Truth Comes Before Reconciliation

    There is an important lesson in the first First People's Principles of Learning, regarding the well-being of all.  As we begin to reflect on what Truth & Reconciliation mean, it is important to note that we are all inter-connected, and the well-being of all of us is truly inter-dependent.  This is something that is/was essentially missing in colonial education policies and practices, and it is vital to the well-being of the world and the well-being of each of us. Had our ancestors held this principle in their hearts, we would have seen others with respect, as our own kin, cousins in our global family, rather than as "others" who needed to be changed and assimilated.

       There is an urge many of us settlers have, myself included, to want to gloss over acknowledging the harms of the past, such as residential schools, and move quickly into Reconciliation.  This is the hardest part for us settlers.  But how much harder has it been for our Indigenous neighbors who have had to experience racism, being taken from their families, declared extinct in their homeland, experiencing abuse in Residential Schools, being forced off their traditional lands, and various other traumas?  The reality is that Reconciliation is impossible unless we are willing to acknowledge the harmful actions and consequences of our colonial past and present.   

     We need to be able to listen to the stories of Indigenous peoples and their experiences, and bear witness to the truth, if we do not then we create new harm we pass on to future generations.   We cannot have understanding or empathy unless we know what has happened. Without this there is no healing.  Have no doubt, this will be hard.  It will trigger our own sense of guilt and despair. It requires self reflection; and through this we are called to transform ourselves which will be painful.  Still, we must acknowledge the Truth by listening and bearing witness to many stories.   Take courage and know that we do this hard work of bearing witness to create a better future for all of our descendants in this place.