Women's Equality Day

Women’s Equality Day is a Statutory Holiday in the United States, to celebrate the ratification of the 19th amendment for women to vote and is celebrated on August 26th of each year.

In Canada it is also significant in marking milestones like women gaining the right to vote and hold office in 1918, and the Persons Case in which the British Privy Council in 1929 ruled that women were indeed persons under Canadian law and could be appointed to the Senate. This decision overturned a previous ruling by the Supreme Court of Canada and paved the way for women's increased participation in public and political life. 

I would just invite the reader to consider a few things about the Persons Case: if indeed we agree that women are also persons, then why are they treated differently in ordinary conversation?  If we truly believe what the Persons Case is stating, and which, by the way, was hard won by 5 women from Alberta, then I think we might consider the use of language referring to women as a “teaching moment” to the upcoming generation of young leaders.   

For example, phrases used by many waitresses or waiters will most often refer to women as “you guys”, “honey”, “dearie”.  This, to me if used referring to mature young or especially elderly women, is meant in good faith, but I would suggest there is an unconscious bias to not considering women as equal to men in the realm of personhood. 

The treatment of women in our Western Culture, leaves room for improvement which WE have the power and hopefully the will, to make.

For example, for waiters/waitresses, other words more appropriately used could be: “how may I help you ladies?” OR “Are you folks ready to place your orders?”.  In my opinion, the common unconscious use of “girls” in relating to mature women is so inappropriate.

I respectfully suggest that perhaps on this August 26th, might we intentionally use appropriate respectful language that exhibits an awareness of the real dignity of womanhood?

-Sister Kathleen Lichti, CSJ

Love Arising

Recently I was gifted with a lovely painting done by Sister Dorothy Ann Howley.  I was struck by the way in which it spoke to me and I offer this reflection/poem for your own personal use, if it is helpful.

Circling, ever circling,

The energy created.

Circling, ever circling

it sends us forth to be

the source of Love for all

to be to see.

We are that heart that beats

We are that drum that pounds

So on we must go

To where we n'ere have been

All is steady,

All is ready

for life unfolding

for Love unfolding

-Sister Kathleen Lichti, csj

Love Arising
My heart beats,

The drum pounds.

My heart pounds,

The drum beats

All is steady,

All is ready

for life unfolding

for eyes beholding

Feather-like she rises,

Gracefully so easily.

Heart ablaze with Love

with Love do we arise

School’s Out, Summer’s In!

YAY! We Made it!

The last week of June brings cause for many celebrations of school year endings, with mixtures of sadness and relief. In Ontario, the last day of classes for the 2024-2025 school year is June 25, 2025, for secondary students and June 26, 2025 for elementary students.

This is also a time when Indigenous communities celebrate Summer Solstice with Pow Wows.

Recently I had the privilege of attending a pow wow in which young people especially were encouraged to “strut their stuff” in song, drumming and tribal dances.  The host of the event kept saying” here we have the leaders of the future in their regalia who will carry our ways into a new World.” 

I sincerely believe that the Indigenous peoples will show us not only the importance of treating everything in a good way but can and will be our partners in showing us how to create a better world.

Yes, there are various graduation speeches delivered:

Grade 8 graduations typically celebrate student achievements and offer encouragement for the future. They often thank teachers and families, acknowledge the journey through middle school, and look forward to the new chapter of high school. Inspirational themes might include overcoming obstacles, the importance of friendship, and the value of individual growth. 

The high school graduation has its special characteristics of becoming leaders for the future.  It is time to move forward, keeping our relationships, inspiring each other.  “WE ARE READY” is the theme of hope and determination to create a better world.  This particular graduation address went viral:

If you barely made it through high school, these quotes are for you:

• “High school was easy. It was like riding a bike. Except the bike was on fire & I was in hell.”

• “Somehow I managed not to burn down the school or myself – Success!”

• “Well, I made it through high school… with minimal casualties.

• “They said ‘reach for the stars,’ but I’m just happy I reached graduation.”

•    “To all the teachers who said I’d never amount to anything: surprise!”

• “I may not have been at the top of my class, but hey, I made it to the finish line!”

