Op-ed: Champions will lead reconciliation, Harper will not
- John Lagimodiere | June 20, 2015
It was with great ceremony and expectation that Justice Murray Sinclair took to the dais to release the interim report and recommendations of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.
Here was the moment that was going to validate the 150 years of pain, suffering and death experienced by 150,000 First Nation residential school victims.
The report lists abuse after abuse and chronicles the stories of many survivors, stories that bring even the toughest to tears. The Commissioners even go so far as to justifiably label the Government of Canada’s residential school policies as ‘cultural genocide.’ The truth is now out there and it is very difficult to hear.
And then came 94 recommendations to help move our country forward on a path of reconciliation. It is in these recommendations where there community finds hope. Some very intelligent ideas and direction are offered, all with a sense of urgency.
The sad part now is that the report, though well received by a majority of Canadians, will be ignored by the Harper government. Their actions speak louder than words.
The day of the release virtually every leader had a comment. Prime Minister Harper? You could hear crickets.
When Commissioner Sinclair called for a national inquiry into missing and murdered Aboriginal women, he received a standing ovation. Minister Valcourt was nailed to his seat looking at the ground.
How about adopting the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People? It is an “aspirational document” according to our prime minister and they have refused to adopt it.
Invest in child welfare and on reserve education? Meh. Here is how we do it the Harper way, take it or leave it.
So until there is a change in the federal government (VOTE IN OCTOBER!), it falls to institutions and individuals to act. The good thing is there are many good people and organizations advocating and acting for change.
In response to the recommendation to protect the rights to Aboriginal languages including the teaching of Aboriginal languages as credit courses, the University of Saskatchewan is offering certificate programs in Cree. That is a great sign of reconciliation.
Just last month the City of Saskatoon, the Saskatoon Public School Board and Nutana High School named a park after Whitecap Dakota Chief Darcy Bear. That is an act of reconciliation.
Change is also being made by people in the community who attended the residential schools or felt their impact and are not letting that experience define them. People like CFL great and One Arrow member J.R. LaRose who encourages people to take control of their futures. Or Helen Isbister who earned two degrees after age 60. They are examples of two people who are showing the way.
At the TRC Commemoration event in Saskatoon there was a powerful moment when a thousand balloons were released after seven drumbeats. The significance wasn’t lost on our friend Cecile Smith.
You see, Cecile spent many years in residential school and her vivid memories of her time came back to her at the release.
“I just cried when we let those balloons go,” she said to me after the event. She remembered at school being so scared and lonely and not wanting to cry.
“If you cried, they beat you. So picture a bunch of kids under their blankets and you can hear them whimpering.”
It is those memories that spur her on today. Cecile spends countless hours working with the students at St. Mary’s School in Saskatoon and she encourages and nurtures each and every one of them.
“I do it so that not one of those children ever has to experience what we did when we were kids,” she said.
The Commissioners have heard from the people and they have shown us a way to go forward as Canadians. Much of the big picture work has been to done at the government level and for that we will have to be patient.
But it is not only the government that has to act; we all have a personal responsibility to do something.
The sum of many small acts of reconciliation can bring big change. It is time to find the allies and support them and do your part as well.
Find more of our Truth and Reconciliation Commission coverage here.
Read more from John and our other columnists here.