Journeying on the Road to Reconciliation and Understanding

On Sunday May 15, many members of the newly formed group at St. John’s (Committee for Truth and Reconciliation) attended a ceremony in Wolfville’s Clock Park to witness the placing of a stone by Wolfville Baptist Church, a marker affirming their desire to walk this earth with our Indigenous siblings as One People.

It was a poignant ceremony. Sisters Carolyn Landry and Neenie Melvin spoke about our connection to Mother Earth and the spirit of the Creator. In moving words and action, the stone was acknowledged. It had been moved from its ground (home) to a new ground. The symbolic carving, designed by Steven Slipp and carved by Colin Craig, gives us a way to recognize that: We are One People.

The group from St. John’s are interested in the journey that our Baptist friends have taken and met with Wendy S. And Shon W. on Friday May 27 to learn more. For the past few years, this group of people has sought to understand and acknowledge the pain and trauma the First Nations have suffered. With the discovery of the unmarked graves, they marked the depth of their sorrow with the planting of Sweetgrass to Miners’ Marsh. (Transplanting sweetgrass is not usually acceptable as it is like cutting hair without permission.) They spoke about the importance of building trust and relationship building. The ceremony of laying the stone was another marker along these peoples’ walk.

We learned that small steps must be taken and that we must be understanding when we mis-step. Sometimes there will be silence.

As a step on our journey of learning, we are proposing a gathering on the evening of June 23rd for a viewing of the apologies delivered by Archbishops Hiltz and Whelby on behalf of the Anglican Church & discussion, open to all in the parish (and beyond).

We are continuing our journey together.