A Solemn Day & the Hope of Our Children

On Sunday morning we sat in church with our two Trenton grandkids, an opportunity afforded by being fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Even though we were all wearing masks it was good to be in physical proximty after months of looking across the sanctuary and waving. We were all in our orange tee-shirts because the congregation was anticipating Orange Shirt Day/National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, which is today.

We plan to attend an event downtown in Belleville today wearing our shirts and they will go to school wearing theirs. We are impressed that between home and school both of them, age six and eight, have a better grasp of respect for Indigenous culture than we did perhaps into our twenties. We were born in the mid-1950's so we played Cowboys and Indians with our childhood friends, always assuming that Indians were the "bad guys." The TV shows and movies we watched portrayed Indigenous people as a menacing threat and of course Indians were usually played by white actors in makeup. One of the exceptions was Canadian Mohawk Jay Silverheels who played Tonto in The Lone Ranger. 

As we solemnly remember the deaths of Indigenous children who died while at Residential Schools, as well as all  those who were traumatized by the experience, we can look to children in Canada from all backgrounds as our hope for a time when the term Truth and Reconciliation will be realized. 

                                                Lunch Box for sale in Algonquin Park during the 1960's

It's important to realize that the first 12 of the 94 Truth and Reconcilation Commission recommendations address child welfare and education. Murray Sinclair, former judge, senator, and head of the Commission suggests, rightly I think, that reconcilation won't occur in his lifetime or ours but may happen if words become action. Even as I feel a degree of shame for the legacy of our United Church my grandchildren give me hope for "all my relations."

Please read the apology of the United Church for Residential Schools from 1998 which was the second, following the 1986 general apology to Indigenous peoples: 

To former students of United Church Indian Residential Schools, and to their families and communities:

From the deepest reaches of your memories, you have shared with us your stories of suffering from our church’s involvement in the operation of Indian Residential Schools. You have shared the personal and historic pain that you still bear, and you have been vulnerable yet again. You have also shared with us your strength and wisdom born of the life-giving dignity of your communities and traditions and your stories of survival. In response to our church’s commitment to repentance, 

I spoke these words of apology on behalf of the General Council Executive on Tuesday, October 27, 1998: “As Moderator of The United Church of Canada, I wish to speak the words that many people have wanted to hear for a very long time. On behalf of The United Church of Canada, I apologize for the pain and suffering that our church’s involvement in the Indian Residential School system has caused. 

We are aware of some of the damage that this cruel and ill-conceived system of assimilation has perpetrated on Canada’s First Nations peoples. For this we are truly and most humbly sorry.

 “To those individuals who were physically, sexually, and mentally abused as students of the Indian Residential Schools in which The United Church of Canada was involved, I offer you our most sincere apology. You did nothing wrong. You were and are the victims of evil acts that cannot under any circumstances be justified or excused. 

“We know that many within our church will still not understand why each of us must bear the scar, the blame for this horrendous period in Canadian history. But the truth is, we are the bearers of many blessings from our ancestors, and therefore, we must also bear their burdens

.” Our burdens include dishonouring the depths of the struggles of First Nations peoples and the richness of your gifts. We seek God’s forgiveness and healing grace as we take steps toward building respectful, compassionate, and loving relationships with First Nations peoples. 

We are in the midst of a long and painful journey as we reflect on the cries that we did not or would not hear, and how we have behaved as a church. As we travel this difficult road of repentance, reconciliation, and healing, we commit ourselves to work toward ensuring that we will never again use our power as a church to hurt others with attitudes of racial and spiritual superiority. 

“We pray that you will hear the sincerity of our words today and that you will witness the living out of our apology in our actions in the future.” 

The Right Rev. Bill Phipps General Council Executive 1998 The United Church of Canada