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Lifetime in Alberta led to little education about Indigenous Peoples
Having been born and raised in this arguably best of all provinces, I am astounded (embarrassed) to now find out how woefully little is known about the sad history of our Indigenous peoples. My exposure was a handful of high school football games against Indigenous teams that were very much outweighed, although they were spirited and compensated by being scrappy.
Unfortunately, I am far from being alone. As a retiree, there are physical limitations as to what I can do. However, psychologically and financially as a generational whole we can most certainly lend support to all Indigenous groups and their endeavours. It will no doubt be an uphill battle. At this point, I have grave suspicions about the sincerity of governments and even more about the Roman Catholic Church.
Healing starts with an apology
I am a psychologist. After almost three decades of doing therapy, witnessing pain, and doing my very best to foster emotional healing, I know this: True healing progresses best when the perpetrator is accountable for abuse and suffering, and the one who has been hurt believes the perpetrator understands the impact of that abuse. Anything approximating healing in the absence of that accountability becomes much more complex. In other words, I can’t heal as thoroughly unless you show me you understand how much you’ve hurt me, and take responsibility for what you’ve done.
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The Pope is just one man, but he is the best available representative of all of the perpetrators. He is the embodiment of the Catholic Church. His seemingly steadfast refusal to be accountable and offer an apology is standing in the way of true healing.
While the Catholic Church didn’t run all of the residential schools, it did run the majority. It remains the only institution to deny residential
school survivors and their families what is owed to them at the most basic level of human decency: an apology.
To all the lost little ones: You deserved none of what happened during your short lives. I want to know your names.
Dana McDougall, Calgary
Mandatory vaccination for students will ensure better learning for all
Alberta Education must mandate that all eligible students returning to school in September be required to have a COVID vaccination. Our students are digressing in their education due to classroom quarantines and mandatory online schooling.
This is a democracy. You do have a choice and that choice is provided by enrolling in online schooling if you choose not to vaccinate. Denying a classroom of students from in-person learning due to the choice of few is no longer acceptable.
Carolann Wambeke, Okotoks
Conservative voter considering options
In every Alberta election I have voted in, I have always voted conservative. But between the Christmas vacation fiasco, flaunting Covid rules, and the blatant entitlement of the dinner by Kenney’s inner circle recently at the Sky Palace: how can I vote conservative again?
Art Vesterdal, Calgary
Share your views:
Keep it to 150 words, maximum; include your full name, address and phone number; and understand you may be edited. We only accept letters from the same writer once a month. Letters@calgaryherald.com
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