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Forgiveness, Forgiveness cannot be demanded, Healing a lifelong process, Long Walk of Doing and Undoing, Long Walk to Reconciliation, National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, National Indigenous Peoples Day, Penitential Pilgrimage, Pilgrimage of Penitence, Truth and Reconciliation
Elder Mary Moonias. Photo Credit Global News
On this National Indigenous Peoples Day – I want to reflect on the event almost a year ago when Pope Francis came in person to the Indigenous peoples of Canada in order to apologize on behalf of the historic Catholic Church for the profound harm of residential schools and genocide.
One would wonder what difference does an in-person apology make?
Apparently it has been instrumental in moving some people further along in healing.
The Power of an Apology
In even a few short months, “a Maskwacis elder was already able to big changes in her community following papal visit.”
Elder Mary Moonias of the Louis Bull Tribe spent 10 years in a residential school. She was taken from her family when she was just seven years old. At the apology of July 2022, she said,
It felt like a burden was being lifted.
“Moonias noted a change in her community, especially in how it has started coming together to heal and move forward since the apology was made.
“I really feel that it was a big change. I see a change in our people,” she said. “Ceremonies are being celebrated again. I see people are much happier.”
Healing – a Lifelong Process
Not everyone found healing in the words of Pope Francis. Quinn Ohler reported that “Bert Bull, a cultural adviser and Chief with the Louis Bull Tribe, said he did not want to see him or hear the apology… The day-school survivor said the ripple effect on his family would be too much. Instead, he said healing would be a lifelong process.”
What’s my healing… it’ll be continuous for the rest of my life…
I try to think in context, what if residential school didn’t happen to us as Indigenous people?…
If we were allowed to flourish under the treaties as they were intended, you know, where would we be now?
Further along the Penitential Pilgrimage
From “A Day of Small Beginnings” back on April 1, 2022 in Rome, Pope Francis landed in Edmonton on July 24, 2022 to carry out what he called his penitential pilgrimage to apologize on behalf the historical Catholic Church for the doctrines, actions, and uncounted diminishments that led to genocide of First Nations Peoples in Canada.
The journey toward forgiveness and healing may have started, but it is my guess that it will go on and on and on. Might it be a model for Russia and Ukraine when that horrible conflict is over; might it be of any use for Israelis and Palestinians when they are ready? What might we learn in our interpersonal relations?
Forgiveness has to start somewhere with someone, and it has to carry on with more somewheres and someones. Forgiveness cannot be demanded, and healing cannot be rushed, but it can start, and it is always costly.
More Enigma Than Dogma 
Let’s try to start the healing process !Many thanks for your thoughts 🤣
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So much to learn; so much to start learning. Yes: let the healing process begin and continue.
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Rusty, I agree that “Forgiveness has to start somewhere with someone,” but it’s only a beginning. Healing takes time.
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Comply agree – as I said, “forgiveness cannot be demanded, and healing cannot be rushed.” There is a sense I get sometimes that my fellow non-indigenous friends to want to quickly “move on” from the atrocities, but as you say, this all takes time – may be even seven generations, as indigenous people are saying here.
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The effects of the generational trauma will require much more than one apology, but it is a good start. Thank you for sharing this story.
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Yes – generational trauma requires much more than one apology – much more than an apology. The whole point of Truth and Reconciliation is “reconciliation” – the (costly) actions that restores relationship, and undoes the harms over the long arc of life. But for now, it begins with admission to the truth that apology and reconciliation is needed. I pray for more; I pray that I will be play a part in restoration. Thanks for your comments.
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