On April 18th, 2015, a group gathered in the worship space of the Langley Mennonite Fellowship for a three and a half hour session focusing on information about Indian Residential Schools and the journey of reconciliation.
The event was organized by Brander McDonald, Indigenous Justice Coordinator for the Diocese of New Westminster. Brander has a similar role with the Mennonite Church of British Columbia (MCBC) and this particular event was promoted to both faith communities. There was a diocesan stewardship conference taking place a few miles to the southwest at Christ the Redeemer Anglican Church which may have contributed to the lack of attendance at the event by Anglicans. The majority of those participating were from the host Mennonite community.
The design of the event was invitational. All were invited to participate in a conversation regarding reconciliation work as part of the ongoing follow-up to the Truth & Reconciliation Commission’s major event held in Vancouver the third week of September, 2013, and with an eye and mind to the upcoming TRC final official event May 30th to June 2nd, 2015 in Ottawa.
The conversations were led by four guest speakers/panelists who have been deeply involved in the TRC process in various ways: Larry Plenart, the Reverend Laurel Dykstra, Pastor Gary Janzen and Melanie Delva who due to ill health had submitted a video which contained her 15 minute address. It is available online at http://bit.ly/1Extx52. The panel presentations and subsequent discussions were hosted and facilitated by Brander McDonald. There is a 27 minute film summary prepared by diocesan videographer Cliff Caprani embedded in this story.
The day began with Brander and Patricia Vickers offering a cedar brushing song and then Brander thanked the Kwantlen First Nations on whose territory the meeting was taking place.
The first presenter was Larry Plenart who for 27 years practiced law in Abbotsford. Now his full-time work is adjudicating claims for survivors of Indian Residential Schools. In his presentation he read some of the 2008 apology from Prime-Minister Stephen Harper and also much of the content of the 1993 apology from then-Anglican Church of Canada Primate, the Most Reverend Michael Peers in order to create context for his address. He described a little bit of what it is like to be an adjudicator in the claims process and then screened a film that is used to assist claimants in preparing for their hearings. The film is available on line here, http://bit.ly/1cqznyl.
The Reverend Laurel Dykstra told compelling stories of her own personal experiences of racism in various circumstances and how her ministry and activism as it relates to reconciliation has evolved over the years. She spoke about the Ignite the Light event that took place in 2010 which served as an inspiration to many. She also spoke about her experiences as a member of the Ecumenical Advocates for Reconciliation, and as the Anglican Church Representative on the planning team for the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s British Columbia National Event, September 2013. An experience that for her was often difficult. During the TRC event she worked to make the “Churches Listening to Survivors Area” a place of true respectful listening, local protocol and an important component of the TRC’s statement gathering process.
Rev. Dykstra also addressed how this has affected and influenced her faith. She said that until she heard the stories of survivors in the sharing circle September 21-26 at the TRC event’s Hasting Park location she was not convinced that prayer was necessary to do this work but during her time in the “Churches Listening to Survivors Area” she realized that she needed to pray.
In a 15 minute video address Melanie Delva, the Archivist for the Diocese of New Westminster and the Ecclesiastical Province of BC/Yukon related how her work in sourcing the records of Indian Residential School students and survivors became a huge part of her personal and faith life, forever changing her world view and her view of the country and her faith community.
The fourth panelist to speak was Gary Janzen, Executive Pastor of MCBC who with the Reverend Laurel Dykstra was also on the planning team of the September 2013, TRC event. He gave a brief synopsis of his own ministry and his own experiences with Indigenous People and he highlighted some personal stories of his life, living in Ladner on the lands of the Tsawwassen First Nations. He shared with the plenary his experiences of ecumenism throughout the planning process for and during that week in September 2013.
There were a number of questions and more detailed discussions about the future of reconciliation and the opportunities available for all to participate in this process. The gathering ended with a prayer circle.
PHOTOS
- Brander McDonald thanks the Kwantlen people.
- Most of those in attendance were members of the Lanley Mennonite Fellowship
- Diocesan videographer Cliff Caprani
- The three panelists present: Pastor Gary Janzen, the Reverend Laurel Dykstra and Larry Plenart
- Watching Melanie Delva's video address
- Brander leads the formation of a prayer circle.