Reconciliation – Racism perpetuated by some begets solidarity with others

In light of the reconciliation process that is happening in various ways across Canada, I am prompted to write this article because of a recent act of racism against the Indigenous drum circle I facilitate. This was experienced at the hands of a local church. It is not just the incident that I find so hurtful and incredulous. It is significant especially because of the efforts of the Truth & Reconciliation Commission for the past six years to document, publicize and educate Canadians about the history of Indigenous peoples, the dispossession from their traditional lands, implementation of policies to assimilate them into the dominant society and the devastating impacts of the Indian Residential Schools. Aboriginal Justice Murray Sinclair of this commission advocates that it is the responsibility of every Canadian and every societal institution to look at and take action to create change so that the atrocities that have happened to Indigenous peoples never happen again. Indigenous peoples continue to experience colonization, racism and oppression and these effects impact their spiritual, emotional, mental and physical well-being. In addition, these impacts have social and financial repercussions for everyone.

I choose to not stay in the hurt and anger from acts of racism against me and our Indigenous drum circle. I choose to find people, Indigenous and Settler peoples, who have hopes for a better future. It turned out that I did not need to look far to find this. Our drum circle, Mino Ode Kwewak N’gamowak (Good Hearted Women Singers) has been preparing for our 4th Annual concert of Bridging Communities through Song – A reconciliation effort of Bringing Indigenous and Settler peoples together. One of our partnerships is with the Waterloo Regional Police Male Chorus. Some have questioned why we would partner with a police chorus when there have been historical and present travesties involving the police and Indigenous peoples. My answer is – that is precisely why we are partnering together. In the beginning, I held hope that maybe our singing together might create some kind of dialogue with one another. Maybe we would learn more about the police. Maybe the police would learn more about us. An outcome from the recent racist incident is that I now have Hope. In fact, I feel solidarity. The forces that rallied in support of the Indigenous women’s drum circle is astounding! The Police Chorus found a safe space - Erb Street Mennonite Church for our rehearsal together. When our drum circle came to the doors of the Mennonite Church, we were greeted by Pastor Gary Knarr. His first words were, “Welcome, please come in.” I cried then and it brings tears to my eyes now as I write this. Those words were exactly what we needed to hear. I am reminded of a song I have heard the Inshallah Choir sing, “God Welcomes All, strangers and friends.” I want to believe that God/Creator indeed welcomes all and that the actions of one church are an anomaly to the bridging that I see happening with other churches in our community. Our drum circle has shared in building better relationships with the Lutheran, Mennonite, Presbyterian and Catholic churches.

I must add that not only did the Police Chorus change church venues for our joint rehearsal, they advised us that they could not stay (for their own weekly rehearsals) in a church that continues to hurt Indigenous peoples. I am still reeling from the incredible impact their decision has had on me and our drum circle. To stand alongside (not in front, and not over us) shows that they meant their words as actions have come from them. As the women were packing up after our recent rehearsal together, the police chorus began to sing a song, You’ll Never Walk Alone (by Gerry & The Pacemakers). This song was for US!! In that moment, Song became a bridge to connect their hearts to ours. I know that there will be those who choose not to learn; who will remain ignorant of the history of Indigenous peoples in Canada and the racism and oppression that continue to impact Indigenous peoples’ lives. Perhaps one day they will join the many Settler peoples, Christian peoples and churches who are already seriously taking action to learn and to build better relationships with all peoples, including Indigenous peoples. In the meantime, our Indigenous drum circle is moving forward and revelling in the friendships and support we have found in our partnership with the Waterloo Regional Police Chorus; our Allies. We still have more work to do and more talks to engage in regarding police relationships with Indigenous peoples but our ground is little firmer to start those difficult dialogues.

All my relations, Kelly Laurila.