down.” Margaret Commodore, who attended the same school, also suffered sexual abuse. “In counseling I screamed in agony to try to get rid of that man. My healing journey goes on and it will last for the rest of my life. Reconciliation? I can’t forgive my abuser. Someday I will forgive. I was just a little girl and he took so much away from me. I won’t apologize for my tears because I deserve them! I’m very grateful to the resources avail-
LOGAN PAULGAARD logan.paulgaard@gmail.com
MICHELLE KARST
able to survivors. A lot of mistakes were made in the past but now a lot of good has been done.” The event closed with the Walk for Reconciliation on Sept 22. Bernice King, daughter of Martin Luther King Jr., spoke to a crowd of seventy thousand. The period of residential schools is a sad chapter in Canada’s
history. Amongst heartbreak of the past, a new attitude of hope is being embraced. Government, church, and community have come together to acknowledge and show support for survivors as we transition into a new era of reconciliation. As Canadians, Aboriginals and non-aboriginals, we walk this journey of healing together.
Brandon Took the Bate This is a true story of my lost backpack logan God’s diPAULGAARD and vine planning. Rest eludes me when the soft glow and steady vibration of my phone
it. I check the car. It’s not there, anywhere. I’m getting this sinking feeling as I realize the situation: someone is in possession of my backpack including my wallet, all my I.D., my laptop, and I have class in a few hours. And how
don’t recognize the number. Again I
So I call back but no one answer. I recognize the name on the answering machine as someone from school. I begin texting this person back and forth, and let them know where they can drop off my backpack. I get to school, enter the arranged building, and there I see my backpack on a chair. I walk closer and notice my TWU agenda lying open on the table with only my name and number
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When morning comes I read the text, “Found your backpack in a parking lot. Let me know who I can give it to so you get it back”. Puzzling; I’m certain I brought my backpack home with me. How did this person get my number? It’s probably a freak coincidence that they’re looking for a student. Just in case, I’m doing a
This story seems to speak volumes about the strength of my backpackrescuer’s character and God’s planin a parking lot and goes to such lengths to return it, intact and so readily? It’s as though this whole incident was a cosmic set-up; a scene or a trap, if you will. Like God created a golden opportunity: for one to trust and another to do the right thing. He had me, the worrier, and all he needed was someone to step into the scene, an actor. All it needed was someone to take the bait and get it all rolling. My backpack rescuer did that. His name is Brandon, and Brandon took the Bate.
NICK ZATOR
What makes your heart sing? “Prince Zuko” - Mikaela Fuqua