Inner City Pastoral Ministry 40 th AGM Indian

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Inner City Pastoral Ministry 40 th AGM: Indian Residential Schools and Reconciliation Harold Robinson,

Inner City Pastoral Ministry 40 th AGM: Indian Residential Schools and Reconciliation Harold Robinson, LLB March 21, 2018 harold. robinson@shaw. ca

Love, or the lack of it, is at the root of all relationships. --

Love, or the lack of it, is at the root of all relationships. -- Mr. Rogers

My goal: 1. To share what I’ve learned from 12 years of adjudicating Indian

My goal: 1. To share what I’ve learned from 12 years of adjudicating Indian Residential School claims to size up the challenge at hand; 2. To take stock of our resources; and 3. To celebrate your work!

How do you talk about Sir John A Macdonald? The challenge: Sir John A

How do you talk about Sir John A Macdonald? The challenge: Sir John A Macdonald’s vision of Canada was one without any Indigenous Culture.

What our first PM said: • “When the school is on the reserve the

What our first PM said: • “When the school is on the reserve the child lives with its parents, who are savages. ” – Sir John A Macdonald Speech to Parliament 1886

What our first PM said: • “… though [the child] may learn to read

What our first PM said: • “… though [the child] may learn to read or write [at home], his habits, training and mode of thought are Indian. He is simply a savage who can read and write. ” – Sir John A Macdonald Speech to Parliament 1886

What our first PM said: • “Indian Children should be withdrawn… from parental influence…

What our first PM said: • “Indian Children should be withdrawn… from parental influence… put them in central training where they will acquire the habits and modes of white men. ” – Sir John A Macdonald Speech to Parliament 1886

What happened: • Sir John A Macdonald’s words to Parliament in 1886 led to

What happened: • Sir John A Macdonald’s words to Parliament in 1886 led to the creation and implementation of the compulsory Indian Residential School program, which The Truth and Reconciliation Commission said was an attempt at “cultural genocide. ”

Quick facts: • Canada and different Churches operated IRSs. • Attendance at an IRS

Quick facts: • Canada and different Churches operated IRSs. • Attendance at an IRS was compulsory for many decades • The last IRS closed in 1996 (Gordon’s/Anglican) • Alberta had the most IRSs (25) of all Provinces and Territories

The Breach: 16. 3 The family is the natural and fundamental group unit of

The Breach: 16. 3 The family is the natural and fundamental group unit of society and it is entitled to protection by society and the State. -- Article 16(3) (United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights

With this breach… Canada tore apart Indigenous families and cultures

With this breach… Canada tore apart Indigenous families and cultures

With this breach… Every Child who was taken, and every Parent who was left

With this breach… Every Child who was taken, and every Parent who was left behind were stripped of their basic human right to be protected by the State

With this breach… Every one was touched by abuse, even those who were not

With this breach… Every one was touched by abuse, even those who were not physically or sexually abused at an Indian Residential School

With this breach… Churches failed to love others as Jesus loved us

With this breach… Churches failed to love others as Jesus loved us

With this breach… Canada disrupted my family, and….

With this breach… Canada disrupted my family, and….

My family was entitled to protection by the State

My family was entitled to protection by the State

My family was entitled to protection by the State

My family was entitled to protection by the State

My family was entitled to protection by the State

My family was entitled to protection by the State

My family was entitled to protection by the State

My family was entitled to protection by the State

My family was entitled to protection by the State

My family was entitled to protection by the State

My family was entitled to protection by the State

My family was entitled to protection by the State

My family was entitled to protection by the State

My family was entitled to protection by the State

… And Their families were entitled to protection by the State

… And Their families were entitled to protection by the State

If you agree that: • The Indian Residential School program breached Canada’s obligation to

If you agree that: • The Indian Residential School program breached Canada’s obligation to protect families, ask 1. What happens when a State builds a program that breaches a basic human right? 2. What happens when the program that breaches a fundamental human right goes on for 40, 50, 60, 100 years?

Some consequences of the breach: • 22% of Aboriginal women aged 18 and over

Some consequences of the breach: • 22% of Aboriginal women aged 18 and over had seriously considered suicide in their lifetime, compared to 12% for non-Aboriginal female population. • In 2009, 12% of Aboriginal people reported being the victim of at least one non-spousal crime, more than double the proportion of non-Aboriginal people (5%), and Aboriginal women reported being victim of spousal abuse (15%) versus (6%) non-Aboriginal. - See 2012 Aboriginal Peoples Survey. http: //www. statcan. gc. ca

Some consequences of the breach: • Although Aboriginal peoples make up just under 4%

Some consequences of the breach: • Although Aboriginal peoples make up just under 4% of the total Canadian population, they make up 28% of those sent to jail. - See 2012 Aboriginal Peoples Survey. http: //www. statcan. gc. ca • Aboriginal people make up about 50% of the homeless population in Edmonton, even though they only make up 5. 4% of the population. - http: //homewardtrust. ca/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/Homeless-Count-2016 -Edmonton-Preliminary-Report. pdf

Some consequences of the breach: • The 2011 National Household Survey show that almost

Some consequences of the breach: • The 2011 National Household Survey show that almost 4% of Aboriginal children living in foster care, or 10 times the proportion for non. Aboriginal children. • More than 27% of Fist Nations people living on reserve live in crowded conditions, compared to 4%, non-Aboriginal. - See 2012 Aboriginal Peoples Survey. http: //www. statcan. gc. ca

The main consequence of the breach: • Indigenous kids were taken away from their

The main consequence of the breach: • Indigenous kids were taken away from their parents, sometimes for years at a time. Households were robbed of joy and love. • The kids who came home—remember, not all of them came home—often felt angry, isolated and depressed. - What I learned from IRS survivors, H. Robinson

… and dreams were never dreamed: In Algonquin, we don’t say ‘I love you.

