10/03/2026
Pastor Mark's Blog..
Sometimes, when I am preparing a blog, I check out the place on my calendar where special days are noted. Common holidays such as Christmas and Easter are there. And so are the quirky cultural holidays like “Ground Hog Day.”
There are also some pretty uncommon ones like, Peace Day, or Patriot Day, or United Nations Day. One of those uncommon or at least unfamiliar days popped up today. “Truth and Reconciliation Day in Canada.” Given the present administration’s hostility toward Canada, that date may not remain on U.S. calendars long.
Truth and Reconciliation Day in Canada, “Honours the children who never returned home, residential school survivors, their families, and communities, while recognizing the lasting impacts of Canada's residential school system.” Canada’s residential school system was a government-funded, church-run network of boarding schools designed to forcibly assimilate indigenous children. In effect, erasing their cultures.
The system was in place from the 1830s until approximately 1997. Attendance for First Nations children between ages 7-15 was mandatory. Approximately 150,000 children were placed in 130 schools.
The stated goal was to “kill the indian in the child.” Their hair was cut. Their clothing was replaced as was their language, name, and culture.
If that were not bad enough, many children were abused physically and sexually. Others were neglected. Poor health care, nutrition, and living conditions meant over 6,000 children died in these schools. Their remains were often placed in unmarked graves.
In 2008 the Truth and Reconciliation Commission was established to investigate these schools and the trauma they inflicted on generations of Canadian First Nations children and their families. The commission concluded that the schools participated in cultural genocide and recomended 94 calls to action. There remains a 24 hour crisis line for survivors and families.
Canada is not perfect. But neither is the US perfect. We also committed cultural genocide against our indigenous people.
Linda and I visited one of those former “Indian Schools” in Arizona. Across the door was the school motto, “Kill the Indian and Save the Man.” The over 500 schools almost succeeded.
The US version of Canada's initiative, “Truth and Healing Commission on Indian Boarding School Policies Act” (S.761) has been approved by the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs and awaits further action in the 119th Congress. Why the wait?
As a nation, we do not seem to be willing to face any part of our history that is ugly or wrong. We prefer to rewrite history and rename maps to protect our fragile egos rather than speak the truth. Maybe if we just change the name of Act (S.761) congress will approve it!
Mark Ross
