Reflection

I was seeing in a sacred manner the shape of all shapes as they must live together like one being. And I saw that the sacred hoop of my people was one of many hoops that made one circle, wide as daylight and as starlight, and in the centre grew one mighty flowering tree to shelter all the children of one mother and one father. And I saw that it was holy.

– Oglala Sioux Holy Man. The Great Vision of Black Elk.

It is very difficult for Indigenous Peoples to tell their stories and very difficult for non-indigenous people who feel great pride about who we are as Canadians to hear them. While we are not to blame for what was, we are nevertheless still all treaty people and we all share the impact of colonialism, not only on our relationship but also on the way our land is suffering from our thoughtless exploitation of her resources. The Truth and Reconciliation process is about healing on both sides.

From time to time we offer experiential opportunity which help us reflect on our own thoughts and feelings as we participate in the Truth and Reconciliation process. These have taken the form of talking circles, blanket exercises, movie nights and the vigils.

Some of the questions center around the following:

How can those of us who want to participate in this process establish relationships of trust and friendship with Indigenous people living in our area?
How can we make a difference?

Mississippi Mills All My Relations recognize that we are on unceded Algonquin territory and that we all must work together in respectful, just relationship with one another and with our mother earth and all her inhabitants.