By Lloyd Mackey

TWO recent events, within days of each other – and both with strong religious undercurrents – appear to have advanced reconciliation between First Nations people in Canada and the non-aboriginal community.

Both events were directly related to the federal government’s apology for its role in the residential school tragedy. The apology was delivered two years ago in the House of Commons, by Prime Minister Stephen Harper.

The first session of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) was held in Winnipeg June 15 – 19 at The Forks, on the outskirts of the city’s core. It heard 425 statements from survivors of the Indian residential school system.

The National Forgiven Summit was held June 11 – 13 in Ottawa’s Civic Centre.

It brought together more than 4,000, both aboriginal and non-aboriginal people – with the former making up about one-third of the crowd.

The Forgiven event was spearheaded by Chief Kenny Blacksmith, a Cree from the Ottawa area. Blacksmith had considerable backup and encouragement from a variety of evangelical and charismatic Christian communities from across Canada.

David Carson, pastor of Centre Church Metrotown in Burnaby, was especially impressed with a presentation by Elijah Harper at the summit.

“Chief Elijah’s vision was that the First Nations would be recognized in Canada as full equal partners, and for them to live abundantly in their own country,” he stated.

Carson added: “While he was willing to express forgiveness to the government, he was also clearly looking for more apologies and more respect. He noted that the Prime Minister’s apology was only for the residential schools issue.”

Worship was led by a multi-ethnic band. Music was also provided by Langley recording artist Russ Rosen and a team from Vancouver. First Peoples and Polynesian dancers participated, along with members of Langley’s Dance Barn.

A ‘substitutional statement’ of repentance was the main feature of the event’s opening night – two years to the day after Harper’s apology. The statement was offered on behalf of the church. Forgiveness was offered by some residential school survivors and aboriginal leaders, including Chiefs Harper and Billy Diamond – both well known for their Christian witness within the First Nations.

A ceremony of forgiveness featured the presentation of a Charter of Forgiveness and Freedom to Indian and Northern Affairs Minister Chuck Strahl.

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Stephen Harper followed Strahl, in a video link. He acknowledged the benefit of forgiveness in the healing process, and the continuing responsibility of the government to pursue reconciliation with First Nations, Metis and Inuit peoples.

Harper concluded his comments with a slight alteration of his oft-used closing phrase, “God bless Canada.”

This time, he declared: “God bless the land” – in a nod to aboriginal respect for nature and the earth.

The Truth and Reconciliation event was designed to give a platform to residential school survivors. Manitoba Justice Murray Sinclair, the TRC chair, noted “It has been a painful experience for many, but an important first step – in what will be a lengthy process for our country.”

Strahl also attended the Winnipeg event, participating in the traditional peace pipe ceremony.

Sinclair, who also said he hoped to hear both the difficult and the positive stories coming out of the residential school experience, was Manitoba’s first aboriginal judge.

Residential schools for aboriginal people in Canada date back to the 1870s. More than 130 such schools were located across Canada, with the last one closing in 1996.

The schools were mainly staffed by people from the Catholic, Presbyterian, Methodist, Anglican and United denominations. While not all aboriginals were mistreated, the schools are now seen to have had a generally devastating effect.

One of the most startling aspects of opening day was Sinclair’s reference to hearing stories of “hundreds, perhaps thousands” of aboriginal young people who went missing, when they were moved from their homes to the schools.

“The full story of residential schools must be told – the tragedies and the wrongdoing, perhaps predominantly; but also the positive stories – the acts of charity, the lives of devotion and the accounts of success,” commented Paul Schratz, editor of The B.C. Catholic.

Six more events, in various parts of Canada, are scheduled over the next few years. The next, set for June, 2011, will be in Inuvik, Northwest Territories.

July 2010