Resiliency and Hope

Photo by Sister Loretta Hagan, csj

August 13, 2023 was a typical Sunday morning. My plans for the day were to attend Mass at Assumption Parish in Hay River, NWT and then possibly travel down the highway to catch the last part of the music jamboree in the hamlet of Enterprise. That afternoon our lives would be changed, and our plans up-ended.

These are the words that began a blog I wrote on October 2, 2023, titled A Journey Through Wildfire Evacuation. I told my experience of the evacuation in Hay River, NWT (North West Territories) which lasted 5 weeks. The words that ended my blog are as follows,

We know that next spring there will be new growth, bright green amid the charred trees still standing and beautiful purple fireweed will bloom.

Well, spring has come, and summer 2024 has arrived, and the fireweed has grown and blossomed.

The journey did not end with the blog in October of last year. Little did I realize the deep, lasting effects of that Sunday afternoon in 2023. A strong wind, a certain colour in the sky, the smell of smoke, or smoke blowing in from distant fires, would cause anxiety. Tears would flow at the most unexpected times or circumstances. It did not matter in which direction I drove that I was not met with vast expanses of burnt trees. Tears would run down my cheeks as I drove.

Photo by Doug Swallow

And then, guilt set in. Why was I feeling this way when I had not lost my home as many had in Enterprise and in Patterson Road?  I did not experience the flames and falling trees as folks did who left, not much later, the one road out, compromised with debris. I was blessed to have been given a ride out, with my cat and a beautiful home to stay in, while others had only a hotel room with children and pets, in some instances.

Picture of the fireweed by Doug Swallow

On three separate occasions, three people who know me well suggested that perhaps I should see a counselor. In December I took their advice. It was the best decision I could have made. With guidance, I saw that I did lose something in the loss of the trees, in the displacement or perhaps death of some animals and their habitat. I was not able to help, as I would normally do in a crisis. My feelings were validated, and I was given strategies which would help me in times of anxiety or sadness.

Last week Sister Loretta and I drove along the back road to see the fireweed. Yes, that is what people were saying, “The fireweed has come”, as if it were a soothing salve. It gives me hope.

On Saturday we went down the highway to Enterprise. Approximately 90 % of homes and structures were destroyed in the fire, and yet the annual music jamboree was held. There was great joy in coming together as a community and yes, tears were shed as we remembered.

Today marks one year since the evacuation alert sounded. Today we see the gift of the fireweed…and resiliency and hope.

Sister Maggie Beaudette, CSJ

Photos: Doug Swallow, Sister Loretta Hagen

Day Tripping: An Enjoyable Way to Vacation

Here we are, half-way through summer 2024.  There are still sunny vacation days left to think about and where we might travel for a little excitement and change of pace. For me, this summer’s excursions were fun and not far from home.   

Being a lover of Shakespeare, dear friends treated me to the Stratford Festival where we saw the delightful, “Twelfth Night”.  Although it was staged in modern dress, we were whisked away to another era of fantasy and revelry.  It was a perfect day in late May to leave the city and spend time with loved ones in the theatre and parks of beautiful Stratford, Ontario. 

Sister Jean on the farm

A month later, I enjoyed an annual family gathering called “Moylan Mayhem” on my nephew’s 172-year-old farm near Seaforth.  My great grandfather officially leased the land in 1852 from the Canada Company.  Now, my nephew, his wife and their four beautiful daughters represent six generations having lived on the homestead. There is no better place to gather for a weekend with our tents and trailers to reminisce about days of yore, present times, and future plans. 

Next on my leisure list, was a glorious time at a cottage near Camlachie, only an hour’s drive from London. (Pictured below, Sister Florian, and a stunning Lake Huron sunset) Amid the rest and leisure, there was a visit to the well-known Victoria Playhouse in Petrolia.  It was uplifting, and delightful to attend the original cast and crew presentation of, “Sweet Soul Music”. Some were inspired to sway and dance in the aisles to the time-honored sounds of Motown music of the ‘60’s. After the performance, I was thrilled to meet one of the fine co-producers who was a student at Assumption High School in Windsor when I taught there in the 80’s. 

Finally, back at home, I realized that every venue I visited was no more than an hour’s drive from home.  Unaware of it, I was day tripping!  What a wonderful, economical way to experience the sights and sounds of summer.  I can rise early, pack a delicious lunch, hop into my car and enjoy day tripping. 

