The Reconciliaction meetings are always a privilege to go to. I keep on using the word privilege, and I may be overusing that word, but I can't think of another.
The Reconciliaction meetings are, as far as I have been able to determine, unique. At least in Canada.
Reconciliaction is a safe space. This is absolutely true. The material that is presented here is very personal, and it's must be difficult for those who present their stories to do so. This is especially important in view of the number of people who talk about safe spaces, these days, but don't provide them. I am thinking particularly one of the stories today told of gossip about a situation, and also remembering a situation this past week where someone stressed the importance of a particular situation being a "safe space," while simultaneously demonstrating that that particular situation was not safe at all, and that sharing of any kind of personal information could be very problematic.
The Reconciliaction people also mention about it being a sacred space. It is a sacred space. It is made sacred by the offerings of those who offer, well, themselves. Their own very deeply personal and vulnerable stories. It is sacred, and is kept sacred by the fact that those who participate realize the sacredness, and the importance of maintaining the safety, of the space.
Reconciliaction has recently implemented the Nuu-chah-nulth cultural concept of "Witness." This is not different than a "settler" concept, but is more extended. As a teacher, I appreciate the strength of the concept. It is also interesting to note that the Biblical concept of "witness" and testimony is much stronger than ours, and is closer to the Nuu-chah-nulth idea. I was hesitant to accept the honour of being a witness. I do not feel particularly able in this regard, and the responsibility of being a witness, the concept of being a witness, is one that I take seriously.
We have heard today of the particular difficulties of specific situations that haven't been very often mentioned. As one participant mentioned, it takes time to build the trust necessary to reveal the deepest, and most sensitive parts of our lives.
In addition, we have heard of the particular difficulties of those who have been abused by their fellow survivors, and those they should have been able to trust. We have also heard of the different types of grief, and this is very important to talk about in our grief-illiterate society.
There was also mention of the importance of our descendants, and the changes that they make in their lives simply by their existence.
I would also like to mention one thing that touched me today, and that was a mention of the word "asylum." This particular mention noted that asylum has many negative connotations. This addresses the fact that our own thoughtlessness, and cruelty, has implications for our entire society, and may create many problems for our entire society. It is important to reflect on how our lack of thought for how our actions, beliefs, and policies may affect others. This is particularly poignant because the word "asylum" originally meant a safe space.
https://fibrecookery.blogspot.com/2024/03/reconciliaction.html
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