The Trinity Anglican and Lutheran Church and Alberni Valley United Church will be partnering to present four opportunities for the Alberni Valley to move towards reconciliation.
The first of these opportunities will be the KAIROS Blanket Exercise, at the Trinity Anglican and Lutheran Church on Saturday, June 17.
KAIROS is a faith-based social justice organization of 11 Canadian churches and religious organizations that focuses on Indigenous rights, international human rights and ecological justice. The Canadian government funded church-run residential schools for 130 years. “Former students, their families, and communities continue to suffer inter-generational trauma from the numerous abuses that Indigenous children experienced during this national project of assimilation,” said a spokesperson. “The KAIROS Blanket Exercise covers the historical milestones and impacts of colonization in Canada, including the Indian Residential Schools.”
The Blanket Exercise uses blankets to represent the lands of what is now called Canada, and the distinct cultures and nations which live on those lands to this day. Participants represent the First Peoples. When they move onto the blankets, they are taken back in time to before the arrival of the Europeans. The exercise narrators and Europeans work with the participants to read a script while the exercise goes through the history of treaty-making, colonization, resilience and resistance that resulted in the country we today call Canada.
“I’ve been told that many participants walk away wondering why they didn’t know this history and desiring to learn more,” said Reverend Minnie Hornidge. “I think it’s important that people are learning about the history involving Canada and Indigenous Peoples, as well as gaining a better understanding of what the relationship is like today. As we celebrate Canada’s 150 year anniversary it is important to hear and understand the whole truth so that we are able to walk forward together in a good way.”
The Blanket Exercise has openings for 50 participants. Pre-registration is available by emailing church@trinityportalberni.ca or at facebook.com/albernivalleyuc.