September 30 is Truth and Reconciliation Day. Putting aside all the political posturing that accompanies the issue, we should all pause to ask ourselves how we are doing in renewing a warm and mutually respectful relationship between those who occupied this land first and those who came later.
Looking back on the history of Manitoba, there were many instances of partnership in the early days. More than 400 years ago, in 1612, Thomas Button, looking for Henry Hudson, who had been stranded by his crew, reached the shores of what would become Manitoba and overwintered at the mouth of the Nelson River, naming the location Port Nelson. This became the entry point that would eventually make this area, and later the nearby mouth of the Hayes River at York Factory (1684), the centre of the fur trade for the next 250 years.
This trade was driven by the enterprising Cree who brought furs from inland to trade for metal goods, firearms, cloth, and so on, which they in turn used to obtain horses, corn and other goods from nations further south.
For many years, this was a one-sided partnership with the early indigenous folks giving much more than they got.
They supplied the Fort with meat and berries and traditional medicines. They taught the newcomers how to survive the winters and how to navigate the rivers and streams to get further south. Eventually, as is inevitable, intermingling between men and women began, and soon there was kinship to cement the relationship.
I point this out to remind us all, especially those who have come from folks who have been in Canada for a century or more, that we owe a great deal to the original inhabitants of this land.
It started going wrong when more and more people arrived, changing the lifestyles here and expecting the population to adapt to their ways. Gradually, that sense of comradeship was replaced by separation, especially as the reserve system was established.
That is sad because the earliest reserves date back to the late 18th century and were intended initially to protect allied Indigenous lands or compensate for their losses incurred as they fought beside the Europeans in early local wars.
There is so little understanding among Canadians about the true story of our long history together.
People forget or perhaps never knew that thousands of First Nations men signed up to fight in the world wars, and hundreds were killed in fighting for our country.
They forget or never knew that without Chief Peguis to look after them, the Selkirk Settlers would have perished. That first terrible year, he made sure the settlers had food, shelter and clothing appropriate to the harsh winters here. He continued to protect them from the Northwest Company traders who were not happy to see the Red River Valley occupied by farmers.
There are so many stories, and we of a certain age from small towns in Manitoba remember a relationship that most will never experience.
In the spirit of reconciliation, I think that the true stories of our early co-operation and friendship should be taught in schools. Yes, of course, we should include the abuses of the system and how well-intended programs at times became nightmares for the ones they were supposed to support, but that is not the whole story, and we will never be able to reconcile without learning it all.
This September 30, why not spend an hour at your computer learning more so that we can help the healing begin? It is time.
To find out more about Truth and Reconciliation Day click here.