Moving Forward with Truth and Reconciliation…
As I write this blog I carry with me the experience I had at the gathering at the N’Amerind centre in London to mark the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation on September 30, 2022. Many people gathered from the Reserves around London and within the city. This moment carried within it a strong message of hope that we want to move forward in strengthening the relationship between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples.
As soon as I joined the crowd and heard the MC welcome everyone, people began turning to each other and introducing themselves. The jingle dances then warmed the circle with their movement to the beat of the sacred drum. It was not long after that that we were invited to join in the circle dance holding hands and moving together again to the beat of the drum. This was a symbol of what can be and how we all can learn to move together.
Finally, the unveiling of the art created by some very talented Indigenous artists along with an explanation of the meaning of this art was so important to capture the intent of this day. I know there is much healing to be done. However, the day did not centre on the pain of the Residential Schools but began with welcome and an invitation to learn from the symbols, the stories, the dance of these people and an opportunity to approach this day with curiosity, and appreciation of their deep spirituality. And it can begin with the stories which the paintings reveal. These murals invite us to take some time to let the art speak to us or raise question. This is a new way to help us learn from the work of artists who can use their talent to reveal some very fundamental insights of Truth and Reconciliation.
-Sister Joan Atkinson, CSJ | Office for Systemic Justice