Truth and Reconciliation
Building bridges based on truth, to begin the first act of conciliation must occur. There is nothing to reconcile if the majority of non indigenous Canadians believe the fabricated history taught to them through media and slanted social studies. Colonized social constructs continue in this neo-colonial time. Breaking through from beneath the glass ceiling of colonization is a task we have to work at from both sides of the social construction that is Canada.
What most Canadians don’t know was that Residential schools didn’t close until 1996. But before that another wave of assault was launched against native families. The 60’s scoop saw Native children ripped from their families and delivered to white families who thought they were the better. Many of the children taken in the scoop suffered great trauma that has affected many families to this day.
Righting the wrongs of the past come in many forms.
“They cry” BCAFN regional chief Shane Gottfriedson said about returning BC’s ancestral remains from worldly museums and galleries. I believe the reverberation from their cries has been vibrating inside of us this whole time. It tells us things are wrong. Until our ancestors are resting, we shall not rest. Imagine if suicide and mental health had deeper roots? Roots that affect some more than others. DNA memory acted out. “They cry” I believe they do and their memories flood back to us, sometimes in states of confusion. Righting the wrongs of the Colonial past will have far reaching benefits.
Truth telling comes in many forms. Reconciliation, what does it look like?
Our people told stories through song dance and performed tellings. These are the methods that impact the eyes, ears and mouths. They make us cover them with our hands. Their impact is why we perform Beneath the Surface as a core teaching tool.
This is how we engage in the Truth and Reconciliation, to bring light to dark places in a personal message through live theatre and group workshops. Imagi’NATION Collective is a dedicated to provoke deep thought and understanding of true First Nation history in Canada’s dark past and invite participants to open dialogue and their truth telling with the intent of rebuilding community through healing, self-care and performance arts practices.
Originally posted July 12, 2016 in the imagi’NATION Collective
(Photography by Madelaine McCallum)