This is an important time of remembering and honouring our Indigenous brothers and sisters who have suffered so greatly and been ignored for so long. It does our hearts good to set aside time to acknowledge what has happened, to learn more about the impact the actions of those who came before us has had on the people of our First Nations. In so doing we must also acknowledge that this kind of ignorance and the harm we do to others is also harming our own souls as well.
I have spoken to individuals who survived the residential school system and the enduring pain of it all. I believe the ongoing nature of it has to do with a number of factors of course, but one that stands out for me is the lack of acknowledgement, the way it was ignored and swept under the rug. But as with all pain that is ignored, it moves into the shadows of consciousness and festers, and wreaks havoc in ways we don’t always recognize as being connected.
I’m glad we are talking about all this; I’m glad we are finally listening because that is the beginning of healing. Then comes forgiveness; that is the next essential step on the healing journey because without it, if all we do is tell our story over and over without the desire or willingness to do the forgiveness work, we are still controlled by our past and our resentments and hatreds. Then the energy we need for the step of creating a new narrative is wasted on fueling the pain and wanting revenge.
I don’t believe any one of us has the answers for going forward but if we are willing to work together from our very souls then miracles can and do happen.
Namaste
