TRC Saskatoon 2012

I went to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada National Event yesterday evening and this afternoon.  It was mentioned in church a few months ago and was in the church bulletin regularly.  I was a little late on Saturday and I took my boys to the TRC National Event at Prairieland.  Samuel was saying something about $10 being worth more way back in the olden days than it does now.  He was referring to some Treaty Education material he learned in grade 3.  It was almost 7 PM, so we went into Hall C and the Call to Gather / Expressions.  Highlights I remember include:

• members of the Anglican Church putting a Plains Cree translation of their apology into the Bentwood Box
• Gary Merasty placed the speech he gave when MPs apologised to Indian, Inuit and Métis peoples into the Bentwood Box
• KAIROS offered a symbolic piece of art.  They asked members of churches involved with them to stand, so I stood along with Samuel.  They have been working hard to prevent northern Saskatchewan from becoming nuclear waste dump.
• The Right Honourable Joe Clark spoke.  You could tell he likes an audience.  I left as he got near the end because my kids were getting restless after 1 hour of listening. He did mention that he felt the spirit of goodwill in the 1990s was greater than it is currently.  One of the reasons for that he suggested was the economic situation is worse now than then.
• Samuel remembered the story about the residential school survivor who was punished with a v-shaped wooden block in the mouth when he spoke in his native tongue.  This is something that happened in Taiwan with the Chinese Kuomingtang occupiers shaming school children for speaking native tongues (Taiwanese, Hakka and aboriginal languages) in school.

In this morning's sermon, Rev Currie mentioned the theme of Saskatoon's National TRC event was "Truth", but she witnessed a lot of courage as victims and survivors shared their stories these last few days.  On Sunday, the moderator of the Presbyterian Church in Canada, Rev. Dr. John Vissers and his wife were visiting St Andrew's Presbyterian Church.  I met him again at the TRC as he was on his way out to catch his plane.  A church member explained how listening sessions were conducted and how time didn't matter.  She said there was one today that lasted about 2 hours.  How different that aspect of First Nations culture is from the way the rest of us operate!

I took photographs and video of the many displays in the information hall.  They were starting to take it all down at 4:30 PM, so I'm glad I did.  Some of the writing on the wall were quite moving.  I won't post them here for the privacy of those who shared.  I simply wrote "May the treaties be honoured."  This resonates with me because the 1951 San Francisco Peace Treaty that defines Taiwan's true status has largely been forgotten in a way that is similar to treaties with First Nations in Canada.  My son wrote "I learn what happened in school.  It is very sad that it happen." 

I got a copy of this book for free.  You can get yours here.  I did not attend first hand sharing sessions. I think I chickened out.  I will read this book.

Here are links to some videos of the displays:

http://youtu.be/KSrrEB7go-I
http://youtu.be/WYtGODTtQKw
http://youtu.be/0x1jMy2hGrE
http://youtu.be/kMvbqht8KCg
http://youtu.be/sykzWUOTf6U
http://youtu.be/zkcODb3hFxQ
http://youtu.be/nvY8RBMWQdE
http://youtu.be/mXozhHP0XSI
http://youtu.be/UJAgXJb6OfU
http://youtu.be/BEIL7uwLpLs