Notes By The Lake – Rev. Sue Paterson
Saturday, May 5 th , our task group Dancing the Circle of Right Relations acted as co-facilitators, in a Conference From Indian Residential Schools to Truth and Reconciliation held in Peterborough at Trent University. This was a powerful day where I was very proud to be a United Church member. As we learn more and more of the “Truth” about Residential Schools and the impact on all of us- both native and non-native Canadians, the United Church is committed to the hard work of living the Apology and learning how we can become good dancers in the circle of Right Relations.
Marie Wilson is a Truth and Reconciliation Commissioner and she was an inspiring key-note speaker. Her reminder is that the responsibility to learn “the Truth” and to do the work of Reconciliation is a “court ordered responsibility” on all Canadians.
I encourage you to take a few minutes to Google - Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada. – and do read at least the Introduction to “ They Came for the Children ”. This is hard truth, but only when we are open to learn this story without defensiveness will we be ready to build trust and Right Relations with First Nations Peoples.