Canoe Pilgrimage for Indigenous Reconciliation
About 30 canoeists, including Indigenous, Jesuits, English, French, men and women, dropped in to Galilee on August 8 on their way from Midland, ON to Montreal, QC on a pilgrimage to mark Canada’s 150th Anniversary celebrations.
The 2017 Canadian Canoe Pilgrimage is a project inspired by Canada’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) with the hope of encouraging intercultural and interreligious dialogue and learning. Participants, both Indigenous and non–Indigenous, are immersed in each other’s customs and traditions. Through this immersion, the goal is to foster deep respect, trust, dialogue and hopefully friendship, the building blocks for reconciliation.
The canoe route taken is a traditional First Nations trading route that was travelled by early European settlers such as Samuel de Champlain and Jean de Brébeuf, who were welcomed and guided by the Indigenous Peoples of this land. The route follows a similar one paddled by 24 young Jesuits in 1967.
About 40 additional guests were treated to a participative Kairos Blanket Exercise as a means to learn about the historic and contemporary relationship between Indigenous and non–Indigenous peoples of Canada. Bob, an Indigenous elder led us in a smudging ceremony to purify our bodies, auras and energy. Then we were invited to walk slowly around adjoining blankets as actors described specific historical events like:
• what Turtle Island was like (Indigenous name for North America before colonization)
• the era of European discovery and colonization of Canada
• proclamation of the Canadian Indian Act of 1873
• establishment of Residential Schools for Indigenous children after 1880
• U.N. Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples in 2007
• PM Harper’s apology to First Nations peoples of 2008
Towards the end of the exercise, those still walking found themselves greatly reduced in number. The blankets had shrunk and were separate from each other. This was a grim reminder of the impact colonization and Canadian history has had on Indigenous peoples from their cultural perspective. We then participated in a talking circle where everyone was invited to reflect on what they had just learned and felt. Much compassion, need for forgiveness and commitment to improving relations was expressed. It was a well–balanced and poignant education experience.
Fr. Ken Forster celebrated an outdoor Mass for everyone under the stately white pines. He emphasized forgiveness, commitment and spoke about forging ahead in mutual reconciliation between Canadians and Indigenous peoples. Our day finished off with a scrumptious spaghetti and meatball dinner provided by Galilee. We marvelled at the healthy appetite of the young paddlers and for their commitment to reconciliation and forgiveness.
Participants went home better aware of Canadian history and of the ongoing dialogue of hope and forgiveness underway. We felt energized by the vitality of today’s youth in taking up the social challenge. Improving relationships and building trust among all Canadians and, in particular with Indigenous peoples, is every Canadian’s business. Our sincere thanks to the Galilee organizers, the paddlers and the contributors to this living history event of great educational value.
By: David Morgan
