St. Luke's and All Saints' Community Gathering Hears Residential School Survivor's Story

All Saints' Cathedral and St. Luke's, Edmonton hosted a sharing circle to continue to listen, share, and heal from Residential School's harms and live into a new decolonized way of being together as First Nations and settlers on this land.

We observed the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation and Orange Shirt Day on Sunday afternoon by welcoming Holyrood neighbours, and members from many different parishes and traditions in the area.

Knowledge Keeper Verna Fisher opened the circle with a prayer and smudge. While there is so much to be hopeful for in a reconciled world, we know we are not there yet, so especially for the Indigenous participants, our hearts were heavy as we began our time together.

Lloyd Cardinal, who brought the drum for prayer and healing for the event, shared some of his story and the ongoing struggles he or people he knows experience daily due to racism in our country.

Eliza Hilliar shared her story of healing and resilience as a residential school survivor and chapan (great-grandmother). Her language is her healing, she told us. Through all the beatings she endured she was held by her language which she spoke in her mind and heart. Today she loves to teach her language to others, anyone who will listen, especially her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She taught a word to the circle, "nanâskomowin," which means great thankfulness. She said it is her prayer every morning and her last word every day, to thank the Creator for our many blessings.

The Ven. Travis Enright, Archdeacon for Reconciliation and Decolonization, concluded the sharing by calling us to act on the truth we have heard and to continue to seek renewed and reconciled relationships for the sake of love and justice.

As we shared stories around the circle, we also shared tears and much laughter. Our souls were lightened as we lifted our burdens together to God and sought healing.

We concluded our time together with an honour song, round dance, and a good feast of bannock and blueberries.

Reconciliation is the work of settlers and of the Anglican Church. It is our work to change unjust structures, to challenge biases and to open our hearts in humility, hopeful for who love will make us to be.

St. Luke's was delighted to be featured by the Indigenous rap artist Conzz999 in their video "Every Child Matters." The artist performed their song at St. Luke's last Christmas as part of Tee Pee Treats "Giving Back to the Streets" meal. You can watch the video, which also features the artist praying in the sanctuary and on the land in Enoch First Nation, on YouTube by searching for callmeconzz999, and below. 

Submitted by the Rev. Nick Trussell, rector, St. Luke’s, Edmonton; interim assisting priest, All Saints’ Cathedral.