Edmonton and Rural Folk Demonstrate Commitment to 'good, good work of reconciliation'

The last week of September was a time to pause, breathe, remember, laugh, pray, smudge, share stories, listen and learn. 

I started the week leading up to the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation with the dear folks at the assisted living of Canterbury Foundation. We started with a smudge, and I shared some stories of reconciliation. I am always deeply touched when elders wearing orange shirts tell me they want our country to be fairer and more just. 

That Sunday, September 29, I worshipped with the good folks of All Saints, Drayton Valley. Graciously, their rector, the Rev. Robyn King, invited me to preach at their morning service. In the afternoon we were joined by the local United Church community. During our session, I shared the Remembering the Children weaving with everyone. We shed tears, said prayers and together remembered the children who didn’t come home from Residential Schools.

September 30, the National Day of Truth and Reconciliation and Orange Shirt Day, was a bright, sunny, fall day in Wetaskiwin. The ninth annual community walk took place in the afternoon. Led by hand drummers from Maskwacis, we walked from the Heritage Museum to the Peace Cairn.

At the cairn, the drummers sang an honour song for the survivors and those who didn’t return from Residential Schools. We invited the Rev. Hugh Matheson, rector of Immanuel, Wetaskiwin, to lead us in prayer. 

We walked to Jubilee Park where many of us participated in a smudge, observed young people sharing their traditional dances, shared a meal of bannock, soup, and tea, and joined together in a round dance. 

Looking around, I realised we were blessed to be joined by 200 people There had been 15 people at our first walk in 2016.

It was a good, hard week where I felt the presence of the Spirit of Reconciliation everywhere I went. I am so grateful to everyone who joined us in conversation, prayed with us, listened carefully and went away more committed to this good, good work of reconciliation. 

Fiona Brownlee is the Aboriginal and Rural Churches Liaison for the Diocese of Edmonton.