One thousand and counting … lest we forget
July 2021
This past month Canadians, and particularly Indigenous Canadians, were horrified with the discovery of, first 215 unmarked graves of children by the Indian Residential School at Kamloops, and then 751 unmarked graves by the Indian Residential School at Cowessess First Nation in Saskatchewan. Since that time reports from other former Residential School sites have surfaced and are being investigated. This revelation has resulted in many expressions of pain and sorrow, of frustration and anger, of anxiety and shame. Social media has been flooded with statements, photos and artwork expressing all of these emotions. One thing that much of this communication has in common is the earnest desire that we, all of Canada, remember what has taken place and, as a result, construct and live a new and different corporate life into the future.
As members of Christian churches in Canada, we are deeply challenged by the truth that several of our church bodies directly participated in the Residential Schools and their devastating impact. At the same time, we, along with many Indigenous Christians, search our Scripture and tradition for some experience that helps us open up our wounds and share our grief together – in the hope of moving to healing and wholeness. Thanks to Archbishop Mark MacDonald (National Indigenous Anglican Archbishop) who led ceremonies of lament and prayer spread over 4 days in late June, such an experience emerged – what we call the observance of “The Holy Innocents.” As recorded in the Gospel of Matthew, the Roman-appointed King Herod learned of the birth of a child in Bethlehem who was to be the Christ – the true King of the Jews. Seeing this as a serious threat to his reign, he sent troops to kill all of the infants of the appropriate age in and around Bethlehem. As described in “For All The Saints” (Stephen Reynolds, compiler, Anglican Book Centre, 1994), “The murdered infants never had an opportunity to know Jesus or to confess him in their own right. But they all died for the sake of Christ, and Herod’s atrocity sealed the name of Christ on each of them. The Holy Innocents are therefore considered the prototype of all Christian martyrs.” The children who attended the Residential Schools were baptized Christians. And while the fact that for many, they suffered their demise at the hands of Church leaders makes it even more heinous, like the Holy Innocents, they endured devastating and inhumane treatment through no fault of their own. The passage from “For All The Saints” concludes by emphasizing the importance of remembering – remembering these first Christian martyrs and thereby remembering and being conscious of all those “who never chose the causes for which they have been made to die.”
For me, and I suspect for many Church members, the greatest stumbling block is the sense of shame and guilt that emerge as a result of this genocide in our past. It causes us to focus on ourselves – trying to remove ourselves as much as possible from this revelation and to quench the “smouldering fires” of grief and pain. But this strategy helps no one – not even ourselves! Chief Delorme of the Cowessess First Nation has spoken prophetic words we all need to absorb:
“We all inherited this. Nobody today created Residential Schools, nobody today created the Indian Act, nobody today created the ‘60s Scoop. But we all inherited it and we just have to acknowledge that people are healing (and) people are hurting. Let’s do something about it.”
These are the empowering words we all need to hear! As non-Indigenous persons, we need to stand by and support (in whatever way is appropriate) those who are suffering (again) the pain and loss of family members, of familial relationships, of the very identity of their God-given humanity. We need to listen to the stories of Indigenous Canadians, and become aware of and act upon the current bonds that prevent Indigenous people from expressing and enjoying the fullness of life we all desire.
But most importantly, we need to remember – to never forget this part of our story! While the phrase pre-dates WWI, the words “Lest we forget” became emblazoned on the hearts of many people around the world after the horrors of that conflict ended. They are the most common, and often the only words, inscribed on war memorials across our land. We need to embrace this memory with the same passion and solemnity. And we need to ensure that we choose to live in respectful and appreciative partnership in such a way that it can never happen again.
Almighty God, our heavenly Father, whose children suffered at the hands of Herod,
Receive, we pray, all innocent victims into the arms of your mercy.
By your great might frustrate all evil designs and establish your reign of justice, love, and peace;
Through Jesus Christ our Lord, who is alive and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
One God, now and for ever. Amen.
[Collect for The Holy Innocents, Book of Alternative Service, p. 398]
