STAND OFF – Reflection, education and healing were the main topics of discussion between survivors of residential schools, Blackfoot elders and church officials Thursday.
“With residential schools, there has been so much hurt and pain and lot of those are still evident in our community,” said planning committee member Jackie Red Crow. “The planning committee feels it’s so important that we need to end that cycle.”
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The post Truth & Reconciliation community event was held in Stand Off Wednesday and Thursday. It was the first time leaders of four church denominations participated in traditional Blackfoot ceremonies, such as an offer of prayer with a pipe.
One church leader said it’s important to be there in-person, rather than to offer an apology on paper like they’ve done in the past.
“I’m still feeling a certain sense of shame and sadness as well. I’m feeling a sense of awe that they are moving forward and I’m really admiring that,” said Dr. Peter Doherty of the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate. “It’s sort of like the reconciliation process is already going on.”
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People in attendance felt it was necessary to bring the churches into the community to accept their apology and learn to live harmoniously.
“What that indicates is, to put the past in the past and continue on this healing journey,” said Red Crow.
A panel of young people gathered to share the inter-generational effects that residential schools had on their lives. Lauren Crazybull says those effects are evident in the community, and this week’s ceremonies present another form of healing.
“Once we can recognize them in ourselves, then we can move forward and try and better ourselves and better our families, and then going on and bettering our communities,” said Crazybull.
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