Honouring the Truth Reconciling for the Future

280 • Truth & Reconciliation CommissionYou know, our work is just beginning and we’re going to hold the church’s feetto the fire, other churches and Canada to make sure that this whole exercise ofhealing goes on for as long as it takes for us to recover from the impacts of ourexperiences in those residential schools.The other issue that comes up that we are addressing is having our nativespiritual practice condemned initially not just by the United Church but allchurches ... well, we now have our church supporting Native spiritual gatheringsand we’re going to host a national Native spiritual gathering in Prince Rupert thissummer.... So, we are very much holding the church’s feet to the fire and makingsure that there are real commitments to putting life to the apologies. 77What Alvin Dixon told us is consistent with what the Commission heard fromSurvivors about Canada’s apology. Official apologies made on behalf of institutionsor governments may be graciously received but are also understandably viewedwith some skepticism. When trust has been so badly broken, it can be restored onlyover time as Survivors observe how the churches interact with them in daily life. Heexplained, in practical terms, how Survivors would continue to hold the churchesaccountable. Apologies mark only a beginning point on pathways of reconciliation;the proof of their authenticity lies in putting words into action. He emphasized howimportant it was to Survivors that the churches not only admit that condemningIndigenous spirituality was wrong, but also that they go one step further and activelysupport traditional spiritual gatherings. That action, however, calls for ongoing commitmentto educate church congregations into the future on the need for such action.Call to Action59) We call upon church parties to the Settlement Agreement to develop ongoingeducation strategies to ensure that their respective congregations learn abouttheir church’s role in colonization, the history and legacy of residential schools,and why apologies to former residential school students, their families, and communitieswere necessary.Honouring Indigenous spiritualityMany Survivors told the Commission that reconnecting with traditional Indigenousspiritual teachings and practices has been essential to their healing, with some goingso far as to say “it saved my life.” One Survivor said, “The Sun Dances and all the otherteachings, the healing lodges, sweat lodges … I know that’s what helped me keep mysanity; to keep me from breaking down and being a total basket case. That’s whathas helped me—the teachings of our Aboriginal culture and language.” 78 Losing the