Comments on: Healing begins when the wounding stops: Indian Residential Schools and the prospects for “truth and reconciliation” in Canada

By: jgsman

jgsman — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 09:53:31 +0000

“The Indian Residential Schools Truth and Reconciliation Commission is a hoax designed by the legal establishment to evade culpability…” so says lawyer Bruce Clark:

http://www.dissidentvoice.org/2008/11/a-critique-of-the-residential-schools-truth-and-reconciliation-commission/

for more info:

http://www.nativestudies.org/native_pdf/circlegame.pdf
http://carnegie.vcn.bc.ca/index.pl/november_1_2004#1714

By: EZarukd

EZarukd — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 05:16:33 +0000

I reflect on Ward Churchill’s words: “Healing can’t begin until the wounding stops, so it’s utterly absurd to expect that either healing or reconciliation can occur while the process of maintaining an illegitimate status quo remains in place. More than an apology is necessary here. Whatever you’ve done wrong, you’ve got to make right. And the place to begin that process is to stop doing what you’ve been doing wrong.”

My point is that public opinion is generated by the concern of individuals. Most are not concerned with this issue because thay are not emotionally involved with it. I believe that many people in both communities need to build a positive image of the other.
Storytellers have created legends that bind us to our past. If we are to progress beyond rehashing the same old documentry data about past wrongs, we need to look to modern storytellers to bridge the gap between both communities.
For my part I have tried with a novel that blends the romance of the Canadian bushpilot with his Native friends and follows the Redsky family through the collapsing Native culture caused by the government’s residential school policy
Altar and Throne is a work of fiction, but the heartache is true.

By: Howard A.

Howard A. — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 04:07:38 +0000

I think that the entire questioning of Ward Churchills “Inian-ness” or of his identity as Native or Aboriginal person, has more to do with discrediting his research. It seems that they can’t attack his research, (because it is substantiated by evidence!), so they attack him personally.

Fuck colonial race-based classification systems which aim to divide and conquer. And Fuck the apology!! How can you apologize for something if you don’t even properly name what it is you’re apologizing for?

Waabzheshi ndoodem, Chaawin ndizhinikaaz, Nizaatikoong ndoonjiba. Chi-miigwetch.

By: stan squires

stan squires — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 17:41:35 +0000

I am from vancouver and i wanted to comment on the truth and reconciliation commission.It dont really mean to much to the native people.The canadian gov.still treats the native people like second class citizens.The gov. will only stop doing that when they are forced to do it by the working class.
The working class needs to have political power in their own hands.Then things will change in favour of the majority of the people.The struggle needs to continue until capitalism is overtrown and then things will be done for the good of the people.The Bolivian gov. is a good example of the kind of gov. we needs here in Canada.

Stan Squires

By: David

David — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 01:19:02 +0000

Well, I do not quite understand this whole pingback and trackback thing yet. So I suppose I shall just say that I have linked to this blog on my posting. And that I have found a documentary called unrepentant.

By: What does the Mohawk cultural resurgence at Tyendinaga have to teach us about Aboriginal youth suicide prevention? « Save Feral Human Habitat

Thu, 19 Jun 2008 07:01:53 +0000

[...] (some other truly excellent articles from this issue of Briarpatch: Healing begins when the wounding stops: Indian Residential Schools and the prospects for “truth a… [...]

By: dave

dave — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 17:18:22 +0000

This seems an appropriate time to point readers to The Try-Works’ thorough debunking of the smear campaign against Ward Churchill, particularly the scurrilous charges that he’s “not actually an Indian,” that he’s a plagiarist, etc.:

http://tryworks.org/blog/the-churchill-smear/

I would particularly recommend Benjamin’s reflections on the Churchill essay that provoked the whole shitstorm, “Some People Push Back”:

http://tryworks.org/blog/the-churchill-smear/unsustainable-conditions/

Finally, as moderator of this-here site, I should add that comments from readers who wish to discuss or debate the substance of Churchill’s remarks are most welcome. Ad hominem attacks and unfounded allegations are not.

By: Craig

Craig — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 15:02:35 +0000

It’s good to see a descendant of settlers from Europe show such strong support in Indigenous causes. Thank you Ward Churchill for looking past your Euro-cultural blinders to address your peoples past crimes against our peoples. Thanks.