• “Here’s to the classmates who made it interesting, the teachers who made it bearable, and the cafeteria food that made it memorable.

• “They said ‘the early bird catches the worm,’ but I prefer the ‘last-minute cramming catches the diploma’ approach.”

• “To all the late nights, early mornings, and countless cups of coffee: thanks for getting me through high school… barely.”

• “I survived high school like a pro: with a mix of luck, caffeine, and sheer determination.”“Here’s to the friends who stuck by me, the teachers who believed in me, and the cafeteria cookies that sustained me.”

"You will never have more energy or enthusiasm, hair, or brain cells than you have today." 46 Funny Graduation Quotes to Share.

In this your journey of LIFE, what would be your comment  as you graduate from one stage and move to the next?

-Sister Kathleen Lichti, csj

Acknowledging Victoria Day

This full-length state portrait of Queen Victoria, executed in 1842 by British artist John Partridge, hangs in the foyer of the Senate Chamber in Parliament Hill’s Centre Block. It was rescued from four fires, including the 1916 inferno that destroyed the original Centre Block.

Victoria Day, the last Monday before May 25, is synonymous with the start of summer.

Because of my maternal roots in having a staunch British grandfather, whose loyalty to the crown was impeccable, I felt drawn to write about Queen Victoria through another lens, probably unknown to my dear grandfather, who may well “turn over in his grave” at what follows.

The lens I propose is through the Indigenous peoples of this land which they occupied long before the British empire was established.

Queen Victoria reigned from 1837-1901, having ascended the throne at the young age of 18. Her reign was marked by significant industrial, political, scientific and social changes, as well as the expansion of the British empire. In the 63 years and 216 days of her reign, the Victorian Era was born.

With this expansion of the British empire, she enjoyed the support from the previously enacted Doctrine of Discovery of 1534 by Pope Alexander the VI.  Although succeeding popes renounced this doctrine, its sentiments remained strong in the minds and hearts of Europeans, for by it, this meant that European colonizers had the blessing of the Pope to claim and occupy these “empty lands” (Terra Nullius)  

As a result, Victoria’s reign was marred by the establishment of Residential Schools which were established solely to wipe out the Indigenous peoples by separating children from their parents and educating them into the “civilized” way of life, as defined by European standards.

This continues to be the case in our system of childcare:

“Recent statistics paint a troubling picture of the challenges facing Indigenous children in Canada. According to 2021 data from Statistics Canada, despite making up only 8% of the child population in Canada, a staggering 53.8% of children in foster care are Indigenous. There are more than 28,000 Indigenous children in government care today, which is 2.5 times the number that were in residential schools at their peak in the 1930s.”

Queen Victoria is also known as the “Mother of Confederation”:

As the reigning monarch, she granted Royal Assent to the British North America Act, which established the Dominion of Canada in 1867. She also appointed Canada's first senators and proclaimed the act's commencement. Victoria was a strong supporter of Confederation, believing it would benefit the provinces and strengthen relations with the United States. 

A stained-glass window above the Senate entrance to Centre Block depicts Queen Victoria on the occasion of her Diamond Jubilee in 1897, beside her great-great-granddaughter, Queen Elizabeth II, who marked her own Diamond Jubilee 115 years later in 2012. Below Victoria appears the original Centre Block and its iconic Victoria Tower, 19 years before they were gutted in the 1916 fire.

Here's a more detailed look at her role:

• Granting Royal Assent:

  • Queen Victoria's signature on the British North America Act, now known as the Constitution Act, officially brought Canada into being as a unified nation. 

• Appointment of Senators:

  • She appointed Canada's first 72 senators, establishing the upper house of parliament. 

• Proclamation of the Act:

  • Victoria proclaimed that the British North America Act would come into effect on July 1, 1867, effectively marking the beginning of Canadian Confederation. 

• Support for Confederation:

  • She actively encouraged the idea of Confederation, believing it would strengthen the colonies and reduce defense costs. 

• Symbol of Unity:

  • Queen Victoria became a symbol of national unity and identity for Canadians, as the country was emerging as a self-governing dominion within the British Empire. 

