It's Time To Forgive
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Can't see the 'ShareThis' icon? Reload your page view by pressing Shift and clicking Refresh at the same time.I had no idea just how powerful the apology would be until I sat down and listened to Prime Minister Stephen Harper apologize for the residential schools and the impacts they’ve had on my family and thousands of aboriginal people across Canada. His words moved me to tears and gave me hope that we can forgive one another and move beyond this horrific era of Canadian history.
It was a good apology because I believe it was sincere. It’s time to forgive. It’s time to start moving forward.
I urge residential school survivors and their families to let go of the hurt, anger, hate and resentment they may carry. We cannot heal if we do not let go of these painful feelings. Forgiveness will ease our suffering and bring us peace.
It’s not easy to erase the scars these schools inflicted upon our people. Our parents and grandparents suffered unimaginable pain, degradation and humiliation. I am so grateful to the former students who had the courage to finally share their experiences. They are stories that many people of my generation have not heard. They are not the kind of stories you pass down to your children. They are stories you push deep down inside and try to forget.
But many of them couldn’t forget. And we can’t forget either. But we must forgive.
Now, after hearing the apology, I feel grateful, hopeful and compassionate. I hope the apology will bring us together. I get quite discouraged and cynical at times about whether or not aboriginal and non-aboriginal people will ever be able to close the gap that separates us.
I hear anger and resentment from those who are sick of hearing about the residential schools and just want us to “get over it already.”
Don’t we all wish it were that easy?
We want to get over it. We want to move on. Hearing the apology and deciding to forgive is the first step and I sincerely hope that former students and their families will do this. It’s the only way we will move on.
But some will still need time. They may need more time to come to terms with what happened to them. They may need more time to acknowledge the apology and find forgiveness in their hearts.
We need to have compassion for them. Don’t weaken the apology by demanding, “Are you happy now? Will you finally stop talking about it and get over it?” These are comments I read online and hear in conversations when news stories about residential schools are reported. We’re going to hear a lot more about what happened at these schools as the Truth and Reconciliation Commission gets underway and I expect to hear more resentful comments.
If you’re someone who doesn’t want to hear about residential schools anymore, that’s okay. Just don’t deny us the opportunity to tell our stories and talk about the impacts the schools have had. Moving on is a process and talking about it is a central part of that. Just as I urge aboriginal people to forgive Canada, I ask non-aboriginal people to forgive as well. Forgive us for not getting over it as quickly as you may like. It’s not easy, but we’re trying.
Everyone has a choice in all of this. We can choose to remain victims and carry the pain of the residential schools with us. We can choose to be angry at former students and their families for continuing to tell their stories or for having difficulty moving on. Or we can choose to forgive and be compassionate with one another.
In the end, people just want to be understood by one another. This apology provides the opportunity to start a new chapter in Canadian history. One that’s based on respect, compassion and forgiveness.
And those are the best values any of us could pass on to our future generations.
Comments
Very well said, Michelle. I
Very well said, Michelle. I think your attitude is brilliant here, and I think that both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people should take heed. Anyone that thinks First Nations people should "get over" the residential school system are ignorant and shortsighted. I bet their opinion would be different in regards to the guy in Austria and his daughter. Both sides need to look beyond their their hurt and their racism --- or we will never heal as a country. Yes, some people on both sides are shortsighted, but I applaud not only the way you look past the tragedy of your people, while also keeping the memory of that pain close to your heart --- but also the way you urge others to find this forgiveness. Kudos to you.
Wise beyond your years...
Wow...very well put Michelle!
Aplogoies..still some to come.....
I found PM Harpers apology to be very well done and well received by all...this should have been done by a Federal Government years ago...I presume he was apologizing on behalf of the people of Canada who were the legislators in the Government and Dept of Indian Affairs and the teachers in the Residential Schools for all of those years(some 4 generations ago)...some of whom are still living I would think....but there are others who should apologize also...they are the Pope of the Roman Catholic Church and the Moderators of the United Church,,and Anglican and Presbyterian Churches in Canada..the abuse happened in the Schools/Residences that were administered by them.....some of these people must be still living today...the students would know their names..has the Prosecution of these people been waived? Have any of the 4 Churches named above contrubuted monies to the Fed Government to help in paying the compensation to the children today?
just some thoughts......
Ken Fader
When does it stop
Michelle your comments on The Canadian government,s apology were well said. One would hope the government,s words are sincere. Having said that I fear giving some of the comments posted here that racism is alive and well here in Sask. Will it end I,m not sure but I know this for this country to heal both aboriginal & non aboriginal must come together and work to stop the racism that is very real in this country. Enough.
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