5034 to go...

As we approach another Canada day, there is a lot for us to think about. If the two stories on residential school grave site discoveries over the over the past couple of weeks were difficult to digest, here's something to consider.

Estimated missing 6000; Kamloops  215; Cowessess – 751; 5034 remain (atleast)

I am reminded of the words of the poet Gulzar (film Kinara, 1977):

nAam Gum jaAyega, Chehra ye badal jaAyega, Meri Aawaaz hi pehchan hai, Agar yad rahe.

Names will be lost, Faces will change, My voice (story) is my identity, If you remember.

 Let us learn first and then take the time to remember. The truth and reconciliation commission reports is a good start.

Not just because it happened in Canada. But because for many of us immigrants, we can trace similar stories of actual or attempted cultural denigration in parts of the world we come from. And maybe that helps us better understand ourselves as Canadians.

This country of “I am Joe and I am Canadian” needs a new identity and it should be fine for Joe to be a lumberjacks or a fur trader or anything else he/she wants to be.

Our day of reckoning is coming. Not that other-worldly one. But the one right here…when we are all going to have to confront the most basic of questions “What is it that makes us human beings?”

I hope we are ready.

ps : Special thanks to Mark Dymond for pointing me to Stolen Continent and starting my learning journey.  Loved this line from the book “If knowledge is power, knowledge of time is perspective”