News & Events
Residential School Reconcilation Gathering held at Tipi Village
May 29, 2010
Gerald Morgan was attending the Healing and Reconciliation Gathering Honoring ResidentialSchool Survivors because he wanted to honor one survivor in particular - his wife, who passed away 12 years earlier. Morgan, who is Cree, never went to residential school but his wife, who was Dakota, went to the school at Birdtail.
"I followed the woman's way," he said, adding that he adopted a lot of Dakota practices. He is a spiritual advisor to inmates in Headingly jail. At work, he sees how children and grandchildren of residential school students have been affected; how family structures have been weakened, damaged and destroyed.
Also, young people see their parents on welfare and their grandparents, so sometimes they think they will not get anywhere in mainstream society so they join gangs.
May 27-29 the third annual reconciliation gathering was held in the Tipi Village at the 61A reserve of the Keeseekowenin Nation. The event was hosted by Audrey Bone and Elder Stella Blackbird, who operate the Medicine Eagle Retreat and Healing Place at the village, and by Rev. Margaret Mullin, who chairs Winnipeg Inner City Missions for the Presbyterian Church.
"I have been on a healing journey like everyone else," Rev. Ian Morrison, a retired Presbyterian minister said in a discussion during a break from formal activities. He is currently living in Scarborough, Ont. and is deeply involved with his church's truth and reconciliation activities.
Audrey Bone said that representatives of the Presbyterian and Roman Catholic churches were at the gathering, as well as school survivors. There were also some children and grandchildren of former students. Support workers from the Aboriginal Health and Wellness Centre of Winnipeg were also at the gathering.
On Friday, May 28, Chief Justice Murray Sinclair, chairperson of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and Commissioner Marie Wilson addressed the gathering. Both commissioners were honored through song, gifts of medicine baskets, and a prayer for safety and wellness and love was rendered by respected Elder Wally Swain. Elder Swain is a member of the host nation. He is an employee of Eya Keen, a teacher and helper of Traditional ways. Churches made presentations and invited the SCO Grand Chief and Chiefs to come and present on environmental issues and Traditional knowledge.
SCO Grand Chief Morris Swan Shannacappo will be inviting Elder Peter Kelly to present on Anishinabe astronomy and natural law. Thanks to all the organizers and Chief Bone for enduring many duties and all the Elders in attendance. The Grand Chief would like to thank participants for sharing and recording the truth for history. "This time the real truth shall be told and it shall be your truth, our truth".