Authored by past EFC employee
I note “official policy” in the general sense because some of that policy has been the policy of government, some that of the Church. And there is also the unofficial policy and practices of neighbours, friend and foe alike.
The problems that have long occupied the attention of Canada’s aboriginal peoples as well as the federal and provincial ministries responsible for aboriginal affairs were created over time and will take time to resolve. The problems on one reserve are not evident on another; and those in one urban setting differ from another. There is no homogenous and unified First Nations of Canada. The elected chiefs elect a Grand Chief to lead the Assembly of First Nations, which is not the Congress of Aboriginal Peoples or Idle No More. Canada’s First Nations are as complex as any other people groups.
It has been interesting to read the comments flowing from First Nations supporters of Idle No More and First Nations opponents of Idle No More; as well as the comments of non-aboriginal supporters and opponents. It is a time for healing. And the healing will take time.
Approximately 1.2 million of Canada’s nearly 35 million inhabitants self-identified as aboriginal in 2012 (including: First Nations – 700,000, Metis – 400,000 and Inuit – 50,000). Like every other Canadian, none of these was born with an awareness of history or having made contribution to the historic decisions and practices that have resulted in the current state of life for Canada’s aboriginal peoples and all were born with the capacity to seek a peaceful resolution that might bring an end to perpetuating problems. Those solutions will have to be sought together. It will require a review of the past and a relinquishing of it. It will require a respect for the past and the resolve to both live today and look to the future.
My wife and I served our first appointment as pastors on a remote reserve in Northern British Columbia, Lax Kw’alaams. We fell in love with the people … and we got in a bit of trouble. At one point, a meeting of the band was called to determine whether or not we would be permitted to remain on the reserve. As we were not band members we understood that we would not have input into the meeting and were prepared to accept the results of their decision. We were appreciative when offered the opportunity to make a statement to the gathered assembly. I presented the naïve reflection of a sincere Christ loving 23 year old. “I have never been an Indian. I am a kumshewa(white man). I have only treated you as I would treat another white man and ask only that you would treat me as you would treat another Indian.” We stayed for nearly 2½ more years before being transferred inland.
During that time, we built relationships that endure to this day. Both Gloria and I were adopted into the Tsimshian Nation. And our service in Port Simpson helped facilitate our later adoption of our beautiful Ojibwe daughter.
Canada’s aboriginal peoples are unique in that instead of vast military conquest of a territory and peoples, treaties were signed, intermarriage took place and efforts – healthy and unhealthy – were made to either enjoin aboriginal peoples into “Canadian” culture or to separate them from it. Mistakes were made. Harm was done.
The elders of the village taught me that although the kumshewa brought bad things with them, they also brought good. The elders I served with were grateful for Jesus and their education. They were grateful that the reciprocal raids and slavery that had been the experience with other nations had come to an end. They were grateful for advances in technology, particularly (at that time) CB radios that allowed family to stay in touch with each other and, importantly, those fishing on the ocean. They also trusted me enough to share some of the things for which they were not grateful, but had found freedom through forgiveness or continuing advocacy without bitterness.
Openness, willingness, relationship and time may seem both the simplest and most difficult solution to a historic set of problems. Truthfully, however, is there another?
Winston Churchill is famously quoted as pronouncing, “It has been said that democracy is the worst form of government except all the others that have been tried.”
Stephen Harper is the democratically elected Prime Minister of Canada. Brian Mulroney is the last Canadian Prime Minister to have won a majority of the popular vote (1984) and before that you have to go back to John Diefenbaker (1958). Shawn A-in-chut Atleo is the democratically elected National Chief of the Assembly of First Nations. There may be disagreement about whether or not these men speak on behalf of all the people who were eligible to vote for them, but they were elected to lead and to lead the conversation. We can’t all be in the room. (If we were, the disparate voices would prevent any progress.)
I’m accepting that democracy is preferred and praying that these men will demonstrate an openness and willingness to build relationship that will stimulate the emergence of necessary solutions. Only time will tell.