Submitted by St. Mary Parish TRC, Saskatoon
The People’s Bridge Advocacy (PBA) group in Saskatoon hosted a day of reflection, healing and reconciliation Sept. 26 at the Army and Navy Veterans club hall in Saskatoon.
The PBA, a charitable organization, focuses on building capacities, fostering intercultural connections, and advancing the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) Calls to Action for positive societal transformation.
PBA is also a past recipient of grants from the Indigenous Reconciliation Fund administered by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Saskatoon.
Reflections from those who attended this year’s event include:
Listening to a Residential school survivor
“While sitting at a round table, people from the Truth and Reconciliation group from Guadalupe and St. Mary parishes listened to the sacred pain being spoken out loud by an Indigenous woman. She spoke with emotion, raw and unfiltered, of the fear and loneliness, she had experienced as a seven-year old child being removed from her mother, father and siblings to attend a residential school,” said Bonnie Roberts.
“We all listened to her with our ears and hearts. We saw her with our eyes, a woman created in the image and likeness of God. ‘I need to speak it out to help get rid of this pain’ – her desire to move forward was evident. We listened to her life experience; we drew closer to her,” Roberts added
“I am very grateful to People’s Bridge Advocacy for providing this forum for people to speak and for people to listen. We were able to share in this healing process, to deepen our well of understanding of the lives of others.”
Listening to a member from STR8 UP
“I found the teachings and testimonies during the day to be very meaningful, and they gave me a better understanding of the deep wounding done to the Indigenous peoples both as individuals and as a collective of peoples,” said Barb Aden.
“The sharing by a member of STR8 UP, Conrad Slippery, showed me personally my ‘white privileged’ status and also what draws people into the street lifestyles. I am often lacking insight into the systemic racism in our society and my place of privilege in it.”
She added: “I very much enjoyed the sharing and dialogue at our table and also the diversity at the event as a whole. We are enriched when we broaden our tent.”
Listening to Elder Tim Eashappie
“Elder Tim led the opening prayer and gave Indigenous teachings on culture, history, traditions and ways of knowing,” said Bernice Daratha.
“Following his presentation we responded to various questions at our round table. I shared about how I have been impressed with the Karenni refugees from Myanmar who have expressed their culture and identity through dance, costumes, foods, songs, celebrations, and ceremonies. I realized that only recently am I beginning to have that same sense of ‘awe’ of Indigenous cultures” Daratha said.
“Years of racism, stereotypes, oppression, and lack of awareness have prevented me from experiencing the richness and strength of Indigenous cultures.”
She added: “I am grateful that I could listen to a number of “sacred voices”, including hopeful youth from different cultures.”
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