Hellen Keller said, "I am only one, but I am still one. I cannot do everything, but I can still do something."
In 2008, the Government of Canada created a Truth and Reconciliation Commission to investigate the residential school system in Canada and to give recommendations for moving forward as a nation. Their findings, published in 2015, were groundbreaking. Ultimately, they referred to what happened in our country as "cultural genocide" and called for significant action to take place to promote healing.
One key recommendation was in the area of education. Aboriginal learning thus holds a significant place in new curriculums across Canada. The challenge, however, is that few educators in Canada are aboriginal.
When we face challenges courageously, we always find solutions. I have experienced two very positive factors in promoting aboriginal education. First of all, the aboriginal educators I have worked with are exceptional. They ask if I would like to try different initiatives with my class, they answer my questions and they give me the supports that I need. Secondly, I am never made to feel like an outsider, I feel like an ally.
According to indigenous writer and speaker Monique Gray Smith, "Being an ally means that you contribute to the healing, not to the hurting. Part of being an ally means that we listen deeply."
Listening deeply is not easy to do, especially when the truth of what happened is so painful to hear. When we pass through that pain, however, we are not only more empathic to the suffering of others, we are more determined to make a positive difference.
I have often heard of aboriginal children being taken from their villages by "Indian agents," accompanied by police officers. When I make an effort to truly listen to these stories, however, I am changed.
I too am a parent. I have loved waking up and seeing my children smile. Sharing meals and laughter together are some of my happiest memories. It has also meant everything to be there to give them comfort when they were afraid, and to help them to make sense of the world.
What if that were taken away from me? What if I couldn't see them and spend time with them? What if they were taken to a place far away where they would cry themselves to sleep alone at night? What if I was aware that children even died where they were going and I never knew if I would see my precious ones again?
These are painful thoughts, but fortunately for me, they are only thoughts. For many people in our country, they, and even more horrific experiences, were reality. For many, the scars of these events are still raw. Experience tells us that this type of wound can take many generations to heal.
This type of listening expands me as a person. It inspires me to become an ally, and to find new allies who will promote healing in our country.
As a teacher, truth is vital to everything that I do. Truth enlightens all of us, regardless of our age or ethnicity. As we embrace truth, we embrace the first step toward reconciliation.
Embracing truth and reconciliation also helps me to realize that we are all a part of something much larger. The mistreatment and abuse of children extends beyond the residential schools, beyond the aboriginal community, beyond Canada and beyond history. As we embrace the story of one wounded person, we embrace an unfortunate universal reality.
We cannot eliminate all of this unnecessary suffering by ourselves, but our role is still very significant. We can each do something and that is enough to heal the world.
Gerry Chidiac is a champion for social enlightenment, inspiring others to find their greatness in making the world a better place. For more of his writings, go to www.gerrychidiac.com
