“Reconciliation is not an Aboriginal problem, it is a Canadian problem.”
You may have seen this quote from Murray Sinclair in the newspaper or on television during the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) events happening in Ottawa at the end of May. With the gracious support of Rev. Andrew Johnston and the St. Andrew’s congregation, I was able to attend the TRC events in Ottawa as a Presbyterian youth delegate and be a witness to these words of wisdom and calls to action for the peoples of Canada. Throughout the week, we heard stories from Aboriginal elders and youth sharing their painful experiences with the residential school system and the damage that it had done to their families and communities. But, among the tears and sadness, we also heard many messages of forgiveness, love, and most importantly, hope. This Sunday, I will be sharing my reflections from attending the TRC and the message of hope that it left within me. As we look in Mark 4 and the story of how Jesus calmed the storm, I know that if we work together with God, we are able to find a way to calm the storm that was unjustly brought upon the original people of this land.
I once again thank you for all of the support that was given to my friends and I throughout our time at Queen’s University last year, and I look forward to seeing my second church family once again and sharing this message with you.