A number of years ago, while camping at Bon Echo, our family stopped at a small museum in Cloyne. The history of the area intrigued me enough that I enrolled in a history course to learn more. I was always dissatisfied with the experience, but was unable to explain why. Eventually I stopped thinking about it.
In 2012 we were given the opportunity to host The Creator’s Sacrifice, a series of paintings by Cree artist Ovide Bighetty, depicting Jesus’ death and resurrection. That sparked a renewed interest in learning more about Canadian history in me and I finally realized what was missing in my history course. There was not a single mention of First Nations People in the entire course. The history of our First Nations People/Aboriginals has been a missing piece in our country for many years.
One of the things we’ve been learning about recently in Canada is how for many years our Aboriginal children were taken out of their homes and communities and forced to attend Residential Schools. The Truth and Reconciliation Commission was set up after Prime Minister Steven Harper’s formal apology to former students. For a number of years the commission has been travelling through Canada hearing and recording stories of what happened in these residential schools, which were created to “kill the Indian in the child”. Though the Christian Reformed Church was not directly involved in the Residential Schools, we have been part of the reconciliation process – “we are the bearers of many blessings of our ancestors of blood or faith. Therefore, we must also bear their burdens and responsibilities. The last Residential School closed in 1996, and we did not know what was going on” (excerpted from a Kairos prayer).
I was privileged to attend the Toronto Truth and Reconciliation event in 2012. Pastor Bruce Adema, then director of the Canadian Christian Reformed Ministries, also attended a TRC event, and was able to place a copy of The Creator’s Sacrifice in the Bentwood Box, the ceremonial repository for expressions of reconciliation
On June 2 the Truth and Reconciliation Commission drew to a close. Not because we have all the answers, or because all the problems have been solved, but because it’s time to move on to the next steps in the reconciliation and healing process. Closing events took place in Ottawa from May 31- June 3. Christian Reformed Churches were encouraged to mark this occasion on Sunday, May 31 and so, in the midst of our celebration, we took a moment to commemorate the reconciling work of the Spirit and commit to continued faithfulness to Jesus’ call to be reconciled to our brothers and sisters (Matthew 5:23-24). Darren Roorda, Canadian Ministries Director of the Christian Reformed Church, writes, “Over the past 6 years, we listened to the stories of Indigenous children who were taken from their parents and communities and taught that to be acceptable to God and ‘Christian society’ they had to become more like white Europeans...and we wept. We listened to stories of abuse...and we marvelled at the strength and courage of those who are telling their stories and healing. We listened...and we began to repent of our own racism and complicity, and lamented how we have all been impoverished by denying the gifts of Indigenous People given by the Creator. We listened...and we learned more about what it means to seek justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with our God, in this time and this place, together as Indigenous people and descendants of immigrants. As Reformed Christians, we know that sin is a series of broken relationships—with God, with our neighbour, with creation. And as we know from the pages of history, whenever we become blind to the image of God in our neighbour, it is not long before our actions toward our neighbours become less than loving. While a relationship that has been broken and breaking for generations will not be healed with one commission, we have seen the Spirit move over the last 6 years. Praise be to the Lord!”
- Evelyn
In 2012 we were given the opportunity to host The Creator’s Sacrifice, a series of paintings by Cree artist Ovide Bighetty, depicting Jesus’ death and resurrection. That sparked a renewed interest in learning more about Canadian history in me and I finally realized what was missing in my history course. There was not a single mention of First Nations People in the entire course. The history of our First Nations People/Aboriginals has been a missing piece in our country for many years.
One of the things we’ve been learning about recently in Canada is how for many years our Aboriginal children were taken out of their homes and communities and forced to attend Residential Schools. The Truth and Reconciliation Commission was set up after Prime Minister Steven Harper’s formal apology to former students. For a number of years the commission has been travelling through Canada hearing and recording stories of what happened in these residential schools, which were created to “kill the Indian in the child”. Though the Christian Reformed Church was not directly involved in the Residential Schools, we have been part of the reconciliation process – “we are the bearers of many blessings of our ancestors of blood or faith. Therefore, we must also bear their burdens and responsibilities. The last Residential School closed in 1996, and we did not know what was going on” (excerpted from a Kairos prayer).
I was privileged to attend the Toronto Truth and Reconciliation event in 2012. Pastor Bruce Adema, then director of the Canadian Christian Reformed Ministries, also attended a TRC event, and was able to place a copy of The Creator’s Sacrifice in the Bentwood Box, the ceremonial repository for expressions of reconciliation
On June 2 the Truth and Reconciliation Commission drew to a close. Not because we have all the answers, or because all the problems have been solved, but because it’s time to move on to the next steps in the reconciliation and healing process. Closing events took place in Ottawa from May 31- June 3. Christian Reformed Churches were encouraged to mark this occasion on Sunday, May 31 and so, in the midst of our celebration, we took a moment to commemorate the reconciling work of the Spirit and commit to continued faithfulness to Jesus’ call to be reconciled to our brothers and sisters (Matthew 5:23-24). Darren Roorda, Canadian Ministries Director of the Christian Reformed Church, writes, “Over the past 6 years, we listened to the stories of Indigenous children who were taken from their parents and communities and taught that to be acceptable to God and ‘Christian society’ they had to become more like white Europeans...and we wept. We listened to stories of abuse...and we marvelled at the strength and courage of those who are telling their stories and healing. We listened...and we began to repent of our own racism and complicity, and lamented how we have all been impoverished by denying the gifts of Indigenous People given by the Creator. We listened...and we learned more about what it means to seek justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with our God, in this time and this place, together as Indigenous people and descendants of immigrants. As Reformed Christians, we know that sin is a series of broken relationships—with God, with our neighbour, with creation. And as we know from the pages of history, whenever we become blind to the image of God in our neighbour, it is not long before our actions toward our neighbours become less than loving. While a relationship that has been broken and breaking for generations will not be healed with one commission, we have seen the Spirit move over the last 6 years. Praise be to the Lord!”
- Evelyn
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