Truth and Reconciliation has powerful impact in Langley

Frank Bucholtz photo

Michael Kelly Gabriel of the Kwantlen First Nation speaks with guest speaker Wab Kinew at the Langley Truth and Reconciliation event on Saturday.

The Truth and Reconciliation events in Langley over the weekend were powerful and groundbreaking.
Former school trustee Cecelia Reekie spearheaded the event, with help from a very active committee, known as Working Toward Reconciliation. What really made it work so well was the active participation from the Kwantlen, Katzie and Matsqui First Nations.
Reekie's own story, as a First Nations woman who only became aware of her aboriginal background as an adult (she was adopted as a baby by a Caucasian couple), is a significant reason this event happened. She has since forged a close relationship with her First Nations birth father, Cecil, who came down from Kitimat to attend the event.
I had a chance to talk with him and found out a bit of his story. He is part of a very small nation that is now part of the Haisla First Nation. He attended residential school and this led to a lot of challenges in his earlier adult life. He testified in front of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission about his experiences. He is now a much-respected elder who continues to have an influence far beyond his family and nation. He is a gentle man with a great deal of life experience, which he is happy to share with others.
There were many aspects to the event. The keynote speeches by Wab Kinew, an author and journalist, were a critical element. Friday`s speech drew well over 400 people.
His powerful book, The Reason You Walk, is the story of his father Tobasonakwut's journey from a loving family living near Lake of the Woods in northwest Ontario to residential school, where he was abused. It continues with details of his adult life, which had many challenges, but he also held onto his language and became a very respected teacher and leader.
In his last year of life (he died of cancer in 2012), he was able to reconcile with many people, including his son Wab, whom he loved deeply. The residential school experience had made it hard for him to be a loving parent at times, which got in the way of their relationship. Together, they created an app for cell phones which allows young people to use and get better in their native Ojibwe language.
He also adopted the Roman Catholic archbishop of Manitoba as a brother, even though it was at a Catholic school that he was so deeply hurt. He also touched many other people deeply.
On Friday night, Wab spoke about his father and touched on some of the key points from the book. On Saturday, he took it a step further and talked about where the journey involving aboriginal Canadians seems to be heading. He is a big believer in reconciliation and his words had a powerful impact.
A panel discussion Saturday was also very meaningful. It involved Kwantlen elder Josette Dandurand, a residential school survivor, along with Michael Kelly Gabriel, son of Kwantlen Chief Marilyn Gabriel and her husband Kevin Kelly. Several other First Nations and church representatives also spoke.
There were numerous musicians and dancers taking part. There were exhibits about the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and its recommendations. There were arts and crafts, and many other important exhibits. Saturday ended with a friendship dance, led by the Kwantlen drummers.
On Sunday, there was a service of reconciliation at Sharon United Church. The weekend events had significant support from Langley School District.
Most of all, there were plenty of chances for native and non-native people to connect and build relationships. That is what reconciliation is all about - understanding and respecting one another.
Luke Dandurand did an excellent job as the emcee for the weekend events.
I've pondered on many things since taking part, but a couple are worth sharing. One of the panelists, Rev. Carmen Lansdowne of the Heiltsuk First Nation, who is a United Church minister, said that when she studied history at university, she was struck by how First Nations history is given short shrift. Part of this is because of the oral tradition. Historians at the university level are always being asked to rely on written sources.
When I studied Canadian history at Simon Fraser University from 1972 to 1974, taking a wide variety of courses, there was almost no content about aboriginal people.
I took a course on New France, but almost all of it focused on the French settlers who came to Quebec and their forms of government, land ownership and economic activity. This is despite the fact that they are unlikely to have survived without the crucial assistance given them by the native inhabitants of Quebec.
I also took a course on B.C. art, and in our discussions of Emily Carr, we did talk about her desire to document native villages and totem poles and other aspects of First Nations culture. However, there was little context given. We also discussed Mungo Martin, an important First Nations carver, but didn't go into the depths of Kwakwaka'wakw art and culture.
In the courses I took on the Canadian constitution at SFU, there was virtually no discussion of the role and rights of First Nations people in Canada. This was before the 1982 repatriation and the adoption of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
People of my generation had little chance to find out about First Nations people when we were growing up, even though they were here long before any other people came to Canada to live.
My wife Bonnie and I first got to know First Nations people when we spent a week at the Dene community of Snare Lake in the Northwest Territories in 1986. It was an eye-opening experience, but despite the lack of many things that we take for granted (such as running water, toilets, insulation in homes and work for residents), we were treated very well. We spent a week with the children of the community as Vacation Bible School helpers through Lutheran Association of Missionaries and Pilots. The children were with us from morning to night.
I have since been involved with several organizations that are deeply involved with First Nations people in both Canada and the U.S., and have come to know many wonderful and brilliant people from numerous nations in both countries. Many have faced some of the challenges we heard about over the weekend in their lives.
Reconciliation happens in small steps, which was the concept of the Langley event. It is hoped it will be the first of many such gatherings. For true reconciliation, all those involved need to know the truth about how Canada has treated First Nations people in the past and what role residential schools played in damaging families, culture and languages, Then it is up to all of us to move forward.