Edmonton Youth Learn the Need for Reconciliation While Producing “WE ARE” Video
An informal gathering on January 3, 2010, in Edmonton viewed “We Are”, a new video and met two of the people involved in its production. Seneca Crowe, (second from left in photo below) a 14 year old Stoney student introduced the video and told how she and her friends produced it with the help of her mother, Charlene Bearhead, who was also present.
The complete “WE ARE” video.
The video tells the story of how a group of young people went about learning the history of their people in Canada including Japanese, Chinese, German and Stoney/Cree – all of whom suffered from government actions and policy, at various stages in Canada’s history. Seneca, in introducing the video, explained how her involvement in the National Day of Healing and Reconciliation helped her to see the need for reconciliation and gave her the motivation to produce the video as a way to do something about it.
After viewing the video the 16 people present had a lively discussion about how it had impacted them and shared ideas about how to promote it. A young lady visiting from the Ukraine said she was inspired to hear how young people and others in Canada are working to make people aware of their history and finding ways to share. She told about a similar need in the Ukraine and the reconciliation work she was involved in there with Initiatives of Change, an international ngo.
Organizations : Roman Catholic Archbishop, Priests, Brothers, Sisters, and lay people, Presbyterian Ministers, Anglican Minister, United Church Minister, a Mennonite lay person, and Aboriginal brothers, sisters and Elders from 4 provinces as well as the organizers - 'Returning to Spirit' and host - 'Queens House'
Place: Saskatoon, at a retreat centre
Everyone attending had completed a prior workshop with one workshop of First Nations people and one workshop for ‘church’ people.
These workshops covered the same areas and followed the same format but within those two broader groupings. Then those who gathered for this particular workshop each spent an additional 2 days together before our two groups came together for a three day period of ‘conversation’ amongst First Nation and ‘church’ people.
This helped to ensure that our intentions were such that we could indeed enter into conversation in a way that respected each person and created space for listening, sharing, healing, and reconciliation all without blaming and accusation.
Because of the preparatory work that each individual had completed under the direction of the facilitators, we could trust that this would be a safe place to share our stories, listen to the stories of the ‘other’, to truly hear and feel heard, to grieve and to let go knowing that we were not alone in our pain or sorrow but that we were now ready to move forward and had indeed created space to do so. It is hard to live in a different way if we never really make room to do so.
The ‘Returning to Spirit’ program is a powerful transformational process that creates a space for all of us to stand together in presence to one another just as we are – however we call ourselves and to move ahead in willingness to create something new. It is an opportunity to be reconciled with a past which holds great shame and pain – and to successfully claim an intention to be something different in this present and in the future.
I have worked with people my whole life and had come to believe that impact to ‘person’ takes generations to break. ‘Returning to Spirit’ dispels this myth demonstrating that lasting transformation can indeed happen in a very short time – we need to choose it.
People’s mannerisms, the way they carry themselves, the way their face appears, and their inner feelings change for the positive in dramatic lasting ways during a ‘Returning to Spirit’ workshop. Not only in regards to issues resulting from Residential Schools, but within our personal lives – our families, our workplaces, and our communities. I would encourage anyone to embrace the opportunity to live intentionally and authentically and be all they have been created to be and this workshop is that chance.
