In the world we share, both peace and reconciliation is elusive since many accept peace as an absence of war and reconciliation as the presence of a government apology. They often miss the fact that for maintaining unspoken but overarching colonial or geopolitical advantages, the aggressor country/group trivializes the full history of its victims and minimizes the need for its people to repent. Consequently the majority of its people do not feel anything is amiss in public discourse and education, or that there is a need to take ownership of the lack of peace and reconciliation.

So while TRC’s National Event at PNE has undoubtedly caused a stir in BC, the test of its success (or any reconciliation attempt’s) in this otherwise unfriendly province towards Indigenous Peoples will lie not in what was said then, but in what redemptive actions grassroots Canadians will take in the following months and years. Here I am not trying to trivialize anything told by victims of Canada’s residential schools (for those not at PNE, here are some samples: http://aptn.ca/pages/news/2013/09/20/raw-video-survivors-testimony-at-trc-national-event-in-vancouver/ ). On the contrary, I want to assure you whatever horrible details you heard are just fractions of what really happened to tens and thousands of Indigenous children, with similar forced removal still happening today under the guise of protecting the children under Ministry of Children and Family Development. Just like in the case of the Chinese Head Tax, the government chose to apologize only for the Residential School system although they know they know they have passed stacks of unjust policies against Indigenous Peoples.

For your reference, here are some news reports reflecting a more candid Canada-Indigenous Nation relationship during and after the TRC National Event:

1.      Sept 19: http://globalnews.ca/news/850291/canada-rejects-un-rights-panel-call-for-review-of-violence-on-aboriginal-women/: Canada rejects UN rights panel call for review of violence on aboriginal women

2.      Sept 20: http://www.rcinet.ca/en/2013/09/20/tahlton-first-nation-protesters-of-coal-mine-project-prepare-for-arrests/ :Tahltan First Nation protesters of coal mine project prepare for arrests

3.      Sept 26: http://aptn.ca/pages/news/2013/09/26/feds-meet-with-first-nation-chiefs-over-pipelines/ the Harper government ignores its constitution in pushing for the Pipeline

4.   Sept 27: http://www.coastmountainnews.com/news/225570032.html :Harper’s pipeline push highlights Enbridge’s hurdles

5.   Sept 30: http://aptn.ca/pages/news/2013/09/30/pm-harper-wont-take-no-for-an-answer-on-the-pipeline : Prime Minister Stephen Harper says he won’t take no for an answer on the Keystone X-L Pipeline.

6.   The Harper government , after blocking UN’s Special Rapporteur on the rights of Indigenous peoples from visiting Canada to investigate thehuman rights situation of Indigenous peoples, has within the last 24 hours allowed his entrance, but limiting his stay in BC to only one day (and that’s including a presentation of Canada’s improved health care to Indigenous People).

To continue our journey, here are some events to consider:

Idle No More-National Day of Action
When: October 7th, 8pm
Where: Vancouver Art Gallery, 750 Hornby, unceded Coast Salish Territories

#Oct7Proclaim
Oct 7, 1763 marked the signing of the British Royal Proclamation, an historic document that legally mandated Canada to recognize Indigenous land rights. 250 years later, on OCTOBER 7, Idle No More calls on ALL PEOPLES to raise (y)our voices and take action in support of: our land, our water, our bodies, our stories, our future Indigenous Sovereignty. For more information: http://www.idlenomore.ca/events