TRC event full of surprises

For a while it seemed as if the walkers from the James Bay area were lost in the shuffle at the Truth and Reconciliation of Canada’s gathering in Winnipeg, Man., June 16-19. But after people learned how far they came to participate they were impressed with their dedication and effort.
By the second day they could be seen whizzing by on golf carts, transporting Elders to where they needed to go or picking up garbage. They were welcomed by the largely Manitoba contingent of Indians.
I’ve often wondered how our people from back home would be received by the Manitoba Aboriginal community. But really, there was never any doubt. Provincial borders, it seems, are still a white man’s barrier and not ours.
There was one thing that I hadn’t taken into account.
After coming from a meeting with a lawyer whose firm has taken on thousands of residential school cases I was somewhat surprised. He said many people insist on the opportunity to tell their stories of their experiences at the schools. The money was a secondary issue.
There were more surprises in store as the week went along.
An old nun attended the gathering and a former student remembered her and called out to her by name. At first she didn’t want to admit that was her name. She didn’t recognize him but he never forgot the words she spoke when she beat him.
He repeated those words to her.
The nun broke down and cried and asked him if he believed in God.
He said no but hugged her and told her he forgave her.
Another confused person wandered up to a woman dressed in regalia and asked just how big an impact the schools had on her. She replied in the form of a question.
“In a nutshell they came and took our kids away and destroyed a lot of them. How would you like it if someone showed up at your house and forcibly removed your kids?”
The lady who asked the question turned beet red and turned away.
But the one persistent theme at the gathering wasn’t human. It came in the beat of a drum. The people gathered and sang, wept and laughed.
Though the churches took the kids away and tried to replace our drumbeat with the ringing of a church bell, our hearts still kept the time.
And when the time came we gathered, just as we always did in summertime.
They couldn’t take that from us.