Organizations : Restoring the Circle Supporters, Bluewater Board of Education, Bruce Grey Catholic Board of Education, Children’s Aid Society of Owen Sound, City of Owen Sound, County of Grey, Ningwakwe Learning Press, Division Street United Church, Owen Sound First United Church, Owen Sound Gaazigig Elders (Cape Croker), Georgian College (Owen Sound), Grey Bruce Health Uni,t Grey Bruce Violence Prevention, Co-coordinating Committee Métis Nation of Ontario Grey – Owen Sound M’Wikwedong Native Cultural Resource Centre Owen Sound Owen Sound and North Grey Union Public Library Owen Sound Jail Owen Sound and Vicinity Ministerial Association St. James Anglican Church, Hanover Trinity Church, Durham St. Thomas’ Anglican Church, Owen Sound St Thomas’ Brotherhood of Anglican Churchmen, Owen Sound Seniors Advocacy and Awareness Network Tom Thomson Memorial Art Gallery Youth Justice Piyak Ootihi Drummers and Singers
Place: Owen Sound, Cape Croker, Grey ,Bruce and Wellington Counties
Attendees: 100's over the year
Restoring the Circle A response to the Truth and Reconciliation Process in our community
Introduction:
The Restoring the Circle Committee was formed in May 2008 in response to the national Truth and Reconciliation process and the call for communities to provide events. We are a group of interested community members, representing our First Nations, our churches, our local community college, community organizations, service agencies, health care professionals, educators, business people, farmers, and citizens from many nationalities and age groups, youth to Elders.
We meet with the intention of bringing clarity to each other and to our local communities about the impacts of the Indian residential schools on our communities and ourselves. We want to provide opportunities for all people to rekindle awareness of who they are and what they are capable of, and to empower all people to seek ways to foster their own physical, mental, emotional and spiritual healing and growth.
The Goals of Restoring the Circle
1. Education: To educate each other and ourselves about our collective history, including, especially, government policies which have impacted Aboriginal communities.
2. Culture: To know who we are and share our knowledge with each other.
3. Health: To understand how historic trauma relates to our current health issues, body, mind and spirit.
4. Healing: Together, we will develop ways to build effective and compassionate relationships which celebrate a positive, collective healing and reconciliation movement with Educational, Justice, Political, Health, Community and Religious institutions.
Our Purpose
There is hope for all nations to each live our own cultural, spiritual teachings. We will reclaim our cultures and heal ourselves. The drum, our heartbeat sounds loud and strong. Together we walk the sacred path of truth and honour. We welcome you to join with us as we build a better future, are responsible, and walk in a sacred way. What we do today is for our future generations. Restoring the Circle Maandigeh (Mon-deh-geh – The Gathering) September 28 – 30, 2009 at the Harry Lumley Bayshore Community Centre, Owen Sound This three day conference will look at how negative past experiences of racism, assumptions and biases, negative stereotypes and cultural beliefs affect our present health and well-being, and how we can work together as a community to restore health and bring all peoples together. It will include workshops and teachings from respected presenters and leaders from all nations, with a focus on Justice, Education, Culture, Health and Healing and the development of community reconciliation practices to:
Begin the process of healing in our communities
Increase knowledge and understanding of aboriginal culture and spirituality
Build and foster relationships between individuals, community groups and service providers of all cultures.
Address the issues of abuse, addictions and disrupted family relationships.
Break down barriers and address racism and discrimination within the broader community.
Find next steps to move us forward.
Angela Ashkewe Maandigeh Coordinator
restoringthecircle@gmail.com
380 9th St E Owen Sound
ON N5K 1P1
519 376 1560 ext. 112
519 376 5458 fax
Please, consider this letter as your personal invitation to register for Maandigeh, “The Gathering” being held at the Harry Lumley Bayshore Community Centre in Owen Sound On.
On September 28, 29 and 30, 2009.
It is our hope in holding Maandigeh, “The Gathering”, we can develop ways to build new relationships and hopefully, rebuild relationships which celebrate healing and reconciliation within the educational, judicial, political, health, community and religious institutions. Your presence would be a great help in achieving this milestone. We ask that you come with an open mind which is willing to learn and understand.
Should you leave Maandigeh, “the Gathering” with even the slightest understanding then we have succeeded! If you are unable to attend all three days, there is the option of attending any of the three days. Please, find enclosed a registration pamphlet for this event.
Should you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact me at
restoringthecircle@gmail.com or 519-376-1560, ext. 112.
visit our web site www.restoringthecircle.yolasite.com
Contact us for more information or to request your information package to host a conversation!
This is an initiative by National Day of Healing and Reconciliation (a department of the Native Counselling Services of Alberta) and the Legacy of Hope Foundation, supported by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.
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