Sept. 30 National Day for Truth & Reconciliation: Statement of Recognition and Honour
Let us immerse ourselves and picture living the life of our ancestors today. Being one with nature and our land, surrounded by peace, respect, and understanding for each other, humility, and in connection with our Creator. This scenario is a fact of our existence, and the strength of our people – our Heroes – who, from time immemorial created a landscape of wholeness and connection to Mother Earth. Our ceremonies brought connection from our hearts to Mother Earth through the drum beat of our songs and prayers. Our source of food, shelter and medicine was provided to us by Mother Earth, as we were the caretakers of this land. Each day was guided through our traditional way of ceremonies, and the knowledge was taught from old to young. The circle of our life had our Creator in the center of our being.
The culture shock of European settlers arriving on this continent began to explore and destroy our way of life. The institutions that were to educate us and assimilate us into mainstream society used a method of “killing the Indian” in us!
We are mindful of knowing that our former students experienced this painful trauma that created an emotional landscape, for each of us as individuals, for our families, and for our community. This legacy of the Indian Residential School (IRS) is a lifelong journey of healing. We need to speak our truth without blame or judgement. We need to find ways to let our stories unfold, and to work on the shame that has resulted from messages we’ve taken from the outside and brought inside of ourselves. We need to find our voice and speak out! Our self-worth as First Nations people is a seed of incredible strength that has been passed down by our ancestors.
The children who never made it home, where more than 10,000 unmarked graves have spoken loud and clear to the world, telling the truth and encouraging us to change, individually, as a family, and as a community…and that healing is necessary! Our language needs to change to build empowerment and our connection through ceremonies. We are no longer the victims, and no longer the shame of society because we are recovering our human beingness. We must stand up in solidarity and let that seed flourish in us rather than practicing lateral violence and allowing that pyramid structure to destroy us as First Nations people.
Let’s honor our men, women, our children and our two spirited people, as they were recognized as part of our culture. Let’s find forgiveness so that we can move forward, for our family and our community.
Let’s begin to heal together in communities and rebuild the circle, bringing everyone back, creating a new narrative in our communities. Let’s begin to practice lateral empowerment through respect, through unity that will create those new narratives of strength and hope.
The values in our culture are entrenched from our Creator, and those values are our strength. It is who we are as the first people of this land, and it holds the power to change our lives.
On this day, thank you to our special guest speakers, Vincent Yellow Old Woman and Trinity Pretty Young Man, for sharing words of wisdom, peace, and perseverance at today’s National Day of Truth & Reconciliation event. For more on former Chief Vincent:
