Kind Generous & Humble
Walking with our First Nations people
it’s all about the children… the young today embrace lost and forgotten culture… those who didn’t make it… those who grew up carrying so much pain… those working hard for truth and reconciliation… today we come together to remember and focus on a good way forward.
Before the walk, September 30, 2022. Every child matters, this sign reminds us of the 10,028 children who died in residential schools, the scars & suffering live on today, it’s our responsibility to listen and share this shameful truth, and to heal together in finding a good way forward for all humanity.
Yesterday September 30th, 2022 was Canada’s second annual National Day for Truth & Reconciliation ~ my key take away is the incredible strength and generosity of our First Nations people.
Walking with the Tla’amin Nation here in qathet British Columbia it’s impossible not to be moved by the stories shared ~ elders welcome us non-indigenous folks as vital witnesses, thanking us for walking with the survivors of the residential schools.
Stories revealing, brutal memories, revisiting these painful times so that we hear listen and share.
Several hundred people gathered in orange shirts, to remember the 10,028 dead children who did not return from 140 residential schools across Canada. Prayers were said in their language before drum and song lead the way from Tees Kwat to Willingdon Beach.
Walking in silence I listened through head-phones as the sound guy for a local videographer recording the march. Not talking, only listen one hears more. On mic there’s lots of background noise and chatter, yet the drums and songs lead on.
The pace is slow in memory of the 150,000 children sent to residential school, those lost who did not return, those who did, their families around us, with their grandchildren right up there, up front, leading the way with song and drums.
At Willingdon Beach songs and a few words shared before elders spoke, not only sharing their hard truths so generously, again thanking us and leading an eagle dance for all to join in.
It is our responsibility to listen, learn and share.
Young mom and leader Koosen spoke, and sung her healing song… also sharing her education collaboration creating a good way forward, embracing local culture and language almost lost.
“We’re still here” and rising strong.
After the walk we were invited to the screening of “Bones of Crows” a harrowing and beautiful film sharing an indigenous family’s story through residential school, through painful healing with truth and reconciliation. The new young generation educated confronting the wrongs to correct the many sytemic injustices.
Bones of Crows will come to CBC Gem in 2023 as a 5 part mini-series, a deeper cut than the 2 hour movie, each episode an hour long exploring the back stories of the main characters 100 year history.
As settlers and imigrants and sons and daughters and grandchildren of them, we have a responsibility to learn and heal together, for our own past and path carries trauma too.
Our First Nations people truly are leading the way.
Thank you for sharing so honestly, for revisiting the pain, and for being committed to a better tomorrow for all the children.
What might the world look like if we all forgave and lead like this ?
We are one humanity. Equal. Please be kind.
Koosen’s page https://jehjehmedia.ca we understand that the Language comes from the Land and so do our sounds and stories.
Resources to read and learn from BobBC First Nations
Be curious ~ check out your local nation, library, who’s land do you live on ?
Thank you to the Tla’amin Nation and elders for your generosity and courage.
As Canadian and colonizers we have a responsibility to learn and share. Honouring the people who’s lands we live on.