• Victoria Day:

  • To honor her role as the "Mother of Confederation," Victoria Day, a federal statutory holiday, was established in Canada and is celebrated on the Monday between May 18 and 24. 

We begin summer usually by celebrating the birthday of Queen Victoria as her legacy continues to influence how we govern ourselves as Canadians.

With the current threat to our sovereignty from our southern neighbour, it is with a sense of gratitude to Queen Victoria for “pulling us together” as a sovereign nation.

BUT it is also incumbent on us to right the wrongs from her reign in how we continue to be in a flawed relationship with the Indigenous peoples of this land. Thanks to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of 2015 in demanding attention to the 94 recommendations, we do have a positive way forward.  Are we ready to take this path?

So, Queen Victoria, we remember you on this holiday weekend, with mixed emotions, that invite us as Canadians to “right the wrongs” as we move forward in our relationship with the First peoples of this land.

And “Gramps” forgive me if I have offended you, but the TRUTH will set us free!  I am just sorry that you were deprived of this in your latter years. ☹

 -Sister Kathleen Lichti, csj

Genocide in Canada?

Genocide in Canada? NEVER!!!

Celebrating National Indigenous Peoples Day in Canada

The news has been inundated with the realities of genocides all over the world, but rarely is Canada included in that list.  A little dose of TRUTH is in order to get a proper perspective.

Prior to the European arrival, millions of various tribes existed across Turtle Island with their system of bartering, governing that worked for them.

Columbus’ “discovery” of the land, was affirmed by Pope Alexander VI in 1493, when he issued the infamous “Doctrine of Discovery” that stated that empty lands “terra nullius” “discovered by European Explorers, became the property of the Crown.  In fact, these lands were inhabited by millions of peoples comprising one fifth of the world’s population at that time. They just happened to be non-Christian and were therefore deemed to be uncivilized and hence the term “terra nullius” or empty lands.

The mentality incurred by the Doctrine of Discovery paved the way for our Indigenous peoples to be horrifically treated due to the policies of the First Prime Minister of Canada by establishing the Residential School system which was specifically launched “to get rid of the Indian problem” and prevailed from the 1870’s to the 1990’s in which more than 130 Residential Schools were established and run by many of our churches.

The “savages”, a term used by Duncan Campbell Scott, were deemed to be subhuman (Indian Act in a plain-language summary). Colonizers attempted to assimilate them into European culture through the residential School System and by the 60’s Scoop when the children were ‘scooped up” and placed into European settler homes. It is estimated that there were even more Indigenous children in the child welfare system than the 150,00 that were in Residential Schools.

The past Chair of the TRC, the Honourable Murray Sinclair’s words ring so true for today:

“it is education that got us into this mess, and it is education that will get us out of it.”

One of the first steps to “getting us out of this mess” was the submission of the TRC 94 Calls to Action 94 Recommendations of the TRC report of 2015. It was carefully drawn up after the Commissioners interviewed thousands of abused survivors and it is estimated that 6000+ died in residential schools.  This is a significant number. This is a genocide. Truly the darkest part of our Canadian history.

Perhaps this is best summed up by Connor Sarazin in the June Kairos times Newsletter:

“Over the course of history there have been acts of genocide from one nation over another on a global scale. Although, you may not see the struggles of Indigenous Peoples regularly on the nightly news. The Indigenous Peoples remain in a fight for their survival. Many communities don’t have running water, never mind being drinkable. Many communities don’t have hydro and rely upon diesel generators for power. Children must travel hundreds of miles away from their home and community to get a high school education, and there are more children in care than at the height of the Indian Residential Schools. It is an alarming rate of epidemic proportions that women, girls and 2Spirit Peoples are murdered and go missing every day. It is easier to erase a people when they have no women.

Words like genocide are used to describe other nations around the globe who are fighting for their survival. We tend to forget that the struggle for the First Peoples on our own land carry these same words and have so for hundreds of years.”

On June 21, National Indigenous Peoples Day, may we recognize and celebrate the history, heritage, resilience and diversity of First Nations, Inuit and Métis across Canada.

-Sister Kathleen Lichti, CSJ