The sound of the drums and the songs rang out as 10,000 people turned the corner to Ottawa City Hall. This Walk for Reconciliation marked the beginning of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s closing events. Emotions rose as banners waved, held by residential school survivors and non-indigenous people who walked together, side by side.
It was hard not to get emotional.
The next four days were filled with words, tears and hope.
Vivian Ketchum was one of the people there. From the age of five, she attended Cecilia Jeffrey, a Presbyterian-run residential school in Kenora, Ont. It was the same school her siblings and her father attended. Her mother went to St. Mary’s, a Catholic-run residential school in the same community.
She tells the story of her sister, who died of liver sclerosis, and of her other siblings who all died before the age of 50. “They couldn’t live with their memories,” Vivian said. She recalls how her sister couldn’t sleep at night, so haunted by her experiences that she turned to alcohol to numb the pain.
When talking to Vivian she showed me her hand; one of her fingers was bent. She was hit by one of the workers at the school when she was five. Her finger was broken and it never healed.
“A large part of me has [been able to forgive], but I’m finding out today, that there’s still some anger left. When there were some pictures showing on the big screen, the black and white photos of the students and that, I had to walk out,” she said. “I realized there is still some anger in there that is really deep and I don’t think that will ever go away.”
Vivian is involved in the Presbyterian Church in Canada, especially through Winnipeg Inner City Missions, which provides many types of support for aboriginal people and is home to Place of Hope Presbyterian Church. She has been an active part of the denomination’s work toward healing and reconciliation. “I’m here to teach, I’m not here to hurt,” she said.
Reconciliation involves walking a long, difficult and winding road.
Many residential school survivors said they probably will not live to see reconciliation. Even Justice Murray Sinclair, chair of the TRC, said he doesn’t believe it will happen in his lifetime.
There were 94 recommendations made in the TRC’s report, which was presented during the closing event in Ottawa. Now it is a question of whether the governments, the churches, and we as Canadians will implement them.
Former Prime Minister Joe Clark spoke as an honorary witness at the event. He said there is a difference between an apology and a priority. We have apologized. Now we must take the next step and make reconciliation our priority as Canadians.
It is our responsibility to learn, to talk about reconciliation in our schools, churches and governments. Building up relationships should be a priority not just for our leaders, but for ourselves.
On the last day of the closing events, the morning was filled by “Healing with Humour and Music.” For about two hours, survivors shared songs, stories and dances. The goal was to use these tools of expression to reconcile on a personal level. It was moving to see victims of cultural genocide smiling and sharing their heritage. It filled me with hope to see them dance.
After each person shared, we said these simple words to them: “Thank you. I’m sorry. I love you.”
These words brought tears to many. It is a simple form of reconciliation. To thank each other for both sharing and listening, to acknowledge that what we have done was wrong, and to promise to walk together as neighbours towards reconciliation. The final TRC event was but the first step.
About Elizabeth Keith
Elizabeth Keith is studying journalism at Carleton University, Ottawa.