Writer has a different take on Sacred Assembly

Page 6

Guest Column

Sacred Assembly '95 was held in Hull, Que., Dec. 6 to 9, and while attendance was not specifically reported, I estimate between 1,500 and 2,000 people took in the event.

On Day Four of the assembly, Elijah Harper read and distributed a "Reconciliation Proclamation." This author believes that the proclamation lacked important concepts, including the important concept of putting an end to policies of assimilation and attempted extinguishment of Aboriginal rights.

Assimilation is perhaps the most important psychological factor which caused havoc in the residential schools and was a force behind the government policies administered by the Indian agents and other administrators under the Indian Act.

Extinguishment of Aboriginal rights is a feature of present offerings by the federal government in their so-called self-government proposals which is most unacceptable to First Nations. Extinguishment results in complete loss of control by First Nations. This means that the land is finally and completely removed from the commonwealth of sharing that is one of the major tenets of Aboriginal culture and world view.

When the Reconciliation Proclamation was presented to Ron Irwin, minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development, he suggested that the government would be able to accept it. (Perhaps that was because some of the difficult concepts were not included.)

The opening preamble smacks of paternalism and authoritarianism. "We, the delegates. . . are now able to assert the following."

First, there was no indication and authority that the participants in the SA were delegates in any formal or even informal way. Second, there was no attempt to solicit or acknowledge the views of the participants.

The young people seemed to understand this subterfuge and, while they were asked to participate and voice their concerns, their voices were not heard nor were their concerns given any real attention. Only about 30 adults came to listen to the hurt and needs expressed by the young people.

It was rationalized that there were other events scheduled at the same time. That the adults chose to give higher priority to the other events proved to the young people that they are the forgotten generation.

The author has wondered for years just what a consensus is, how it is achieved and what devastating effect it has on the minority. The SA provided an answer: consensus is achieved by the chair producing a proclamation, reading it to the assembly, but NOT asking if there is dissent. Consensus has been reached!

This author was surprised that so many Native people professed to be of the Christian faith.

The horror stories of the persecution of Native children in residential schools were expounded at great length. The destruction of self-esteem, language, culture and economies by the schools, the military, the police, the traders, the legislators and the clergy was insidious, devastating and widespread over both space and time.

The branding of Native spiritual practices as paganism, savagery and devil worship with the practitioners consigned to purgatory and hell in the afterlife and economic ruin here and now resulted in many conversions of convenience. This same mind set fomented, permitted and excused racism.

The Native concept of spirits in all of Nature was converted to a worship of the spirit in the bottle with resulting depravity and ultimate ruin. It included physical and sexual abuse and the debasement of woman.

It is true that there were Native Elders and teachers at the SA who explained and expounded the virtues of the ancient society, its values, culture, organization and justice. Their voices ere often relegated to the evening social functions instead of the mainstream sessions, which may indicate their assumed secondary importance.

Were their voices as unheard and ignored as those of the young people? Was there an attempt to discount their wisdom in the face of the revealed and hierarchical gospel? No echanism for meaningful input for minority or dissenting views was apparent to this author. Is that because none existed or because it was held in camera to maintain the myth of unanimity and consensus?