Catholics get First Nations history lesson
The B.C. Catholic
VANCOUVER
Local Catholics are working toward reconciliation with First Nations.
About 35 employees of the Archdiocese of Vancouver and other guests recently participated in what’s called a “blanket exercise,” to learn about the history of First Nations in Canada.
“I could just feel, the more we went in depth with their story, their oppression and the heaviness of what they went through,” said Jane Rosenthal after the exercise at the John Paul II Pastoral Centre Dec. 7.
She was one of the participants who stood on blankets as they listened to a brief recounting of First Nations history. They heard about European explorers settling in, making treaties they wouldn’t honour, colonizing aboriginal people, and placing children in residential schools.
The blankets, representing First Nations land, were slowly folded until they were small lumps on the carpeted floor.
Rosenthal said the experience “immersed” her in the history and made her wonder, “How can people do this to each other?”
She stood on a blanket until the facilitator of the exercise said she represented those First Nations people who died from diseases colonizers brought with them. She then had to take a seat.
“That made me feel like there was no one there to help me through or care for me while I was going through this,” she said.
Other participants voiced similar sentiments. Pauline Sturton of the archdiocese’s Ministries and Outreach Office said she felt “disgust” during the learning experience.
“For the people to be taken advantage of because they didn’t speak the language, it’s appalling.”
Counsellor Liz Fong-McLaughlin was encouraged by the stories of First Nations people who found the courage to speak up against oppression. “I admire the people who endured despite all this.”
Clayton Imoo, the director of the archdiocese’s Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministry, found the exercise was “masterly crafted to bring to life what happened.”
The event was held in a response to one of the 94 “calls to action” of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, according to organizer Deacon Rennie Nahanee, a member of the Squamish Nation.
“The reason for bringing this to the archdiocese is to answer Call To Action #59 from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, to inform people about this unknown history of the indigenous people of Canada so they, as Christians, can understand that the need for social justice is necessary and that they can be a part of this reconciliation.”
Participating in the blanket exercise, he added, is better than reading a book or watching a film about it.
“The Indian residential schools were operated by the churches, but it was under the direction of the Canadian government of the time, whose mandate was to remove the Indian from the child,” Deacon Nahanee said.
“This failed because of the resistance of the people, but the repercussions, fallout, and damage done to the children is irreversible to them and their descendants.”
Deacon Nahanee is the head of the archdiocese’s ministry to First Nations. That ministry has sought other ways to bring about reconciliation, including promoting cultural workshops at the St. Kateri Centre. Those events teach First Nations people, and others, how to create traditional vests, moccasins, and drums.
Wendy Charbonneau of the Squamish Nation joined the blanket exercise.
It brought back “powerful memories,” and helped give “an understanding of what went on,” in her history.
The blanket exercise was created by Kairos Canada, a charity that unites 10 Christian churches in social justice efforts.
Their teaching tool has been brought to schools, churches, and community groups across the country, including some Catholic schools in B.C.
akrawczynski@rcav.org
