The last veil of secrecy in Canada will be revealed

Kyra Kaminawaish Contributor

I am in Ottawa participating in the Youth & Elder Gathering on Hope & Reconciliation and had a chance to partake an experience of a lifetime with the National Forgiven Summit.

I had expected something else than what I experienced, but I would not  trade this experience in the world for nothing, not even money! I felt such deep pride in my heart for the first time to be a First Nations person, an Aboriginal of Canada. I felt I could walk among the whites with my head high like I never did before.

I did expect this to be more of a culturally traditional gathering, but it acknowledged all cultures’  right to express in their own way, their honour for their God/Creator. I had to interview residential school survivors and children of the survivors. It was hard not to acknowledge my own spiritual being. I heard many perspectives of the Aboriginal People and I am glad they got us to interview because we are the young people and this will help us shape who we are, for us to be able to embrace fully our First Nations identity.

Not everyone was ready to forgive, but a lot of them did. First Nations people are people of humility, of generosity, as we shared our land, we should forgive the government and churches of Canada’s actions to let ourselves free to move forward as nation.

The youth are getting stronger, smarter, more educated and passionate as ever. I got the chance to speak with other young people who feel the same way I do. I was able to relate to them on the many issues facing us.

I felt empowered to take on the challenges we young people will have to go through. We are truly the generation to turn things around for our future generations. I know a lot of young aboriginal parents and I just ask them, look at your children, you must feel a deeper meaning for life, use that to pick up your strength.

You don’t have to be ready to step up to the plate, just take that first step in your journey. You will eventually get there. I learned something invaluable as well about Christianity. I told people I am not a Christian but I was raised by my grandmother who I sang songs with and prayed with when I was a little girl. I have not stopped praying which is why I am able to continue living in her house.

I noticed that everything I pray for, I ask for forgiveness and then I ended up here. I asked Him to help me find a way to bring our people to a good life. I believe my grandmother also wanted me to give people a message but she did not know how to express it because of residential school. The elders carry such trauma, which is why I say “be easy on the elders” they will come around soon enough. We the youth need to ask them in all of our communities to start the healing process, because we are a healing nation.

This is also the reason why there are so many suicides. Young people are confused, as I once was. People looked at the traditional culture way of First Nations people as demonic but that is the churches mistake! God does not work like that: to demean a culture!

God accepts everybody. I am not saying worship in the traditional way, but accept this truth because the young people need that. This is who we are.

Aboriginal people will find their way. First Nations youth are starting to ask questions. We can’t keep a our nation quiet anymore. One day we will regain our land & take our rightful place as First Nations people.

This is the truth. The last veil of secrecy in Canada will be revealed. We cannot step on each other to get there, because that is not how we are going to build a strong united Aboriginal Nation.

The National Forgiven Summit received a clip from the Prime Minister who is glad that we accepted and forgave their actions on Aboriginal people.

The people from the Churches of Canada also kneeled before our leaders asking for forgiveness and Federal Indian Affairs Minister Chuck Strahl received the highest honour our people can give.

Thank you and Meegwetch,
Kyra Kaminawaish