Dear Editor:
I believe that most Canadians are good, kind people. We are the most of Canadians who get up everyday, work, look after our families and just try our best to be good people.
Now, the horrors of Canadian’s history are coming to light. We try to understand what has happened, knowing that there is no sense in the madness of Canada’s history, the government, the institutions, laws, and treaties that were put in place. We cannot change, we cannot fix, no matter how much we want to. We are frustrated that history is what it is.
We, or our ancestors, came from other places. Some of us have faced many challenges, poverty, persecution, systemic racism, genocide, loss of land and home, just because we were someone. We were in the wrong place at the wrong time. We cannot understand your suffering through the unfolding of Canada’s history. We can offer compassion.
We live on your land, our homes, farms, towns, cities, our way of life happens here. We did not want it to be this way at a loss to your people. We do not know how it all came to be. Why and how did we not know?
We do not understand why the Indigenous communities are lacking in necessities such as clean drinking water, housing, and health care. Why in the 21st century systemic racism is a problem?
What we do want is to understand and help. We want to learn. We want all of us to find answers, to find sustainability, to find peace. All Canadians need to find a way to move forward, together, with kindness, compassion and understanding.
Yes, I will wear orange, listen to stories, acknowledge with respect the events of the past, pray, ask the government for justice, and support Indigenous businesses and cultural undertakings.
I feel lost. I want to be able to do more. I want you to know that I am here for you.
I believe that most Canadians are deeply saddened and simply horrified by Canada’s history of the mistreatment of the Indigenous people, the challenges that many Indigenous communities are struggling with.
What should we, most Canadians, do in the face of all the adversity?
Trying to be a good Canadian,
Rachel Avery, Fairmont Hot Springs