LISTENING TO TRUTH, SEEKING RECONCILIATION

Talkumentary

LISTENING TO TRUTH, SEEKING RECONCILIATION
Saturday October 26, 6pm – 10pm
Carnegie Community Centre Theatre, 401 Main

IRSSS-New-LOGOFollowing BC Reconciliation Week we ask “what does reconciliation mean to you?” Join Angela White of the Indian Residential School Survivors Society for a “talkumentary” evening with documentaries, guest speakers and discussion on how we as a community can move forward together towards reconciliation.

Guest speakers include Stephen Lytton, Sid Chow Tan, Grace Eiko Thompson and Sukhvinder Kaur Vinning.

Musical guests Iskwew Singers will perform songs that tell stories of our connection to the earth, the Creator and one another.

Films shown this evening:

• The Language of Love (2011, 11 min) directed by Marie Clements, featuring DTES artist and activist Stephen Lytton;

• We Were Children (2012, 83 min) directed by Tim Wolochatiuk, National Film Board;

• It Matters: The Legacy of Residential Schools (2013, 5 min) produced by the World Sikh Organization of Canada;

• Hidden Legacies (2013, 18 min) directed by Lisa Jackson, a young Aboriginal filmmaker;

• Yummo Comes Home, A Residential School Healing Journey (2013, 28 min) produced by Don Klaassen and the Mennonite Church Canada.

Everyone welcome. Free

Truth and Reconciliation – WHAT DOES THIS MEAN?

 “To ‘reconcile’ is to weave a stronger and more vibrant social fabric, based on the unique and diverse strengths of Canadians and their communities.”  – Chief Robert Joseph

Truth is about Listening. It is about allowing what you hear to soak in. It is about each person making informed decisions on how that truth impacts them directly and indirectly.

The same with Reconciliation.  For each person reconciliation means something different. We each find our own journey to reconcile differences of opinion or harms that were perpetuated directly, or perhaps indirectly by our ancestors.

Messages from Reconciliation Canada –

“Let us find a way to belong to this time and place together. The time is now to move forward beyond sorry. The time is now to move beyond misunderstandings of the past that filtered into the present. The time is now to open the door to rid ourselves of preconceived notions of what history has wanted us to believe about aboriginal peoples of Canada.” – That shame, loneliness, hurt, pain and sorrow needs to be acknowledged but NOT owned.

“We have the power to be that catalyst for social change towards injustices of the past. We can build a strong founding relationship between aboriginal peoples and all Canadians. Through understanding, dignity, openness, hope and willingness for change.”

“For the sake of our children, past, present and future!” – We all have stories, and each of our personal stories are important to share with one another. – “Let us take this opportunity for all Canadians to renew our relationship based on a shared understanding of our histories and our cultures. Let us take this opportunity to begin to walk a path together for a shared tomorrow.”

– Angela White, Indian Residential School Survivors Society (IRSSS)