It's 11:30 at night, and I am watching a re-broadcast of
today's apology for the residential school policy of the Canadian Government.
What has impressed me the most is the calls for reconciliation and moving forward together that has come out from every leader so far. If even a portion of all the words said so far are realized in action, we will be much better off as a country.
Ever since my aunt passed on information providing us with the heritage of my Grandfather (her dad), I have become more and more interested in reading about the Metis and the Cree of the Manitoba woodlands. Inside the package she gave us was a copy of a script signed by our Great-Great Grandmother in the Red River settlement. Grandpa was Metis.
I don't know if he ever went to residential school. He always told us that he was adopted, so I am not sure that he did attend such a school. I do know that he kept that part of his heritage private - he always told us to put down French in the census results.
Getting back to the apology - I'm glad that the First Nation, Metis and Inuit leaders were invited to be present on the floor, and that they were able to respond on the floor of the House of Commons. Having thier words to listen to, and to have them in the Hansard is important. All MP's needed to hear what they had to say.
Since I have begun working in the inner city of Winnipeg at an elementary school I have found this topic very compelling to me. Likely it is because of the
Seven Teachings that the school division expects us to pass on to the students. I have found these to be profound, and to fit within my personal Christian beliefs without conflict.
So I watched today's ceremony with interest, and with pride and hope. I know that this is the beginning of a journey - not just for those who reside on reserves or who are considered First Nations, but also for all Canadians. We have to build a new relationship together.
