Today is the first national event for the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, set up to listen to the aboriginal people of Canada who were victims of the residential school system . Who knows how long this will take or how much it will cost. the budget is sixty million dollars over five years.
There are critics in the Native communities across the country who feel that the money would be better spent compensating victims. Yet there is a lot to be said for hearing the truth from those from those who were voiceless for so long.
An important question is whether the churches who were a part of running these schools should be represented at the commission. Christianity was foisted on the children who were taken to the schools and much of the abuse was perpetrated by those who were representatives of the different denominations, a gross violation of trust. It breaks my heart that children as young as six were removed from their homes and sometimes taken to schools in other provinces. Yet two thirds of aboriginal people in this country consider themselves Christian.
We were asked to pray for the work of the commission this past Sunday, and while St. Paul's was involved in the ecumenical service, Rev. Cathy did include this important work in her prayers at that service. I should mention that the United Church has officially apologized to Native peoples on two occasions, the first in 1986 in Sudbury, Ontario, then again in 1998. http://www.united-church.ca/aboriginal/relationships/apologies
What do you think? Does having a Truth and Reconciliation Commission make sense? Should those who taught and provided religious leadership be permitted to attend our speak?
Yes, I think there is a lot of benefit to having a truth and reconciliation commission. I can see why some might think the money would be better put to use in the hands of the victims, but I feel that it is so important to have these stories shared. People who were not affected by the events in residential schools need to hear these stories, the people running these schools need to hear them and tell them, and those people's whose lives were changed by being forced to attend these schools need to be able to hear and tell these stories. I don't think anyone of us can heal without them.
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