Third and final in a series of Blogs on my reflections on the Papal Apology. Once again I am thrilled that people are interested in my reflections on the Papal Apology and its impact on the journey to reconciliation. Today's touches on social media and pundity and how it can and does influence opinions and creates barriers to true reconciliation.
Sit This One Out
If you are not Indigenous you must sit this one out. The one reoccurring theme that I observed in reading social media comments during the week was that anyone who is not Indigenous was not allowed to express an opinion or make a comment about the Pope’s apology and travels across Canada. It was made clear by some that unless you were Indigenous and directly affected by residential schools you could not/should not be commenting. Reconciliation is participatory. It requires action by all. The burden of making space for reconciliation to occur is not for Indigenous People alone.Gatekeeping
How is reconciliation going to happen if all of Canada isn’t allowed to participate? I understand the sentiments expressed regarding not wanting non-Indigenous peoples who were unaffected by residential schools to throw their two-cents in. I do not understand the desire to demand every non-Indigenous person to sit down and stay quiet about the events which occurred with Pope Francis apologizing and his visit to Canada. This was a week that was witnessed around the world as monumental. As it should have been. I must admit that I was baffled by the opinions expressed that non-Indigenous people were not included as being participants in the week. Reconciliation must be inclusive for it to be meaningful, and effective. While the apology may not have been directed at non-Indigenous individuals that should not be interpreted as it has no meaning or value for them. Removing this aspect of the apology also means that the non-Indigenous students who attended residential school (see Berrera, 2018 for Ron Gosbee’s story) are removed from having the apology directed at them for their own path of healing and reconciliation.
Who is the community? Many of the comments that I witnessed on social media contained the sentiment that “we” as a group of Indigenous People all hold the same beliefs about the Pope’s visit and apologies. It was rare that I encountered an expressed opinion by other Indigenous People that agreed with my own sentiments. I like to think of myself in the silent minority; that being amongst the few who do not feel the need to be one of those individuals to speak out on social media, or express opinions because it leads to disagreements and arguments, which do nothing to contribute to reconciliation. I find it disappointing to read negative opinions and statements. I find it extremely disrespectful when I read statements against individuals such as Dr. Littlechild by those who disagreed with his actions of presenting the headdress to Pope Francis. Furthermore, I find it disappointing that vocal groups who do not and will not accept the apology by Pope Francis, think that they have the right to speak for others and denounce his words and actions as though these critics represent all Indigenous People. I know that there are those in the Indigenous community who will not agree with my reflections on this, and I humbly accept that as fact. I do not expect everyone to agree with me and/or think like me. I also do not propose that I speak for anyone else but myself in this instance.
The last statement I would wish to express regarding those who present their opinion as being the voice of all is regarding the residential school survivors and Elders who did accept the words and actions of Pope Francis as being genuine. These individuals will take solace and have their own healing process move forward because Pope Francis made this visit. This is what reconciliation is. It is healing and moving forward. Anyone, and especially those who are not themselves residential school survivors, who do not accept this apology and speak out against it are diminishing the affect that it can have for others. During my meeting with Dr. McDermott, we discussed those who do not want reconciliation to occur, and actively prevent it from happening. By preventing and denouncing the apology this week these individuals are preventing residential school survivors, and Elders, from continuing their own path of healing and reconciliation.
Non-Indigenous Community
How were those in the non-Indigenous community affected? Another demographic within the population that this week’s events affected were the non-Indigenous community that actively work towards a meaningful reconciliation process. Without this group of people reconciliation goes nowhere. This is important to acknowledge. Their work is worthy of being recognized and respected.
There is a certain group of individuals that are directly related to my research that are not Indigenous, who are contributing to the process of reconciliation by supporting me in this research and writing. This work is bigger than just relating to non-Indigenous people. At this point in time, we all must strive to contribute to reconciliation. It is also not okay to actively interfere with reconciliation happening. Not only is my supervisor not Indigenous but my committee is not inclusive of an Indigenous person. This was not by design, or for a lack of trying to include an Indigenous person on my committee. I believe that they are all committed to reconciliation in their own way, and they are all at different stages in their own journey. They have supported me. They have given their time to be in meetings with me to discuss my research. They have contributed to this writing by being a part of my work. They have consciously made the choice to join me on my walk of reconciliation and I appreciate them for it.
Research as Reconciliation
What does reconciliation really mean to me and my research? Answering this question for myself means that I must examine my motives, intentions, and ultimately what I want my research to say about me personally when it is complete. As we discussed in our meeting there are different stages for everyone that is on the journey of reconciliation. The one type of person that Dr. McDermott mentioned in our discussion are those who are actively blocking or preventing reconciliation from occurring. I have been made aware of the type of person that I want to be, and the category I wish to fall under, in this week of following the Canadian tour of Pope Francis by the social media comments. I must be aware daily until my research and writing is complete and even after, that I am presenting myself as the person who wants reconciliation to be manifest in words and actions. I also want to be respectful of those who surround me and where they are on their own journey of reconciliation. I must be aware that my words and actions will affect others and where they are in their journey of reconciliation.
I am aware that every person who reads this is on their own journey of reconciliation. They will all be at different stages in the path they are walking. For this reason, I am inviting the reader of this work to join me on my path, walk with me, and others; respect that we are on the same path, we just may be at different stages in our journey. My approach and orientation weaves through everything in my work. We all want the same outcome; to see the road to reconciliation continue and move forward. I hope that what I have written here and what follows contributes to others’ path of reconciliation, and changes relationships in the process. I invite the readers to approach my research from wherever you are on your journey.
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