… and dreams were never dreamed: In Algonquin, we don’t say ‘I love you. ’ We say ‘Kimoodiye. ’ This translates into ‘I could not dream without you. ’ -- Nibinikwe

Reconciliation: Where to start? To the Truth and Reconciliation Commission: …. reconciliation, in the

Reconciliation: Where to start? To the Truth and Reconciliation Commission: …. reconciliation, in the context of Indian residential schools, is similar to dealing with a situation of family violence. It’s about coming to terms with events of the past in a manner that overcomes conflict and establishes a respectful and health relationship among people, going forward….

Reconciliation: Where to start? To the Commission …. reconciliation is about establishing and maintaining

Reconciliation: Where to start? To the Commission …. reconciliation is about establishing and maintaining a mutually respectful relationship between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal peoples in this country. In order for this to happen, there has to be awareness of the past, acknowledgement of the harm that has been inflicted, atonement for the causes, and action to change behavior.

Reconciliation: Where to start? To me, Reconciliation is about talking with each other. It’s

Reconciliation: Where to start? To me, Reconciliation is about talking with each other. It’s about showing that we care.

Reconciliation: Where to start? To me, Reconciliation answers a basic question asked by so

Reconciliation: Where to start? To me, Reconciliation answers a basic question asked by so many survivors: … are you listening to me?

Our resources: The TRC Calls to Action 18. We call upon the federal, provincial,

Our resources: The TRC Calls to Action 18. We call upon the federal, provincial, and territorial governments, to acknowledge that the current state of Aboriginal health in Canada is a direct result of previous Canadian government policies, including residential schools… - TRC Calls to Action, June 2015

Our resources: The TRC Calls to Action 59. We call upon church parties… to

Our resources: The TRC Calls to Action 59. We call upon church parties… to develop ongoing education strategies to ensure… their congregations learn about their church’s role in… the history and legacy of residential schools, and why apologies… were necessary. - TRC Calls to Action, June 2015

Our resources: The TRC Calls to Action 61. We call upon church parties to

Our resources: The TRC Calls to Action 61. We call upon church parties to the Settlement Agreement, in collaboration with Survivors… to establish… communitycontrolled healing and reconciliation projects. - TRC Calls to Action, June 2015

Our resources: Apologies … The Government of Canada built an educational system in which

Our resources: Apologies … The Government of Canada built an educational system in which very young children were often forcibly removed from their homes, often taken far from their communities. . All were deprived of the care and nurturing of their parents, grandparents and communities. - Prime Minister Harper, June 11, 2008

Our resources: Apologies As our first step, we want the First Nation, Metis and

Our resources: Apologies As our first step, we want the First Nation, Metis and Inuit people of Alberta to know that we deeply regret the profound harm and damage that occurred to generations of children forced to attend residential schools. Although the Province of Alberta did not establish this system, members of this Chamber did not take a stand against it. For this silence, we apologize - Premier Rachael Notley, June 22, 2015

Our resources: Work underway • • Living into right relations initiative – United Church

Our resources: Work underway • • Living into right relations initiative – United Church National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation – U of M National Council for Reconciliation Canada Kitchen Table Guide for reconciliation dialogue • Alberta roundtables on Sixties Scoop • Call for a provincial reconciliation secretariat

Our resources: Resiliency, thirst and love … For those who experience poverty [loss, racism,

Our resources: Resiliency, thirst and love … For those who experience poverty [loss, racism, anger…] thirst not simply for drink, do not hunger simply for bread, but hunger and thirst for a measure of dignity, respect, recognition, and love…. Christ’s call to the church… is to Minister in love amongst [those who are suffering]. - Rick Chapman, Pastor, ICPM

Our resources: But most of all, love The greatest thing we can do is

Our resources: But most of all, love The greatest thing we can do is to let somebody know they are loved and capable of loving. -- Mr. Rogers

Our resources: But most of all, love A new command I give you: Love

Our resources: But most of all, love A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another. -- John 13: 34 -35 New International Version (NIV)

Our resources: You! ICPM’s is building right relationships, with: - a special emphasis on

Our resources: You! ICPM’s is building right relationships, with: - a special emphasis on reconciliation; - Oskapewis to lead the way with blanket exercises, and so many other initiatives and insights; - services that celebrate life with the Creator - Arts as healing program and spiritual wellness groups; and - volunteers from so many quarters and congregations who make and serve Sunday lunches and other meals, put together gift packages, and who do countless other good deeds.

Let’s Celebrate! Let’s celebrate the fact that ICPM is a church without walls, but

Let’s Celebrate! Let’s celebrate the fact that ICPM is a church without walls, but still a Ministry of Presence and Love in the inner city!

The end. . . and the beginning! Questions?

The end. . . and the beginning! Questions?