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Listen while you read: "Amazing Grace"1
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Genesis 4:9-10 – Then the Lord said to Cain, "Where is your brother Abel?" He said, "I do not know; am I my brother's keeper?" And the Lord said, "What have you done? Listen! your brother's blood is crying out to me from the ground!"
On April 22 Birdie Cantin died. He was only 66 and he probably died of lung cancer. He is not a household name. He is Anishanabe — a native from the Kenora, Ontario, area. He went to the Cecilia Jeffrey Residential School of the Presbyterian Church in Canada and there he was hurt. That hurt haunted him the rest of his life. Five decades later he was still hurting and the events of his life are witness to the depth of that hurt and the need for healing. He came to the Sacred Assembly '95 called by Elijah Harper held in Hull, Quebec, looking for healing. To a large section of the Assembly he cried out in his pain and named his hurt… and it bore the name "Presbyterian". "Isn't there a Presbyterian here I can talk to who will listen to me?" In moments he was surrounded by bewildered Presbyterians who were shocked that our little denomination was singled out and named before this large Assembly gathered for healing, for reconciliation, for justice. Our national staff were there, our Moderator was by his side. I took Birdie away from that crowd and we went to have pots of coffee and hours of conversation. Other Presbyterians joined us, coming and going throughout the evening. He celebrated his time at the school, taking out pictures and talking about the time they almost got to go to the World Fair. And he poured out pain and frustration and bewilderment. And all the academic discussions of the Sacred Assembly became concrete in this one human being who was a living reminder of the complicity of our church in the events that many labelled "history" and then relegated to a dead past. It wasn't dead for Birdie, but now Birdie is dead. And because of his words and witness, this particular story which is part of the era of the Residential Schools is not dead for me. His wife, Joyce, found my card, along with the Moderator's, after he died and she wanted someone Presbyterian to know he was dead and maybe even remember him. So, why am I telling you this as you look to this page for guidance and inspiration for this day? Maybe to help us remember. Maybe to remind us that we are all connected to the Birdies of this world. We are the "keepers" of those whose lives are affected by our actions and by the actions of the church. No, let me take that back. We are not our sisters' and brothers' keepers. We are invited to be a sister or brother to others in need. We are to be as Christ to a hurting world. And Birdie reminds us that we have nothing more to share than Christ.
Prayer: Lord, in a world of hurt and hate, let your church stand for healing, for reconciliation, for justice. Help us to walk a mile in another's moccasins this day before we begin our criticism or our judgement. Amen.
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About the author:
Kenn Stright <kennethstright@yahoo.ca>
West Petpeswick, Nova Scotia, Canada
Send your feedback to the author
Thank you for this very powerful reflection and challenge.
Hello Kenn, thank you for sharing this.
God help each of us to remember!
Blessings.
Oh Kenneth, this account stabbed a painful dart into my heart as it brought back memories of another Anishanabe man who had attempted to dull the pain of the past with alcohol and instead became its victim. Thank you for sharing this reminder that all human beings are our own relatives and responsibility. Thank you for sharing this reminder again with us. Blessings.
Amazing Grace – Praise the Lord. I am from Kenora. There were two residential schools, St. Mary’s Catholic Residential School and Presbyterian Residential School. Native children were not a part of the city/provincial school system. My parents adopted my brother from Sioux Lookout when he was two years old. He confronted racism in the schools would have failed to get his high school diploma but family in California cared for him and he graduated from school in Los Angeles.
My mother gave him the family cottage but unfortunately he died of cancer before he could return to his home he loved, the lakes and the bush.
This is our family story – I know many can identify with it and pray for reconciliation and change. Amazing Grace – the hymn of forgiveness can be a reality.