But how are people interpreting and working towards reconciliation?
Senator Murray Sinclair stated, "If you thought the truth was hard, reconciliation will be harder." This podcast is a forum to face the difficult, complicated, and messy nature of reconciliation. We have heard Indigenous leaders call settler people to step into this reconciliation journey.
Within this podcast we intend to deliberately place ourselves, those who come from a predominately settler background, in this space and identify where we can be challenged and encouraged to keep moving towards reconciliation.
Reconcile: Everyday Conversations is a project of Mennonite Central Committee Saskatchewan.
But how are people interpreting and working towards reconciliation?
Senator Murray Sinclair stated, "If you thought the truth was hard, reconciliation will be harder." This podcast is a forum to face the difficult, complicated, and messy nature of reconciliation. We have heard Indigenous leaders call settler people to step into this reconciliation journey.
Within this podcast we intend to deliberately place ourselves, those who come from a predominately settler background, in this space and identify where we can be challenged and encouraged to keep moving towards reconciliation.
Reconcile: Everyday Conversations is a project of Mennonite Central Committee Saskatchewan.
CONTENT WARNING: This episode talks about incidences of sexual abuse. It is difficult to hear these stories and if it would be harmful or triggering for you to listen, we suggest skipping this episode. Maryann felt the stories were important to share because she had been shameful of them for many years and has since realized that these are not secrets she needs to hold.
If you need help please call 211 or go to 211.ca to find local resources including crisis hotlines, addictions, abuse, and many others.
The Indian Residential School Survivors Society also has a 24-hour crisis line: 1-866-925-4419
“I want people to know where this is all coming from. In terms of reconciliation people say, Why don’t these Indian’s just get over it, move along with your life. Just by what I shared with you, how does me and my family move forward or move in any way because of what has happened to us, as a family?”
Maryann Napope is a Cree mother, grandmother and great grandmother. She is a 5th generation survivor of Indian Residential Schools and was heavily involved in the Truth and Reconciliation Commission community gatherings held throughout Saskatchewan where she worked as a mental health support person. Maryann has brought the Kairos Blanket Exercise to communities throughout the province. She has a degree in social work.
Maryann is grateful for the people that the Creator has put in her path throughout her life.
As we spoke with Maryann she shared intimately about her life and experiences overcoming abuse and a high-risk lifestyle in order to break the cycles of violence that had impacted her family. She spoke candidly about injustice and reconciliation and invoked settlers to do more.
Ben Borne and I invited Maryann to have a conversation around these five questions:
1. What is your personal understanding of reconciliation?
2. What experiences have led you to this understanding?
3. Why do you feel reconciliation is important?
4. Does forgiveness have a role in reconciliation? Why or why not?
5. How would you invite people into the reconciliation journey?
Then we recorded her reflections.
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Additional resources to explore:
STORIES FROM THE FRONT: REALITIES OF THE OVER-INCARCERATION OF ABORIGINAL WOMEN IN CANADA
Indigenous Saskatchewan Encyclopedia – Residential Schools
Where are the Children? Healing the Legacy of the Residential Schools
Mennonite Central Committee Saskatchewan
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Reconcile: Everyday Conversations is a project of Mennonite Central Committee Saskatchewan aimed at facilitating conversations among settler/non-Indigenous Canadians around our role in reconciliation. We thank Mennonite Church Saskatchewan for additional funding support.
Project Coordinator: Heather Peters
Co-host: Ben Borne
Recording and Editing: Matthew Hildebrandt
Music by Queen Queen Josephine