Strong Emotions Come in Waves
This week's Truth and Reconciliation Commission National Event is now underway here in Vancouver. The All Nations Canoe Journey, from Vanier Park to False Creek, took place on Tuesday. Seven flotillas of boats made the trip down false creek, all in all hundreds of paddlers took part in the journey. The first flotilla included dignitaries from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission as well as elders and chiefs of the Squamish, Musqueam and Tsleil-Waututh Nations on whose traditional, ancestral and unceded territory sits the City of Vancouver.
Each flotilla in turn asked the permission of these Nations to come ashore in order to meet and do the work of reconciliation. The flotillas were grouped by geographic area and began with those coming from the furthest away. Amongst those traveling the farthest were international indigenous guests from the United States, Mexico and Australia. Then followed other First Nations from across Canada and British Colombia. Along the shore were groups of people - many of them school children - cheering and showing their support for those making the journey.
Speakers from the canoes shared greetings, songs, hopes, fears, experiences and what they were looking for from this week's events. Many survivors spoke of the impact of Indian Residential Schools on their lives and the widespread harm it has caused individuals, families and communities. Many also spoke of the courage, determination and strength that enabled them to survive and to preserve and rebuild families and cultures in spite of these harmful policies. People of all ages, children, youth, adults and elders were all represented amongst the voices from the water and many raised passionate and eloquent calls for justice and healing for First Nations, Métis and Inuit people in Canada. In particular, strong calls were made to protect the land from irresponsible resource extraction and to find justice for the hundreds of missing and murdered aboriginal women from across Canada.
It was a haunting and stirring moment to be a part of. My heart was filled with many emotions as I listened to the songs and words of the speakers. Someone once told me that strong emotions come in waves, and the metaphor seemed especially appropriate for yesterday's events. I sat with these waves of emotion in a borrowed dragonboat under the flag of the Anglican Church of Canada and while listening many thoughts came to me. I thought about the Gospel which inspires me to work for justice and healing. I thought about my family going back generations who have been settlers and immigrants searching for a home. I thought about my own search for a home that has brought me to this place, but through which I am still connected to the land where I grew up. I thought about the many different people who have found a home here and those who are still without one. I thought about those who have lost their homes and the children who were taken from theirs to residential schools by institutions of which I am a part and from which I have benefited. I thought about what it means to give and to receive hospitality. Then in the midst of all my thoughts and preoccupations, we were welcomed ashore in this place by the peoples who have called this place home for generations to do the work of reconciliation.
