Eric Jarvis shares his experience at the Truth and Reconciliation lecture at McGill:
Sept 20, Tuesday
Journal Entre # 143
I walked home early to prepare for the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) lecture at McGill. It was a successful event! We had a mixed crowd: some LDS, but also students, faculty, and Interfaith friends. John Cree, a Mohawk Elder, opened and closed the meeting with traditional ceremonies with pipe and smoke and feather and words in the Mohawk language. At one point, he was overcome with emotion when he said, I don¹t know why so many people hate my people so much. John Borrows and Rebecca Johnson spoke on various aspects of the TRC, but [Professor Borrows] tried to find points of reconciliation by tracing his Indigenous family history and the contacts his family has had through the generations with White culture and society. One of these positive events was the conversion of his mother to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Very touching stories. John Cree ended by saying, ³The White man was given fire as a gift; we are still waiting for him to use this fire for good and for healing - not for destruction."
Post Script: To read more about this event, try this link: Embracing Reconciliation
Thanks for sharing some of your thoughts on the event. I was so sad not be be able to come to Montreal that day.
ReplyDeleteI was thinking this week about the same question asked by Kanehsatake Elder John Cree: "why do so many people hate my people?" I had been listening to Daryl Davis when he asked the same question. I think Daryl's answer was hate born of fear born of ignorance (lack of knowledge/truth).
ReplyDeleteBeing hated by someone who has never even met you, doesn't know you, and may likely never get to know you - especially a person in power - ... I don't know how to finish this sentence. The thought makes my brain freeze.
I am glad you are bringing this forward Bonnie. Making my brain freeze, indeed with those beautiful words. Why is there so much hate.
ReplyDeleteHurts, real or imagined. And I don't know how to fix these.