TRC is ready to go -

The Truth & Reconciliation Commission (TRC) is ready to go June 1, with Justice Harry LaForme as Head Commissioner, supported by Commissioners Jane Brewin Morley and Claudette Dumont-Smith. I don't know either woman, but if they are not high profile people, that may work to the Commission's advantage. They have impressive backgrounds in law and nursing.

What do we hope to accomplish by holding hearings presided over by these commissioners? http://www.irsr-rqpi.gc.ca/FAQ-eng.asp#TRC-3
56.Q.
What does the TRC hope to achieve?
56.A.
The TRC will contribute to truth, healing and reconciliation. It will be forward looking and results orientated in terms of rebuilding and renewing Aboriginal relationships and the relationship between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal Canadians.

Once it is established, the Commission will research and examine the conditions that gave rise to the Indian Residential School legacy. It will be an opportunity for people to tell their stories about a significant part of Canadian history that is still unknown to most Canadians.

We are hopeful that when the average Canadian hears the stories of former students that there will be a different understanding between Aboriginals and non-Aboriginals. This in turn will bring about a broader understanding that will create a different relationship.

57.Q.
What will the TRC do?
57.A.
Over the course of its five year mandate, the TRC will prepare a comprehensive historical record on the policies and operations of the schools, as well as what happened to the First Nations, Métis and Inuit children who attended them, and also what former employees recall from their experiences.

The TRC will complete a report that will include recommendations to the Government of Canada concerning the Indian Residential School system and its legacy. It will be accessible to the Canadian public.

A research centre will be established by the end of the TRC mandate that will be a permanent resource for all Canadians.

The Commission will host seven national events in different regions across Canada to promote awareness and public education about the Indian Residential School system and its impacts.
The TRC will support community events designed by individual communities to meet their unique needs.

The TRC will support a Commemoration Initiative that will provide funding for activities that honour and pay tribute in a permanent and lasting manner to former Indian Residential School students.

Those are national expectations. I am working locally with a small group of people, including Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal, churched and non-churched, men and women, who will attempt to raise awareness among the people in our community (Peterborough ON) of the work of the TRC. We will begin that effort by holding a gathering to which we will invite two or three persons who we hope will be willing to join us in this endeavour. In particular, we will be reaching out to the Anglican, Presbyterian, United Church and Roman Catholic church people in this area. If you would be interested in being one of those people, please contact me.

What we do further may be influenced by what we see happening as the TRC undertakes its work across the country, or by the way in which we relate to one another as time goes on.

The work of the TRC is expected to last for five years, with an interim report to be produced after two years. I believe we shall find this work challenging, and painful, as we re-write Canada's history to reflect our true story - a story of much arrogance and oppression, which resulted in our inability to listen to Canada's Original Peoples with respect and dignity. Nevertheless, there is no other way to be able to bridge the divide which continues to widen between us as we continue to refuse to listen effectively.

May the result be the beginning of a new relationship between the First Peoples and the rest of us - the settler/immigrants who came here from elsewhere - based on equality, dignity and respect.