By: Thomas Coldwell
I returned home from Uganda about a week ago. For two weeks, I traveled and visited and learned with nine youth and two other coordinators. This MCC learning tour was a partnership with the Alberta Council for Global Cooperation based in Edmonton, Alberta and the Atlantic Council for International Cooperation based in Halifax, Nova Scotia. […]
To read more: Uganda through my lens — trails and tales
By Walter Díaz Sequeira (Honduras + Bolivia) and Noemy Salvatierra Rivero (Bolivia)
Walter and Noemy on the plane (first time for Noemy!)
We were invited to be international participants in Planting Peace 2017 in Alberta, Canada. It is a two-week intercultural educational program for peace. This program brings together young-adults from different parts of the world as well as national participants, with different beliefs, but all with a single vision and interest in exploring topics and initiatives for peace and justice. In Calgary, Canada, we had the opportunity to talk a little about the context and reality of Bolivia according to our lived experience and experiences of those we know. Our presentation was able to give participants a good sense of what Bolivia is like. We were also able to hear more about the context of other countries and to be able to better understand their realities and the current situation of each of the participating countries. The countries represented were Lebanon, Syria, Laos, India, Zimbabwe, Bolivia, and the host country, Canada. We also participated in various group activities. At Camp Valaqua we participated and enjoyed many fun activities. All of the activities had a message to reflect on and challenged us to discover that we are unique and with very different problems, however, regardless of all of the different ways of thinking we had something in common. We had the same vision and are on the same journey to build peace in each of our contexts (countries).
Planting Peace group representing 7 countries
Edmonton: This was a learning tour to explore the issues of resource extraction and listen to Northern Alberta perspectives. During this time, we were in workshops on issues of peace and conflict of various cultures and perspectives of faith.
Fort McMurray: We had an oil sands tour (Suncor Company) and the opportunity to tour Fort McMurray & Oil Sands by plane.
Visiting the Suncor Oil Sands
Blue Quills: We visited an Indigenous University where we were able to meet with the indigenous elders who talked a little about their stories about the mistreatment that the indigenous people suffered in Canada in the so-called residential schools. There were many years of mistreatment that included taking them from a young age far from their homes where they could not speak in their languages and forcing them to learn another language and cultural customs. These schools no longer exist and the last one closed in 1996. Now Canada is in dialogue about forgiveness with the indigenous peoples and helping to rectify all the damages that happened during the time of existence of the schools.
After learning about all that has happened with Indigenous peoples, we think that it will take time to reach reconciliation. Since there are consequences that continue to hurt some indigenous people who have not been able to have a normal life and are in a slow process of healing. The country must not forget or ignore the commitment and the long journey that reconciliation can take.
Mustard Seed: We got to know a little about the current situation of homeless people in Canada and a center that works with them. We heard about how they collaborate and help those in need.
After that we visited the Drop-in Center that also works for the people who live on the streets. They have programs to rehabilitate people and integrate them into society. This can take time and that is why the Drop-in Center helps them in everything that is needed. They have a network of volunteers who contribute to the care and welfare of these people every day. There is a large space for people, but in the winter time this space may be insufficient for everyone. We collaborated with the Drop-in Center cooks and volunteers to serve lunch and it was a very rewarding experience. We were grateful because we were part of a beautiful act of love by serving our neighbours.
Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump: We loved this trip where we explored and were shown how the Blackfoot people hunted buffaloes once a year. They fed on them and used their skins for clothing as well as to make their homes and work tools. It was great to be close to how they developed in their work and how they organized among themselves.
Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump World Heritage Site
We experienced a lot of things, but inside this brief summary are some of the many things we experienced in our time in Alberta, Canada. We are grateful to have been part of this great experience. We were challenged and above all motivated to continue in the work of peace. We know that we received lots of blessings from God through the people who made this possible. Going forward we are convinced that we are called to make a small change in our context with our church community and friends and it gives us so much encouragement to know that in other parts of the world there are people who are also doing the same work for peace.
Debrief time at Camp Valaqua
Written by Trish Elgersma, MCC Alberta Communications Staff.
