There is Always Room for Improvement

 March 27, 2014 was the beginning of the seventh and last of the TRC (Truth & Reconciliation Commission of Canada) meetings. According to the Merriam Webster's Collegiate Dictionary reconcile means "to restore to friendship or harmony". Now the real work begins. Justice Murray Sinclair said, "Reconciliation is about forging and maintaining respectful relationships. There are no shortcuts." Respectful relationships - what a wonderful concept. And I might add, never judge a people by the behaviour of a few.

 Growing up in the Maritimes we knew there were people in the community who were different. It was very simple, some spoke French, and the other group were Protestants!  That was about it. Even though the Catholics and Protestants had their own schools, in every day life we got along pretty well, except for the few stone throwing skirmishes between the school grounds! We were also vaguely aware of strange sounding names such as Passamaquoddy Bay, Quispamsis, Chebooktoosh  and Miramichi, but they were just difficult names for us to spell. I knew nothing about the place in our history of First Nations Canadians. Of course, as Maritime kids we were familiar with the Mi'kmaw Legend of Glooscap who  had power to shape the environment around us. Over the last few years, and with the spread of modern technologies, most Canadians probably know a little more about our First Nations Canadians. 

Few people have the time or desire to read history, especially the history of our own First Nations people. But many of us find time to read a good novel. Keep in mind also that histories are usually written by the so called victors! Hence, when THE ORENDA by Joseph Boyden recently won the Canada Reads Award, I thought it sounded like a story that would interest me and, at the same time, give me some insight into the early history of our country. My own caveats were: remember the story is a novel (poetic license!). Secondly, don't expect it to be a  detailed and exact description of the human struggle between the nations themselves and with the newly arrived French missionaries. And lastly, be mindful that some of the author's resource material came from The Jesuit Relations: Natives and Missionaries in Seventeenth-Century North America  by A. Greer.

Having said that I must say it's a damn good read!  During the 17th century the various nations had  well developed cultures, economies, spirituality and relationships. The French missionaries, and all that encompasses, burst into the First Nations land and were totally unprepared for the experience. Thus the book brings together two conflicting belief systems, cultural genocide, trading wars, love, revenge and violence.  Sounds quite current actually!

We enter this world through the eyes of the three main characters: Christophe, a Francophone Jesuit missionary; (Jean de Brebeuf perhaps?) Bird, a warrior mourning and avenging the death of his wife and two daughters by the Iroquois; and Snow Falls, an Iroquois teen  kidnapped by Bird.

I enjoyed reading about the everyday life in the communities, something I knew nothing about. This book sent me to my computer many times to learn more! I did not know, for example, that there are 126 different nations in Ontario alone. I must admit I found the violence, cruelty, torture (caressing!) savagery and description of the deadly diseases, introduced into the communities by the missionaries depressing. In the end Christophe writes, "We're all party to our own wants as well as to our own shortcomings." I do think Boyden withheld his judgement when it would have been so easy for him  to take sides. When I finished the book, I realized how deeply moved I was by the suffering, both physical and mental, endured because of man's inability to understand and acknowledge the views and cultures of others.

It seems we humans have changed very little since the 17th century! Currently there are thirty wars destroying lives and pulling nations to pieces on our little planet. Our major complaint this year in Ontario was the cold and seemingly endless winter!  At least we are not confined to longhouses and limited food supplies. Besides, we have our devices to keep us warm and entertained! I do believe that THE ORENDA by Joseph Boyden can contribute, in its own way, to a better understanding of who we are as a nation and  encourage all readers to take reconciliation to heart.

And that's Dick's View of the World this Week