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How Then Shall we Live? Reflections on Canada’s first National Day for Truth and Reconciliation
by Jessica Banninga Jessica is communications and social media specialist with CBM
As a 24-year-old woman, my first sustained learning experience of Indigenous history and justice issues was at university. In one of my classes, the Truth and Reconciliation’s 94 Calls to Action were handed out in small booklets. Indigenous issues continued to be a theme through my learning and I am very grateful to the professors who intentionally integrated these topics into my degree. It’s through those learning opportunities, I have become aware of my responsibilities to walk in a good way with the First Peoples of Turtle Island (North America). September 30 was a historic day. For the first time in Canadian history, people across the country paused to recognize the first National Day of Truth and Reconciliation. Many people also wore orange shirts as awareness around Orange Shirt Day and Phyllis (Jack) Webstad’s story continues to grow since its establishment in 2013. Canadian Baptist Ministries (CBM) invited Canadian Baptists across the country to take part in a Service of Remembrance and Reflection. Speakers included Cheryl Bear, former CBM Indigenous Relations Specialist; Danny Zacharias, associate professor for New Testament Studies at Acadia Divinity College and a faculty member at the North American Institute for Indigenous Theological Studies (NAAITS) and pastor Gordon Petawabano with his wife Mary Jane Petawabano—both of whom are Indian Residential School survivors. BigStock.com
16 live • November - December 2021
