Truth and Reconciliation Committee - All Saints Mission, BC

"The ceremony began with a fire for the burning of traditional food, to which Elders, one at a time, followed by others, could add food.  Burning the food is a spiritual way to symbolically feed the starving children forced to attend residential schools.  Drumming and singing accompanied this ceremony. Two of All Saints congregation were drummers.  

Following this, several Elders who had attended residential school spoke about what they had endured and how it affected them.  One Elder who had attended a school in the coastal area of BC spoke about hate being the only thing she learned there. Carrying all this anger resulted in a self-destructive life in Vancouver.  Fortunately, she was able to turn her life around and realize that, as she said, love, not hate, was the answer to living life.  As a result, she strongly encouraged her children to pursue education.  One son became a doctor.  Another Elder requested that if people want to help with Reconciliation, that housing is a huge area of need.

A very generous lunch was served, and is the custom in Indigenous culture, as Elders, two parishioners were given lunch.

The Vigil was very moving and left us saddened but with more emotional understanding of what transpired in these schools. We need not only to acknowledge the missing children who lost their lives in neglectful and abusive ways, but also the many ways the legacy continues to harm our Indigenous neighbours.  It is a first step toward healing, and I hope another step towards Reconciliation."

“They are both strong young women walking in a good way.” We offer our congratulations to Rena and Vera and wish them all the best in their future studies.