You Are Loved
National Indigenous Peoples Day - June 21 annually since 1996 (Canadian Holiday) - We commemorate National Indigenous Peoples Day to recognize the history, heritage and diversity of First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples in Canada.
Juneteenth - June 19 annually since 1866 (American Federal Holiday as of 2021) - Commemorates the emancipation of enslaved African Americans.
Pride Celebrations - June events annually since 1970 (began in the United States and have spread around the world) - Began as protest parades to commemorate the 1969 Stonewall Riots in New York and have developed into events that promote self-affirmation, dignity, equality, and increased visibility for LGBTQ+ people as a social group.
The past few days have felt like a flurry of special "days" for those in Canada who are aware of both national and international news. As a cisgender, heterosexual, caucasian man of exclusively Western European descent, I have, in the past, struggled with what I should make of these days. I've understood why they are important for the individuals and communities involved, but I've wondered why days like this should be put on national landscapes for everyone. I know that my past questions are not unique to me. I see it and hear it in news reports, social media posts, and in conversation.
What has helped me is thinking about why these days even came to exist. Why is there a National holiday to celebrated indigenous peoples in Canada, but not any other group of people? Why has Juneteenth become an American federal holiday? Why has Pride spread around the world and become something that has been adopted for celebration beyond the LGBTQ+ community?
The short answer is because each of these groups - made up of individuals created in the image of God - have faced alienation, abuse, and attempted erasure for many decades by majority groups. Yes. Even in Canada.
Individuals with each of these groups have been pushed down and dismissed. Demonized and discriminated against. They have had to choose between trying to be invisible or enduring abuse. Whether it be rooted in ignorance (often willful) or intent, the actions of many within the majority have trained those within these groups to expect mistreatment.
And those who claim the name Christian - we have been at the centre of much of this mistreatment. Church-run residential schools were centres for this abuse in Canada and pulpits were used as platforms to promote the abuse of people and the erasure of cultures. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s words from 1964 remain true: "The most segregated hour of Christian America is 11 o’clock on Sunday morning." And the most common opponents of moves towards LGBTQ+ equality are Christians. Certainly, the church is near the top of any list of places where those within the LGBTQ+ communities feel the least welcome. (And I know people who have disconnected from or not connected with Covenant because they feel they would not be loved, seen, and embraced if they were truly and fully known.)
These days that I mentioned exist because, at some point, those within these groups started to insist, initially to themselves, that they are valuable people and they don't need to choose to deny part of their innate reality in order to be accepted. Gradually, over years, as they accepted themselves, advocates have come around to accept them, support them, and encourage others to do the same. These days only exist because for decades those who they highlight were largely unseen other than when they were abused. These days exist because all too often they still suffer abuse. Even when we've claimed that they were equal, we have struggled (or failed) to treat them in ways that aligned with our words.
As I've thought about it, perhaps the question is not, "How should I respond to these days?" But instead, "How should I respond to these people - each person?" Jesus refused the lazy cultural norm of generalizing people. He did acknowledge what "groups" people were in (Samaritan, tax collector, Pharisee, Roman, Zealot). That was a part of truly seeing them. But he treated each person as an individual whom he loved.
I suspect that Jesus would first in line in all attempts to actively love and embrace those for whom these days are so important as stepping stones to being truly seen, truly accepted, and truly loved. I need to simply ask, "How should I be following Jesus in this?"
The following was shared yesterday by Glenn Robitaille in his weekly message to the Waypoint community. It includes powerful words by Ernest Vaillancourt, Waypoint Board Member. I feel that I need to share it as we consider these things:
Good morning,
Today is National Indigenous Day in Canada and an opportunity for us to join together in celebrating the contributions of Indigenous people and culture to the mosaic that is Canada. This is a particularly challenging time in First Nations, Inuit and Metis (FNIM) communities with the recent uncovering of hundreds of unmarked graves containing children lost to the residential schools program. Ernie Vaillancourt, a Waypoint board member, shared this poem with the Waypoint board at its recent meeting:
To Innocent Lives Lost!
(with Michif/Métis language inserts)
I was taken!
What did I do wrong?
No one said to me: "Taanshi?" - Hello, what is the quality of you?
No one told me: "Kisakihitin" - I love you.
No one said: "Niiya ooshchi" – Don’t be scared, somebody loves you.
I was taken and I was lost. I did not know what I had done wrong to deserve what happened to me.
I was happy and fell into a state of fear and despair, confusion and pain.
I missed my family, my mom, my dad, my brothers and sisters, my grandparents, my friends and my community.
We pause at this moment to remember; to give honour and pay respect to innocent lives lost of the 215 Indigenous children who were victims of the residential school system.
To the children of our country and beyond our borders.
We grieve for their premature departure from this earth.
We grieve in solidarity with their parents, families and loved ones.
May we be always more ready
To see the good and hopeful in any person and any matter
Than we are to see the bad and despairing.
May we remember that when we set standards for what we expect of others,
We should expect more from ourselves.
In our differences may we be kind.
In our agreements may we be humble,
That those who learn from our work
May see the fruits of the spirit working among us.
May the souls of these innocent children rest in peace.
~ Ernest Vaillancourt, Waypoint Board Member
June 3, 2021
We express as an organization our heartfelt support for our FNIM patients, staff and community partners and pledge to continue our journey toward Truth and Reconciliation.
Chi Miigwech, Nia:wen,
Glenn
Glenn A. Robitaille, RP, DMin, MDiv, MPCC
Director, Ethics and Spiritual Care
Director, Ontario Structured Psychotherapy Program—North Simcoe/Muskoka (A)