My comments on "[CBC News'] IN DEPTH: Truth and ReconciliationFAQs: Aboriginal Truth and Reconciliation Commission FAQs about the federal commission"

Hey everyone, here are on comments on... http://www.cbcnews.ca " IN DEPTH:
Truth and Reconciliation
FAQs: Aboriginal Truth and Reconciliation Commission
FAQs about the federal commission on aboriginal residential schools in Canada
Last Updated: Friday, May 16, 2008 | 11:34 AM ET Comments17Recommend19CBC News "

(Original Story Link: http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2008/05/16/f-faqs-truth-reconciliation.html )

These comments were posted in response to those made by CarolLois

" The mandate of the TRC is already troubling enough - it has no power to subpoena, to lay criminal charges, to bring perpetrators to justice - but recently extra rules were added:

1. No-one giving their testimony to the TRC is allowed to name the names of perpetrators, or any staff member at a residential school.

2. Any statement given before the TRC is owned by them, ie, survivors' testimonies becomes copyrighted and controlled by the government.

3. No-one can use anything given to the TRC in a lawsuit or any action against the government or the churches.

These three rules alone mean that the TRC actively undermines the rights of residential school survivors, and effectively silences them. The TRC is in fact one huge legal gag order on the survivors."

CarolLois, before you go judging the Commission, consider this. Did it ever occur to you that the only way for the wounds of the systematic abuse and genocide of Aboriginals in Residential Schools is to do so in a way sensitive to Aboriginal culture. Aboriginals have a history of 'Healing Circles', where everyone approaches as equals, and can speak freely. It's only in setting up the Commission this way that not only will Aboriginals have a chance to mourn publicly, to expose what happened,etc..., but to showcase the 'restorative justice' model that Aboriginal perfected.

If us North Americans and Canadians took the time to respect the unique values, aspirations, and goals of First Nations people and other National Minorities in Canada, Canada wouldn't be as divided as it is today. The biggest flaw of Canadian Federalism is its excessive centralism. I may disagree with PM Harper on alot of things, but on that point I agree.

Now's the time to give Aboriginals the self-government, Aboriginal Charter (see Nunaviasut, a self-governing Innu Territory in Northern Labrador and Quebec, consisting of 1-2 million Innu), etc... If people would stop seeing things from a 'Euro-centric/ neo-Euro-centric' view, injustice in North America would be greatly diminished.'
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

3-4 Weeks ago, I was glad to attend the 2nd Annual "[MUN] Aboriginal Solidarity Breakfast", in conjunction with the National Aboriginal Day of Action.

Here are the highlights:

1. Melissa Penney, MUNSU (MUN Student Union) Director of Campaigns spoke out about her experiences as an Aboriginal. (She was formerly the MUNSU Aboriginal Rep., and became the only woman to be elected in the 2008 MUNSU General Election out of the 5 Director Positions)

2. Yvonne Jones, NL (Newfoundland and Labrador) Leader of her Majesty's Royal Loyal Opposition. Not only did he detail the failure of Previous and Current Provincial and Federal Governments to deal with Aboriginal Issues concerning Land Claims, she explained the plight of the Labrador Innu, even referring to the injustices of Davis Inlet. (Patty Pottle later pointed out not only is Ms.Jones the first woman leader of a provincial political party in NL, but also the first Aboriginal Woman Leader of a provincial political party.)

3. Patty Pottle, Provincial Minister of Aboriginal Affairs, spoke about the accomplishment of the Williams Gov't since 2003 on Aboriginal issues". She revealed that she is the First Innu Woman to be included in a Provincial Cabinet, and explained her business expertise in Hopedale, NL (Labrador), her place of birth

(a) The 2005 Innu Land Claims Agreement, thereby creating Nunaviasut (Innu for "our land") in Northern Labrador and Quebec,a self-governing region of 1-2 million Innu, and a smaller number of other Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal groups)

(b) Investing in Restorative Justice Initiatives

(c) Dealing with Metis Hunting and Fishing Rights,etc...

(I got the impression that Ms.Jones and Ms.Pottle, despite being on opposite sides of the House of Assembly, respect each other not only as fellow NLers, but also as fellow Aboriginal Women)

4. The Aboriginal Solidarity Breakfast, featuring:

(a) Fish cakes (it had peas, fish, rice,all within a bread shell. By far the best fish i've ever eaten!)

and other great meals

5. The Aboriginal Thought-singing, and Dances

(a) The Thought-singing was amazing, with Innu (and some Metis?) men and women (some in Traditional wear, others in urban wear) performed together. Although I couldn't understand the lyrics, they first sang "The Ode to Labrador" in English, and then sang it in Inuktatut (I apologize if I spelt it wrong!). They also performed songs about love, work,etc... During most of the songs, the singers burst into laughter at the end. In fact, they had to sing some songs 2-3 times, due to spontaneous laughter of their own making breaking their focus. They must really love their culture, and it certaintly was breath-taking

(b) the Drum dancers... Some in traditional wear, and others in urban wear, used plastic drums, with caribou hids (or was it musk-ox hides) to drum the beat. Not only did they move in unison,but they moved the drum was as much art as a batton. In fact, they even had drum solos, with one woman averaging 5-6 beats a second at maximum speed.

Overall, I left 2-4 weeks ago at 9:30a.m (it started at 7:45a.m, but the ceremonies didn't start until 8:30a.m... I guess they weren't expecting such a large turnout rate!) with a new appreciation for Innu culture, having left the CEGEP de Trois-Riviere,Quebec (Explore Programe) bursary 3 summers ago with the same feeling. I recently felt the same way after attending a fundraiser for the MUN IIA (MUN International Indian Association), where tickets were 10$ for students, and 15$ for adults.(It was located @ the Hindu Temple on the East End of St.John's... I didn't know St.John's had such a temple with 600 members, until this past sunday!) What did we do? We got to eat a 'West Bengali'-style meal, heard the organizers speak about the expansion to the only School for children with Disabilities in Herora, India (it's about 16km from Calcutta, India, made famous by Mother Theresa's work). Having started as a one-floor, three room school with 25-35 students, it is currently being turned into a two-story building, which can will be able to accept 30-60 new students.

Not only will they learn to read and write, but they'll learn vocations such as carpentry, farming, construction,etc..., allowing them to live a more independent and/or interdependent lifestyle. Having been conditionally accepted into the MUN School of Social Work, this is becoming an amazing summer!