This is the second instalment in a special series prepared by Black Press Media. You can find more of the series and other articles on truth and reconciliation online at or in this weekB次元官网网址檚 edition of Greater Victoria papers.

In talking about truth and reconciliation with Indigenous people in Canada, the process, like the phrase, needs to start with truth B次元官网网址� acknowledging the truths about what happened on this land.

ThatB次元官网网址檚 where Kendra Gage, the executive director of the Hulitan Family and Community Services Society, said we need to start. A path forward starts on the personal level, with everyone taking the responsibility to learn about whatB次元官网网址檚 been done to Indigenous people since European colonists arrived and the systems theyB次元官网网址檙e forced to navigate today.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 about really understanding our history,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淵ou have to know the truth before you can reconcile.B次元官网网址�

Just outside her office window is a tree with orange shirts draped on the trunk and childrenB次元官网网址檚 shoes placed by the roots. TheyB次元官网网址檙e reminders that CanadaB次元官网网址檚 history includes the horrors of residential schools, the Indian Act, the Sixties Scoop and all of their lasting impacts.

Governments forced people off the lands where they had lived since time immemorial and moved them onto reserves. Gage noted they were moved to where the Canadian state wanted to put them, often not in the same territory where people lived, and theyB次元官网网址檇 be moved again whenever the government wanted resources in that area. And now, Indigenous people are still subject to policies that systematically leave them disadvantaged or ignored entirely B次元官网网址� all spurred from that displacement.

As an example, Gage pointed to JordanB次元官网网址檚 Principle, which honours a Norway House Cree Nation boy who needed specific home-based care, but never got it and died in hospital because the federal and provincial governments argued for years over who should pay for his care. It shows, Gage said, how even after governments forced Indigenous people onto reserves, theyB次元官网网址檝e failed to allocate basic resources on those reserves, while non-Indigenous communities donB次元官网网址檛 face those same problems.

It pains her to still see people and politicians in this country downplay the intent and abuse of the residential school system, along with the ongoing trauma it inflicted on generations.

B次元官网网址淚 donB次元官网网址檛 think anybody that has children in this country would be okay with someone coming and taking their child, stripping them of everything they know and love, telling them theyB次元官网网址檙e horrible human beings and beating them into submission.B次元官网网址�

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Now is the time for Canadians to look inward and acknowledge such tragic truths.

Gage said accepting and talking about how the country has wronged Indigenous people risks CanadaB次元官网网址檚 international reputation but also shows how Canada isnB次元官网网址檛 currently living up to it. By acknowledging and acting on repairing that relationship, it could one day meet that perception, she said.

B次元官网网址淎n apology is only a real apology if you change the behaviour, itB次元官网网址檚 a recognition of the harm and a commitment not to do that again,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 not saying we canB次元官网网址檛 accomplish that.B次元官网网址�

People also canB次元官网网址檛 turn a blind eye to whatB次元官网网址檚 happening right now, she said, like the child welfare systemB次元官网网址檚 targeting of Indigenous communities.

B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e still removing Indigenous children away from families, removing them from their culture, but we were just placing them in foster homes,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淚f we think the same things arenB次元官网网址檛 happening, weB次元官网网址檝e chosen not to open our eyes.B次元官网网址�

Gage encourages people to question why and how racial bias still exists in Canada. She hopes people will educate themselves about the importance of an equitable society that lifts everyone up and gives all people the opportunity to thrive.

After more than 20 years of working with Indigenous communities, sheB次元官网网址檚 still learning, but Gage said that commitment to listening and talking about hard truths is essential on the path to reconciliation.

B次元官网网址淏eing invited into community and being a member of community is the most beautiful gift IB次元官网网址檝e ever been given in my life.B次元官网网址�

Support for survivors and their families is available. Call the Indian Residential School Survivors Society at 1-800-721-0066, or 1-866-925-4419 for the 24-7 crisis line. The KUU-US Crisis Line Society also offers 24-7 support at 250-723-4050 for adults, 250-723-2040 for youth, or toll free at 1-800-588-8717.

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