a report by Harold P. Koehler
Sacred Assembly '95 was conceived by M.P. Elijah Harper with
support from the Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern
Development in early September. It was held at the Palais des
Congress in Hull, QC Canada Dec 6-9. The attendance was not
specifically reported but I estimated it at 1500 to 2000.
There were many craft vendors and promoters of Native business
and various religious organizations.
On Day 4 of the assembly Elijah Harper read and distributed a
"Reconciliation Proclamation." [Posted as a separate message in
Web conference indig.canada]
This author believes that the proclamation lacks important
concepts such as the interpretation of existing Treaties in
contemporary terms and full implementation of all Treaties in a
timely and equitable manner, and an effective, fair, and timely
mechanism of resolving Treaty disputes.
Completely absent from the Reconciliation Proclamation is the
important concept of putting an end to policies of assimilation
and attempted extinguishment of aboriginal rights.
Assimilation is perhaps the most important psychological factor
which wreaked its havoc in the residential schools and in the
government policies administered by the Indian Agents and other
administrators under the Indian Act.
Extinguishment of aboriginal rights is a feature of present
offerings by the federal government in their so-called self-
government proposals which is most unacceptable to First Nations.
Extinguishment results in complete loss of control by First
Nations. This means that the land is finally and completely
removed from the commonweal of sharing that is one of the major
tenets of aboriginal culture and world view.
When the Reconciliation Proclamation was presented (on Day 4) to
the Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development he
suggested that the government would be able to accept it.
(Perhaps that was because some of the difficult concepts above
were not included.)
The opening preamble smacks of paternalism and authoritarianism.
"We, the delegates... are now able to assert the following:"
First there was no indication and authority that the participants
in the SA were delegates in any formal or even informal way.
Second there was no attempt to solicit or acknowledge the views
of the participants.
The young people seemed to understand this subterfuge, and voiced
their concerns that while they were asked to participate and
voice their concerns, but any concerns that they did express were
not heard or implemented. Adults in very small numbers, reported
at about 30, came to listen to the hurt and needs expressed by
the young people. It was rationalized that there were other
events scheduled at the same time. That the adults chose to give
higher priority to the other events proved to the young people
that they are the forgotten generation.
It is not clear exactly how many youth participants were at the
SA, but there were substantial numbers. There were 54
participants in the 'talking circle' that was a part of the youth
forum on Day 3. (A report on that forum could be the topic for
another report.)
This author has wondered for years just what a consensus is, how
it is achieved, and what devastating effect it has on the
minority.
The SA demonstrated an answer. Consensus is achieved by the
chair producing a proclamation, reading it to the assembly, but
NOT asking if there is dissent. Consensus has been reached!
Because there is no opportunity to say no. [And Elijah Harper
should understand the power of saying no.]
SACRED ASSEMBLY or CHRISTIAN ASSEMBLY?
This author was surprised that there was a preponderance of
professions of Christian faith by the Native peoples. That many
of the non-Natives offered testimonials to the peace, power, and
righteousness of the Gospel was not unexpected.
The horror stories of the persecution, practices and excesses of
the residential schools were expounded and related at great
length with all of the horrible consequences. The destruction of
self esteem, language, culture and economies by the schools, the
military, the police, the traders, the legislators and the clergy
was insidious, devastating and widespread over space and time.
The branding of Native spiritual practices as paganism, savagery
and devil worship with the practitioners consigned to purgatory
and hell in the afterlife and economic ruin here and now
resulted in many conversions of convenience. This same mindset
fomented, permitted and excused racism. The Native concept of
spirits in all of Nature was converted to a worship of the spirit
in the bottle with resultant depravity, ruin and physical and
sexual abuse and the denigration of women. One wonders at the
importance of the coercive nature of economics, liquor, and the
everpresent military and clergy at the signing of treaties of
much more benefit to the visitor than to the hosts.
It is true that there were Native elders and teachers at the SA
that explained and expounded the virtues of the ancient society,
its values, culture, organization and justice. Their voices were
often relegated to the evening social functions instead of the
mainstream sessions, which may indicate their assumed secondary
importance.
Were their voices as unheard and ignored as those of the young
people? Was there an attempt to discount their wisdom in the
face of the revealed and hierarchial gospel. No mechanism for
meaningful input for minority or dissenting views was apparent to
this author. Is that because none existed or because it was held
in camera to maintain the myth of unanimity and consensus.
South African members of parliament came to bring greetings.
Gregory Rockman, a member of the African National Congress (ANC)
gave a 40 minute speech on the struggle for aboriginal justice.
Gerhard Koornhof, a member of the Dutch Reform Church and the
National Party spoke of the unexpected unity with his black
brother and long time political opponent. [The National Party's
concept of brotherhood was eclipsed for many years by Apartheid!]
Their presentation was concluded by a demonstration of unity by a
hug which they said was made possible by their brotherhood in the
Lord Jesus Christ. [I noted that Rockman managed to free one arm
during the hug to hold it up with clenched fist in the ANC
salute.]
Menno Wiebe of the Mennonite Central Committee and a long time
supporter of the Aboriginal Rights Coalition (ARC) and a tireless
worker for Native justice congratulates Elijah Harper on the SA.
He commented that it took the vision of a Native to bring the
churches together for healing. "Faith is for embracing not for
imposing."
One minority speaker, James Sinclair of the Congress of
Aboriginal Peoples (CAP) which represents non-reserve Natives
made the following telling comment,
"When the missionaries came to Turtle Island they had the
Bible and the natives had the land. After 150 years the
Natives had the Bible and the missionaries had the land."
-------------------//--------------------//------------
On Dec 22, 1995 the above report and seven others were posted to the
NirvCentre Web (Associaion for Progressive Communication - APC) conference
indig.canada
They were later posted to
http://www.freenet.mb.ca/whats-new/iphome/s/sacassem/index.html
CIRCLE NOTES - a daily summary, for each of the four days, of the Sacred
Assembly proceedings was prepared by
Infolink Consultants, Box 4892 Station E, Ottawa ON Canada K1S 5J1
(613)594-5960 infolink@web.apc.org
------------------//---------------------//------------
HAROLD P. KOEHLER, 43 NAPOLEON DRIVE, LONDON ON CANADA N5V 4A8
(519)453 5452, Fax 453-3676, E-mail hkoehler@execulink.com