The Pope's Apology & My Two Cents ...

First off, a disclaimer. I am not a residential school survivor. Although my family was most definitely touched by the horrors of that era, although I most definitely have suffered thanks to intergenerational trauma, I am not personally a residential school survivor. Therefore, my words are far less important than the words of any survivor.

Having said that …

Today, we must acknowledge that many indigenous people are Christian. Further back, in their family bloodline, they were told that Christianity was “the way”. In fact, the only way. They were not given a choice. Their ancestors (or themselves) were indoctrinated, often through fear, often through abuse but nevertheless, it is who they or their descendants are. It is Christianity that gets them through hurt and pain, through grief and loss, and they needed their pontiff to apologize. They needed the head of their church to apologize, to show the world they matter, that they did not deserve what happened to them. And they got their apology. For them, I smile.

Other indigenous people want nothing to do with Christianity, the Pope, or any apology. This is the “words are not enough” camp. And although I wish my Mom was here to hear the Pope’s words, I fall mostly into this camp. I did not watch the coverage. I could care two beans what he has to say. For me, it was more important that he showed up and said something, for those it mattered to. For them, I smile.

And of course, the big controversy (and the one I really wanted to speak to), the gifting of the headdress. First and foremost, anyone who walks the Red Road knows our elders and/or leadership often do things we do not yet understand. We know that in time we will. Condemnation not required.

Secondly, and probably even more importantly, again anyone who walks the Red Road knows you DO NOT EARN SACRED ITEMS. You carry them. You carry the weight of them. They are gifted to you either because you now understand the responsibility, or you need to. They are gifted by our teachers and guides. They are teachers themselves and they are very important to the indigenous cultures who carry and use such items.

To me, when I saw pictures of the headdress being placed on the pontiff’s head, I could not help but think, “That must be incredibly heavy, and it should be”.

I was speaking, of course, not of the actual physical weight but of the weight of responsibility, the weight of what was done, the weight of the acknowledgement, the weight of the work that must continue to be done, the weight of the healing, the weight of the pain, all encapsulated in a beautiful headdress.

And yes, in my humble opinion, the pontiff should carry that weight and that responsibility.

That is all I have to say on the matter. As always, I prefer to focus on what I can do, what I must say, what I must share to move us towards healing and reconciliation. I encourage all I encounter to do same.

This country has seen enough judgement and condemnation, after all. Is it not time for healing?

I pray you said “Yes”.

And I pray you smile, for them.

I love you!

HUGSSSSSSSS

Sandi

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