Truth and Reconciliation

 September 29, 2021

The first Orange Shirt Day- National Day for Truth and Reconciliation is tomorrow September 30. This is day to remember and honour indigenous children who went to residential schools and to the intergenerational survivors who are still struggling. As part of the Calls to Action, the federal government has deemed September 30 as a day for listening, learning with Indigenous people so that we might learn of what occurred in residential schools. We are to also listen for stories of what these children now decades later experienced as great losses.

Jesus said, ”Let the children come to me for such is the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 19:14. The government and churches of different denominations were the ones who established the residential schools yet when the children were taken away from their homes, parents often did not see them for months or ever again. The intention was to train the children in the ways of the settlers and to teach Christian values. But what was lost in these schools was family, Indigenous culture and language and the sense of self worth and dignity.

As we take time this week to put on an orange shirt or ribbon and reflect on over 150,000 children who went to these schools let us remember the losses. We are called to remember those who went home in culture shock and the many whom we now know are buried in unmarked graves.

As we seek to understand and learn it is the hope of the government and for each Canadian to learn of this part of history and to seek answers and to ask questions. We are also to seek forgiveness for those in the past so that in the future we will walk with Indigenous people.

On this first Orange Shirt Day- let us listen, learn and grow. It is important for understanding our history as it is for our future as Canadians.

 

PRAYER: God enable us to celebrate the hope and joy of every child; To tell the stories of resistance that make us stronger and to build the bonds of solidarity to ensure “never again”. In the name of the one who was child among us. Amen.  (Kairos 2018)