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A pieced offering

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Mennonites offered an expression of reconciliation to their Aboriginal neighbours at the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's sixth National Event, Sept. 18-21, in Vancouver. The commission's mandate is to gather stories and raise awareness about the impacts of the residential school system on Aboriginal Peoples in Canada.   Representatives from the Mennonite community presented a quilt with a log cabin design as a symbol of warmth, friendship, healing, and peace. One Canadian frontier woman summarized the significance of these blankets: "I make them warm to keep my family from freezing; I make them beautiful to keep my heart from breaking."   Residential school survivor Isadore Charters (centre, in red), also gifted a copy of his 28-minute documentary Yummo Comes Home, which chronicles his story of healing and encounter with Jesus (www.outreach.ca).   Presenters included Dave Heinrichs of Eagle Ridge Bible Fellowship, Don Klaassen of Sardis Community Church, and Garry Janzen of Mennonite Church Canada. All expressions of reconciliation received during the seven national TRC events and placed in the ceremonial Bentwood Box will be permanently housed at the National Research Centre at the University of Manitoba.-LK

VANCOUVER

Mennonites offered an expression of reconciliation to their Aboriginal neighbours at the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s sixth National Event, Sept. 18-21, in Vancouver. The commission’s mandate is to gather stories and raise awareness about the impacts of the residential school system on Aboriginal Peoples in Canada.

Representatives from the Mennonite community presented a quilt with a log cabin design as a symbol of warmth, friendship, healing, and peace. One Canadian frontier woman summarized the significance of these blankets: ″I make them warm to keep my family from freezing; I make them beautiful to keep my heart from breaking.″

Residential school survivor Isadore Charters (centre, in red), also gifted a copy of his 28-minute documentary Yummo Comes Home, which chronicles his story of healing and encounter with Jesus.

Carved by Coast Salish artist Luke Marston, the TRC Bentwood Box reflects the strength and resilience of residential school survivors and their descendants, and honours those who are no longer living.

Carved by Coast Salish artist Luke Marston, the TRC Bentwood Box reflects the strength and resilience of residential school survivors and their descendants, and honours those who are no longer living.

Presenters included Dave Heinrichs of Eagle Ridge Bible Fellowship, Don Klaassen of Sardis Community Church, and Garry Janzen of Mennonite Church Canada. All expressions of reconciliation received during the seven national TRC events and placed in the ceremonial Bentwood Box will be permanently housed at the National Research Centre at the University of Manitoba.

 

—Laura Kalmar

See also “My spirit was laid down, but now it stands strong”

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