10 Things I Learned about Truth and Reconciliation

I attended the Truth & Reconciliation Forum hosted by White Owl Native Ancestry Association (WONAA), to learn about the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) recommendations.

There was a wealth of pre-session information shared each week prior to the event, allowing participants to understand more about the history and issues. I must admit, most of this was news to me, which is embarrassing.  How did I not learn about this in school?  It was a tough session hearing the horrific stories and pain we created for what? To now try and rectify, well, it feels almost impossible. But, this gave me more assurance that I made the right decision to participate in this educational opportunity.

The forum started with a traditional opening of smudging, drumming and singing, in a very connected manner.  There were amazing guest speakers, all sharing their unique experiences, touching on one or more of the 94 TRC recommendations.

These recommendations were posted on sheets around the room grouped by category including Child Welfare, Education, Language & Culture, Health, Justice, Reconciliation & Equality, Youth Programs, Missing children & burial Information, Commemoration, Media & Reconciliation, Sports, Business and Newcomers.  We were asked to write our email address onto as many of these that we would be interested in further action; so many possibilities to learn more.

The forum closed in a similar manner, respectful of aboriginal traditional practise.

10 Things I Learned about Truth & Reconciliation (What stuck in my mind)

1. Change starts with me first.
2. I can’t un-know what I now know.
3. Knowing never stops; there are layers of learning.
4. Healing takes time, at least 175 years (7 Generations principle).
5. History is knowledge – it is important to understand in order to do reconciliation.
6. The sharing circle approach (connection) is powerful in dealing with reconciliation.
7. Reconciliation is personal, bringing one’s spirit to a place of peace.
8. Reconciliation is planting the seed for relationship change.
9. Conciliation is where we start to create something new, a 3^rd space for all.
10. There are 10,000-12,000 Aboriginals (First Nation, Inuit and Métis peoples) in Waterloo Region.

For more information, resources and progress, visit the WONAA site of Truth and Reconciliation – A Call to Action.

Community resources are available, “know before you need us”.  White Owl Native Ancestry Association Community Resources.

I am grateful for having had the opportunity to participate in this powerful and informative forum.  I will use this new understanding in positive ways, helping others to learn and understand too.

~Maureen Trask