Honouring the Truth Reconciling for the Future

The challenge of reconciliation • 283form of worship that is equal to their own. It cannot be left up to individuals in thechurches to speak out when such freedom to worship is denied. Rather, the churches,as religious institutions, must affirm Indigenous spirituality in its own right. Withoutsuch formal recognition, a full and robust reconciliation will be impossible. Healingand reconciliation have a spiritual dimension that must continue to be addressed bythe churches in partnership with Indigenous spiritual leaders, Survivors, their families,and communities.Many Indigenous peoples who no longer subscribe to Christian teachings havefound the reclaiming of their Indigenous spirituality important to their healingand sense of identity. Some have no desire to integrate Indigenous spirituality intoChristian religious institutions. Rather, they believe that Indigenous spirituality andWestern religion should coexist on separate but parallel paths.Elder Jim Dumont told the Commission about the importance of non-interferenceand mutual respect. He said that theabuse and the damage that has been done in residential schools, one of theprimary sources of that is the church. And the church has to take ownership forthat. But what bothers me about it is that the church continues to have a hold onour people.... Just get out of the way for awhile so that we can do what we need todo because as long as you are standing there thinking that you are supporting us,you are actually preventing us from getting to our own truth about this and ourown healing about this. But I think the other thing that’s being avoided by thechurch is their need to reconcile with the Spirit.... I think that the church has toreconcile with the Creator.... I’m not a Christian but I have a high regard for thisSpirit ... who is called Jesus.... What I think is that when the church can reconcilewith their God and their Saviour for what they have done, then maybe we cantalk to them about reconciling amongst ourselves. 83In contrast, Aboriginal Christians who also practise Indigenous spirituality seekIndigenous and Christian spiritual and religious coexistence within the churchesthemselves. United Church Rev. Alf Dumont, the first speaker of the All Native CircleConference, said,Respect is one of the greatest teachings that come from the original people of thisland. Our ancestors followed that teaching when they met with their Christianbrothers and sisters so many years ago. They saw a truth and a sacredness theycould not deny in Christian teachings. Many were willing to embrace theseteachings and leave their traditional teachings. Some were willing to embracethe teachings but still wanted to hold to their own. Some did not leave their owntraditions, and when persecuted, went into hiding either deep in the mountainsor deep inside themselves. Many were suspicious of the way the [Christian]teachings were presented and how they were lived. They were suspicious of thefact that they were asked to deny their own sacred teachings and ways and adopt