PRAGMATISM

(07,21,2021) Pragmatism will be required, in abundance, on the part of the Canadian government when dealing with the horror stories emanating from the survivors of former residential schools which were erected throughout the provinces over the course of the past century. This is a prime example of state and church conspiring together for the benefit of each other rather than for the good of the individual. The treatment of the indigenous people and their children was most horrendous. The government removed the indigenous children from their homes, families and culture. They were placed, like criminals, in the authority of the church who would do their best to beat the children’s heredity out of them. For the government, it was just a means to an end. For the church, it was an opportunity to baptize many more Christians. But first, the children had to disinherit themselves from their community, by force rather than choice. They were forbidden to speak their native language, while all communication with the outside world was cut off. And that was only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the amount of atrocities committed against these innocents at the hands of the priests and nuns who abused their authority. Stories abound of young children disappearing in the night. Other tales depict children being awakened in the middle of the night and forced to dig unmarked graves for those who perished. Many parents, to this day, never learned what had happened to their child who never came home. Convicts, in prisons, were better treated than these poor souls who could not defend themselves, unable to speak the truth about the abuse they were suffering. The church has a long history of such inhumane treatment, the worst of which was abuse ending in death. The stories of abuse, at the hands of catholic priests, inflicted on some individuals, for years, are almost too many to count. Many have come to light, but, many are yet to be revealed. How does the church, or the government for that matter, make recompense for a life stolen? What price can one put on a forced existence robbed of dignity, respect and love? Will there be consequences or just empty platitudes? The government has recognized their error in the condemning of these indigenous children to the likes of the catholic church. What consideration can now be offered to the generations who have survived? Indeed, the state was inept and ignorant, bereft of compassion, so, the bereaved children were deprived of a normal life surrounded by family and loved ones. By the thousands, the indigenous innocents were ripped from their homes and left to suffer at the mercy, or lack thereof, of the catholic church. Hundreds of unmarked graves now dot the countryside, the number growing daily until it becomes thousands. What possible consequences could befall the most powerful organization on earth, who has not acknowledged these atrocities and owned up to them? The pope has been asked to address the issue, but, so far, very little has been done. No amount of philosophical bantering can begin to assuage the broken hearts of thousands of family members . The healing can only begin with the finding and identification of each lost soul. This, the government can assist in. It is only right that, after this is done, a proper burial is provided by the church, reflecting the requests of the surviving family members. Bringing home the dead is paramount. But, apologies are not enough! What standard of judgement will be applied in determining the value of one life, let alone thousands? Much like the red moon, which I witnessed hanging over the skies of Southern Ontario for the past couple of nights, a pall of gloom hangs over this country. Although not technically signifying a ‘blood moon’, this red moon, most likely caused by the hundreds if wildfires spreading across Northern Ontario, is symbolic of this sad moment in history! One hundred years of suppression and attempted genocide, against the indigenous people of Canada, has been laid bare to the public. Pleas for accountability have gone unanswered. Although the Anglican and United Churches also ran residential schools, the majority were supervised by the Catholic Church since the late 1800’s. Cultural traditions were barred while child neglect ran rampant. As the chief, Bobby Cameron, of the Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations has declared ,” This crime against humanity deserves more than apologies and sympathies.” Over three quarters of the residential schools were run by Catholic priests and nuns. There is blood on their hands, not just metaphorically, but literally! In an effort to assimilate the more than 150,000 indigenous children into Canadian society, these offenders turned a blind eye to torture, rape and murder. Then, they attempted to cover up the crimes. Discrimination and systemic racism was prevalent throughout these schools, for over a century. It is difficult to imagine how a healing process can even begin. My heart mourns for the souls of the innocents and it goes out to their surviving family members. As a nation, Canada must pay homage to the true First Nation which existed, on this continent, long before the immigrants from Britain and France arrived to claim the land and impose their laws. The Canadian government and the Catholic church owe a debt, to the indigenous people, which can never be repaid. Only the most pragmatic of diplomats can even hope for any kind of restitution!