Perhaps Our Hearts Needed to be Broken

 “The stories from elders about death and mistreatment at a former British Columbia residential school are finally being heard by Canadians, says Chief Rosanne Casimir of the Tk’emlups te Secwepemc First Nation.” (Global News) Since the remains of 215 children were found using ground-penetrating radar on the grounds of the Kamloops Indian Residential School, people across Canada and beyond are finally listening and searching for ways to respond.

Flags across Canada were lowered to half mast for 215 hours or 9 days, the air space over the Residential School became a no-fly zone and the Toronto Transit Commission paused its vehicles on June 1^st at 2:15 pm.  These are some of the ways that Canadians show honour – with man-made objects and machines.

Elder Jeff Monague of Beausoleil First Nation and Director of Springwater Provincial Park in Barrie announced a Sacred Fire that would burn for four days at the park.  The public were welcomed to come and offer their prayers and wishes using the sacred medicines of the Anishinaabeg and the Sacred Fire.  I went to the park and found the Sacred Fire with a friend.  The Fire burned within a circle of Cedar boughs and the space was protected by a ring of trees.  Birds sang from the trees as people one by one offered the medicines and their prayers.  I sat for quite a while watching small children playing and adults visiting.  Some people offered songs or a poem. Some spoke from their hearts.  I felt strengthened from being a part of this ancient ceremony.

We hung an orange shirt at the end of our driveway.  I wore my orange shirt reading “All Children Matter” which I normally wear on Orange Shirt Day (September 30^th) to work all week.  This opened up conversations with people, many of whom had questions about Residential Schools.  Some knew nothing about this part of Canada’s history and Some people deepened in their ability to hear the truth and see a way forward.

In Barrie, a memorial spot was created at the foot of the Spirit Catcher, a huge sculpture by the water front.  The stairs leading up to it were covered with shoes, stuffed animals and notes.  I visited it with a friend.  The memorial really communicated to me that these lost children never got to participate in our world as adults.  We have all missed out on their presence.

I am part of a group that is reading Braiding Sweetgrass  by Robin Wall Kimmerer.  I asked the organizer if I could create a space in the meeting last week to remember the children who attended Residential Schools and those that lost their lives there.  After a brief introduction, I invited the group to be silent for 215 seconds and pray, connect with compassion or whatever they felt appropriate.  I ended it with a lullaby in 6 languages.  This is work that we need to do together.  Canadians need to create spaces where we can face the truth, grieve and then act, together.

At an on-line coffee house that my partner and I attend each week, we performed Willy Dunn’s song from 1978, Charlie Wenjack  (Listen to it here.) and the Lullaby with the message that we all love our children and we need to love each other’s children as well.

Stuffed animals beside the statue of one of the martyrs, Martyrs's
Shrine, Midland, ON.

We tied two teddy bears at the gate of the Martyr’s Shrine in Midland.  The irony of a whole shrine for a handful of martyred priests while children were buried without markers or their families being informed was too strong.  A few more items have been added.  It is slowly growing.  On the steps of the Catholic church in Midland, we found more shows and moccasins.

Moccasins tied to the railing of St. Margaret's Roman Catholic Church, Midland, ON

My partner created a Child in the Woods from recovered wood left by loggers and installed it in our local forest where we have been creating other pieces of art.  He wanted the child to be happy and free as these lost ones were not.  With the Child, he added a Fawn, Wild Turkey and a small Turtle along with a piece of Birch Bark on a fashioned table that read “Honouring Spot”.

Child in the Forest, Turtle at the Child's feet with Fawn and Wild Turkey looking on.

We had many conversations with people.  Some knew nothing about the Indian Residential Schools so we answered questions and gave them resources.  Some still believe that the government meant to help these children.  This is simply not true and it is time for Canadians to accept the truth.  Now that this technology is available, there will be more remains found on the grounds of more Residential Schools.  This is only the beginning of this next step in the Truth part of Truth and Reconciliation. 

Non-Indigenous Canadians have to face this truth together.   Indigenous Peoples have been facing this, living this and grieving this since it began.  It is time for the settlers to do some heavy lifting.  It is up to us to connect to our compassion, our creativity and together take action.  At some point the last missing child will be found and returned home.  Then what about the huge number of Indigenous children who currently in foster care?  Huge changes are needed before Canadians can once again feel proud to be Canadians.   However, we have the power to participate in the healing and create a new way forward.  Yes, it takes courage and commitment and yes, we are strong enough together to do it.  Perhaps our hearts needed to be broken first to give us the fuel.