As I no longer live in Canada, I am often unaware of events/national news. In this era of intense social networking, Facebook is usually my initial place for learning of things that are happening or being discussed ‘back home.’ Such is the case for the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. Friends, both Indigenous and non-Indigenous, have been posting about the TRC throughout this week on Facebook. Through my classmates in MET 521 and this weblog I have learned that this week is Reconciliation Week in Canada. The notion of a national week for reconciliation intrigued me and I began to read further.
I discovered Reconciliation Canada, a charitable project that was created as a ‘collaboration between The Indian Residential Schools Survivor’s Society (IRSSS) and Tides Canada Initiative Society (TCI).’ I am impressed to see an organization that is devoting itself and its work to the task of reconciliation. I am also incredibly interested in the importance that is being given to reconciliation. As a historian, I have studied many groups throughout the world seeking justice for wrong doings, recognition for mistreatment or simply an apology for what has been done in the past. To have created a group that endeavors to ‘engage people from every part of Canadian society in an open and honest conversation about our diverse histories and experiences in order to build vibrant, resilient, sustainable communities‘, is an inspiring step forward.
As my search continued I came across an article titled, “Reconciliation Week a chance for ‘critical conversations’ on colonialism” by David P. Ball. Initially I was interested in the reference to colonialism, but the article seemed to touch on much more.
The article begins by introducing Reconciliation Week and refers to testimony from residential school students. Ball notes that the final residential school closed in 1996. This astonished me. Historically speaking, 1996 is not that long ago. That a residential school still existed less than two decades ago challenges my own beliefs that residential schools were an archaic way of thinking and existed in a different time and a different mindset. To have one exist so recently, unnerves me.
Another key point of the article is the relationship between the TRC and prominent oil and gas companies. Ball points out that the TRC is sponsored by Kinder Morgan – a large oil and gas company. To some this questions the validity of the entire process of the TRC, to others it gives prominence and attention to an important step that has thus far not received the attention it requires. To me this echoes our discussions from last week on the cultural neutrality of technology and the idea of bias. The fact that someone, or a group, choose which information to include on a website, in an article etc. leads to biased information being accepted as truth. The presence of oil and gas companies in the midst of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission can make on question their intentions and possibly benefits from being involved. Ultimately, this discussion on the involvement of these companies distracts from the main purpose of the TRC. It is not helpful to have the focus shift from truth and reconciliation to the intentions of oil and gas companies.
Although not easy to seek or achieve, a national movement for reconciliation is an inspired and important step forward. I hope that Canadians see the importance of having an open dialogue and are able to focus on moving forward.