A lot of what we learned from Richard Wagamese in Planting Peace went through my head today, about how when we hear stories they become a part of us and we walk away bigger. An amazing young aboriginal women named Kim spoke today about how reconciliation is bound in relationship and if we lay all the pressure on First Nations (through statements like they should just get over it) we are doing a great disservice and dishonour to ourselves. Still mulling those too thoughts together and my responsibility towards the stories I hear. How to listen in a way that makes me bigger and a better human being with understanding and empathy (but not pity).
One sharing, by a man named Saintly, was particularly striking to me. He took most of his 20 minutes describing in meticulous detail a time that his cousin snuck a puppy into the school. For a week they cared and played with it, sneaking food and water. Then they were discovered by a priest… Saintly then slowly described how the priest made him get a bag and rock and put the dog inside. He did not know what was fully happening…. As he talked about this he suddenly stopped, choked up, and said, ‘they preached the word of God. They preached do not kill… and they made us throw the puppy in the water. A puppy. We were just children.’ After hearing horrible stories of abuse all day I don’t know why this story affected me so much. I think it was that unnecessary detail of inhumanness. That little thing that should have been normal for a child, should have been allowed. That even that was stripped away in a horrible way. And out of all the stories of abuse that happened to him and he witnessed, this story was the one that had to be shared… It was the one that kept him up at night.
I don’t want to end on a heavy note.. Though the day felt heavy it was so powerful to hear these stories and see the strength and compassion of the people who spoke them. A true honour.
The story behind Orange Shirt Day:
I went to the Mission for one year. I had just turned 6 years old. We never had very much money, and there was no welfare, but somehow my granny managed to buy me a now outfit to go to the Mission school in. I remember going to Robinson’s store and picking out a shiny orange shirt. It had eyelets and lace, and I felt so pretty in that shirt and excited to be going to school! Of course, when I got to the Mission, they stripped me, and took away my clothes, including the orange shirt! I never saw it again, except on other kids. I didn’t understand why they wouldn’t give it back to me, it was mine! Since then the colour orange has always reminded me of that and how my feelings didn’t matter, how no one cared and how I felt like I was worth nothing.
I finally get it, that the feeling of worthlessness and insignificance, ingrained in me from my first day at the mission, affected the way I lived my life for many years. Even now, when know nothing could be further from the truth, I still sometimes feel that I don’t matter. Even with all the work I’ve done!
I am honoured to be able to tell my story so that others may benefit and understand, and maybe other survivors will feel comfortable enough to share their stories. I want my orange shirt back!
Phyllis (Jack) Webstad, Dog Creek BC
Phyllis’ orange shirt is a symbol of so many losses experienced by those who were sent to Indian Residential Schools over several generations. Losses of family, culture, language, freedom, parenting, self-esteem and worth were experienced by everyone. Beatings, sexual abuse and neglect plagued many. Let’s not forget the children but honour them on September 30.
Join the Cariboo School Districts 27 & 28, the Cariboo Regional District and the City of Williams Lake and wear an orange shirt on Monday, September 30, 2013. We will honour the children who survived the Indian Residential Schools and remember those that didn’t. Every Child Matters. We will wear orange shirts in recognition of the harm the residential school system did to children’s sense of self-esteem and well-being, and as an affirmation of our commitment to ensure that everyone around us matters.
blog post taken from: http://ndazkohpastor.wix.com/orangeshirtday
Richard Wagamese on Planting Peace
We need to share our stories. Absolutely. Because peace is not a thing created by political action — it’s a reality inspired by spiritual energy.
Inspired by Day 3 of Planting Peace, led by Richard Wagamese
Ruach. Wind. Spirit. Breath.
The breath of God is life.
The air I breath is the same air you breathe.
It is the same air that gave life to my elders.
Their last breath is the one that gives me life now.
In, out. In, out.
In through our nose, past our lips, caressing our teeth, tongue, swirling down our wind pipe, filling pockets in the tissue of our lungs and expanding to the depths of our diaphragm.
This is where stories begin.
Interconnecting thoughts, ideas and experiences with breath.
This connection is useless.
Until. That breath is released.
We push it, weave it and cause the air to ripple all around us.
This still is useless.
Until. Those ripples are captured and delicate drums begin to stir.
Breath transforms as we hear.
Now I have a choice.
Do I let your breath simply pass through me?
Do I allow those intentional ripples to fade?
Or will I be moved?
Your breath is now a part of my being.
My story is your story.
Simply because we breathe.
Miigwetch.
Do Your Peace 