Next week the Truth and Reconciliation Commission comes to Vancouver, for four days of truth-telling about this histories of abuse, colonization, struggle and resilience on this land. And it could not be more important.
Not only is the history of Indian Residential Schools an atrocity that deserves retelling within our collective historic memory. But the ideologies and systemic power imbalances that allowed such atrocities to occur are still present in subtle and not-so-subtle ways that need to be called out and changed.
When consultation with Aboriginal communities is avoided or trivialized. When resource-extracting and land-destroying companies are able to override Rights and Title. When reports of missing and murdered Aboriginal women are ignored. When Aboriginal people continue to be over-represented in poverty, homelessness and incarceration rates, and under-represented in governmental and decision making bodies addressing those challenges. When there are 112 reserves, out of 633, where the water is not considered safe to drink. When young children are not taught the full history of this land. In these situations and more, the dominant message continues to be one of dishonouring and disregarding. And in these situations and more, the real work of reconciliation is in building relationships and in taking action together. The rise of the Idle No More movement reflected that.
In BC, our work in the upcoming week is to be present to the stories shared, and to engage in the relational healing of such powerful truth telling. And then, our work in the weeks and years to come is to show that we mean it, to work in solidarity with Aboriginal communities to bring about a more just and sustainable society.
Because we are all connected, this is the work that will begin to heal the moral, spiritual, physical and ecological damage done by the ideologies that created the Indian Residential School system.
As the child of a church implicated in the atrocities, it seems to me that this is the work that will begin to heal that damage done to us all.
In fondness and solidarity, Christine
Interesting Upcoming Events:
Be the Change: Young People Healing the Past and Building the Future
Be the Change is part of the TRC British Columbia National Event and will take place on September 18 at 11 a.m. after the Opening Ceremony.
At this dialogue, young panelists who face the intergenerational impact of human rights violations will discuss:
- what does reconciliation mean?
- common themes about the experience of living with the legacy of human rights abuse, and
- ideas on how to turn reconciliation into action and move forward to a renewed and more pluralist future.
Admission is free and the dialogue is open to the public.
Elements of Justice: KAIROS Intergenerational Gathering
North Vancouver Outdoor SchoolElements of Justice is your chance to spend a few days in the rainforest delving deeper into the social justice issues that are close to your heart. It is an opportunity to learn from experienced activists while sharing your own wisdom and expertise: to explore and compare Euro-Christian and Indigenous worldviews; to celebrate and respect our differences; to begin building a movement for positive change.
New Cafe where the “Rhizome” cafe used to live
After Lisa and Vinetta at the Rhizome Cafe decided it was time for them to move onto new adventures, members of the various Rhizome communities pondered what might come next. And that next thing is in formation!
Members of the Trinity United Church, along with other community folks, have taken on this next stage in the life of the cafe, committed to maintaining it’s role as an inclusive, queer-positive, social justice hub. And are keen for community input as things move along. Contribute your thoughts on a new name and other dreams on the temporary website, or on paper at the cafe – 317 East Broadway – where the same delicious food is still being served!
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Yoga for Women – The Goddess Myth
Friday evenings, 7-9pm, Oct 4, Oct 11, Oct 18, Oct 25, Nov 1
The Dharma Lab, 1814 Pandora Street, Vancouver
This session is for women only and will use yogic doctrine and feminist criticism to shed light on our questions and troubles in practice. With all of the joy and healing yoga gives us, the dominant streams of knowledge are not the only paths to awareness. As usual, we cover a lot of different types of practices in these sessions: poses, discussion, journalling, meditation and contemplation. We usually laugh and rant a lot.
Find out more here, or email Sjanie McInnis.
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Turning Over Tables – A national UCC Justice Gathering
October 17, 2013 – October 20, 2013
Campus Notre-Dame-de-Foy (near Quebec City)
Cost: $400—includes registration, accommodation, meals, and main source of travel
Workshops will address connecting faith with passion for justice, organizing movements for transformation, and strategizing for creative resistance.
