RURAL STEPS IN RECONCILIATION
Watrous churches help citizens connect, understand issues, writes Darlene Polachic.
When the final report of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) was released in 2015, several of its calls to action were addressed to churches.
Churches were called to develop ongoing education strategies to ensure congregations could learn about their role in colonization, the history and legacy of residential schools, and why apologies to former residential school students, their families and communities are necessary.
When Rev. Marie-louise Ternier assumed the dual role of priest of All Saints Anglican Church and pastor of Our Redeemer’s Lutheran Church in Watrous, the TRC call was high in her mind.
“As national churches, we are required to do our part in helping our people learn about the past so we can understand the present and move toward a better future,” she says.
Ternier was unsure exactly how the educational piece might be accomplished in Watrous, a largely rural farming community that has no First Nations reserves in the vicinity. Nearby Manitou Beach, however, does have a culturally significant past for Indigenous peoples.
A mural in the Manitou Springs Hotel recounts how, in 1837, a tribe of Assiniboine camped beside Little Manitou Lake. Two of the men fell ill with small pox and were too sick to move on the next day with the group. Left behind, the pair dragged themselves to the water’s edge where they sipped the mineral-laden water and bathed in it to cool their fevers. The men eventually recovered and rejoined the rest of their people.
Last spring, Ternier learned that the Village of Manitou
Beach was planning a centennial celebration for the summer of 2019. In an effort to restore the Indigenous connection to the lake, the village planned to enter into a formal partnership with the Touchwood Tribal Council near Raymore and Punnichy. A pipe ceremony would open the event and a “wisdom weekend” was organized for schoolchildren from the nearest reserves.
The centennial committee’s plans seemed like a perfect accompaniment for Trc-recommended educational opportunities like Ternier envisioned.
She approached the committee and asked if it would co-sponsor an educational event organized by the churches.
The committee agreed and put its full weight behind promoting the endeavour.
During the 2019 Lenten season, people of Watrous and area were invited to watch and discuss the CBC documentary series
“8th Fire,” which was hosted and narrated by Wab Kinew, a journalist and leader of the Opposition in Manitoba.
Subtitled: “Aboriginal Peoples, Canada and the Way Forward,” the documentary provides a sweeping historical overview of the relationship between Indigenous and non-indigenous people in Canada. The four-episode film highlights the need to understand each other and work together to improve relations in the future. Each episode combines facts about treaties, the Indian Act and residential schools.
They also introduce inspiring contemporary role models, discuss emerging economic and cultural improvements and presents ideas for educational and cultural initiatives aimed at turning the tide for the Indigenous community.
“The format of our gatherings in Watrous was simple,” Ternier says. “We watched each hourlong episode, then discussed it. This was followed by prayer using resources developed by the United Church of Canada.”
For many who attended, the information was eye-opening.
“This was a steep learning experience for a group that has had limited contact with Native culture,” read one piece of written feedback.
One person confessed, “I’m embarrassed now at the prejudice and racism I hear from my peers.”
One person wrote that the films and discussions were very informative and interesting and they were encouraged to hear that things are slowly improving.
Yet another said, “We should learn more about the contents of the treaties and live up to the promises made in them.”
All expressed an interest in participating in similar informational opportunities.
So, in November, Our Redeemer’s Lutheran Church hosted the showing of a new documentary, “Doctrine of Discovery: Stolen Land, Strong Hearts.” Later that month, All Saints Anglican Parish hosted a presentation on reconciliation and the TRC calls to action at which Indigenous Anglican Bishop Chris Harper addressed those gathered.
Ternier says, “Bishop Chris’s personal family history and his presenting style easily engaged the group. Many went away with new insights and understanding about our complex relationship with our Indigenous fellow-canadians.
“Bishop Chris left us with words of encouragement and hope that, with a sincere desire to learn, a growing understanding for the past and mutual respect in the present, we can learn to walk together into a better future for all of us.”
Another community group in Watrous hosted a blanket exercise, which provides a tactile history lesson in the interactions between early Europeans and resident Indigenous peoples.
Watrous churches say they hope to hold more of these events in 2020. Ternier invites anyone interested in being a part of that, or wanting more information, to contact her at angluth.watrous@gmail.com.