This issue we have a shared column by National Bishop Susan Johnson and Executive Director Willard Metzger of Mennonite Church Canada (MC Canada). The relationship between the ELCIC and MC Canada continues to grow. Bishop Johnson and Rev. Metzger participated as part of the cross-country Justice Tour earlier this year and were also at the closing events of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) in Ottawa. They share their reflections on the TRC here.
I had the opportunity to attend the closing events of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) in Ottawa. I am sure you have heard the basic facts. 150,000 children went to Indian residential schools (IRS) over the 113 years they were in operation. At least 6,000 of them died—a number comparable to the percentage of those who died in the Canadian Armed Forces in World War II. The schools had cemeteries but no playgrounds. There are currently 80,000 survivors of IRS still living. The intergenerational trauma that has been experienced as a result of IRS has direct links to the extreme problems of violence, addiction and poverty in Indigenous peoples.
I knew the facts before I went to a single TRC National Event. But I had not heard the pain, seen the tears, been moved by the stories of individual people. Valerie Getzon said “Statistics are human beings with the tears dried off.” The TRC events connected me with the tears—those of the survivors and my own tears as well.
The commission laid out an extensive roadmap towards reconciliation. Ninety-four calls to action addressed to government, churches, the criminal justice system and all Canadians. In 2011 our church committed itself to working toward right relationships between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples. We need to do everything we can to respond to the calls to action of the TRC.
As Commissioner Marie Wilson said “We must demand the same bravery and trust from all Canadians as has been shown by IRS survivors.” As commissioner Justice Sinclair said: “We have described for you a mountain. We have shown you the path to the top. We call upon you to do the climbing.”
It’s a daunting task, but commissioner Chief Littlechild told us, “The most important words taught to us by survivors are “I’m sorry; I love you; thank you.” Pretty good words for us to remember as we move forward in reconciliation.
National Bishop Susan Johnson
Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada
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