Bright new day
Recently I attended an event at Tla’amin (Sliammon) First Nation to begin the process of reconciliation and make a quantum leap in our understanding and honouring of relationships [“Circle aims to build relationship bridges,” March 6].
It is time for our whole community to celebrate and honour our differences, strengthen our aspirations, use the wisdom of our past to support and unite in the love of our Mother Earth and all its creation, and to break down the mind sets that keep us fettered in ignorance, bitterness, racism, fear and anger.
Here are a few dictionary definitions for the word reconcile: to render no longer opposed; to win over to friendliness; to become amiable; to reconcile hostile persons; to bring into agreement or harmony.
The first ritual was to participate in a purifying ceremony to cleanse ourselves with cedar branches and consecrate the space made available for the purpose of a sacred activity—reconciliation within the Tla’amin territories.
Stories told, so deeply felt, of an ancient people rooted in this land that was wrested from them, their language and culture shattered, children taken from them. So different to hear these stories directly spoken. No sound bites here, lots of time to hear, to honour and respect the openness, the courage to speak, to relive the dark times, a gift of sorrow.
As we inevitably come to know, spiritual growth comes through suffering, no matter what the religion. We need to recover from our suffering journey, lose our ignorance, our arrogance, our disrespect. What terrible burdens we carry in our hubris. How healing to rid ourselves of our misconceptions.
The ancient wisdom of first nations people is an invisible source, the basis of wisdom that great spiritual masters have drawn from through the centuries. It is time to listen to the wisdom of our first nations elders that guides us to honour and respect one another and our world. Such a generous action to create reconciliation for all our people deserves and must have our respect and support. Let us all respond to this invitation and honour a sacred trust and give as generously.
Susan Jersak
Ontario Avenue
Ferry frustrations
I find it appalling that BC Ferries’ executives think Texada Island residents are so unimportant and have no plans, they can schedule a meeting on Texada and change the dangerous cargo run from Wednesday to Thursday [“Dangerous cargo,” April 10]. Do they realize how many people were put out by this, and all for only a few ferry representatives who came over here? We have learned for years to schedule our lives around the dangerous cargo run, and so have all who service us from Powell River.
My group, Texada Women’s Island Network, has its monthly luncheon at the Texada Island Inn on the second Thursday of every month, which happened to be the day the dangerous cargo sailing was switched to. We have seven members from Powell River and quite often our speakers are from Powell River, too. These ladies could not attend so this affected the inn as our numbers were down, and also affected our charities.
Texada Market was affected as Thursday is its main freight day. Canada Post had to rearrange its normal time, and I don’t know how many people may have had a doctor or dental appointment.
Instead of uprooting all our plans, BC Ferries simply had to set its meeting for later that Wednesday and take the 5 pm sailing home, or how about a different day than Wednesday?
I hope BC Ferries executives will show us all more respect next time they are planning a meeting on Texada.
Linn Rairie
Texada Women’s Island Network coordinator