You too, might get the day tripping bug. Think of all the interesting places near home that you might want to visit or revisit at leisure.  There’s no need to hurry.  You can return home and sleep in your own bed or stay overnight or for a week, knowing that home is only an hour away.  I’m planning my next day trip to Huron County Playhouse in Grand Bend.  Maybe I’ll see you there! 

-Sister Jean Moylan, CSJ

World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly

July 24 celebrates the role of grandparents and elderly persons in our world. I solicited the help of three grandmothers and one grandfather to learn more about their experiences as grandparents. What joys did they identify?  How did they, their children, and grandchildren benefit from these relationships? What burdens were involved in being a grandparent?  Did these grandparents have any recommendations or advice to offer first-time grandparents?  

Grandparents take great joy in their relationships with their grandchildren.  A few examples of their comments are:  

• “What a joy when a grandchild [infant] smiles and squeals with delight when they see you.”  

• “I love their phone call or texts to ask how I am or to seek advice.” 

• “It is wonderful to experience your children being parents; you see a new dimension in their personality.” 

• “Playdays and sleep-overs.  We made blanket forts, did dress-ups, had tea parties, and created and performed skits.  We taught them how to cook simple foods.” 

• “My heart is full when they run up to give a hug or hold my hand.” 

My consultants reported many benefits of their roles - for themselves, their children, and their grandchildren. Some of these were: 

• “Being able to pass on family traditions, history and wisdom to grandchildren,” 

• “An opportunity for an enriched life and for being needed as one retires and grows older.” 

• “Being around grandchildren who are thriving offers hope for the future, a lens to observe what is important to a younger generation, an opportunity to see human beings develop from helpless, dependent infants into competent, capable, and well-adjusted young adults.” 

• “Parents receive support of many kinds, such as trusted childcare, babysitting, sick child relief, financial help, and advice when difficulties arise. “ 

The wise grandparents who responded to my request also identified some burdens. For example:  

• One couple noted that when their children have ongoing health issues there exists instability and challenges for the grandchildren.  

• One grandmother stated: “I always worry when grandchildren demonstrate behaviours that are not very healthy”. 

• Another grandmother noted that at times the parents' demands seem excessive, e.g., full-time childcare, financial help, or other matters at a time when one grows older and has less energy.  

• Differing ideas and beliefs about children’s needs, rules, gifts, and routines within the imperative of respecting parents’ wishes can be a source of distress.  

• It is difficult to create bonds with grandchildren who live in other cities. 

And yet, despite difficulties and burdens, one grandmother commented: “The gift of grandchildren surpasses any negative experiences.  I always feel blessed to have them.” 

Some additional comments & advice from the Grandparents:

• Respect the parents’ wishes 

• Love your grandchildren 

• Model honest, open communication. Foster compassion and forgiveness in relationships.  

• Provide experiences to grandchildren in place of material gifts 

• Contribute to or open a Registered Educational Savings Plan (RESP) for the grandchildren.  These are lasting gifts!

• Fair and equal are not the same thing; some grandchildren or their parents may need more support than others.  

The heart-warming responses from grandparents illustrate their importance in our society.  We need to acknowledge their contributions to the health and welfare of our children.

May all of us, on July 24 - and all year, honour the grandparents and elderly people who pass on love and wisdom to the next generation.  

-Sister Patricia McKeon, csj

Let's Celebrate, eh!

HAPPY CANADA DAY!

School is out!  Now we can review what we have learned.  It’s holiday time!

Image: Chi Liu @chiditty/Unsplash

We begin by viewing our country—Canada. 

We’ve learned that we are a country that values its freedom and when we look around the world at wars and totalitarian regimes, we get a sense of how fragile freedom is.

We’ve learned that our land produces enough food to feed Canadians as well as provide for other countries, yet we are not encouraging youth to farm and are paving over more and more prime farmland every year.

We’ve learned that we provide education for all our children, yet we see rising in our society, more and more bullying, violence, suicide, mental illness and addictions especially among young people.

We’ve learned that a sense of belonging is what each person craves.

We’ve learned that we are dependent on nature. Plants and animals, the four seasons provide for our very existence, and we are learning, and need to learn more, how to dance together in harmony.

We are aware. We have attitude. We need action.

HAPPY CANADA DAY - LET’S CELEBRATE, EH!                                      

- Sister Elaine Cole, CSJ                                                    

Image: Hermes Rivera @hermez777/Unsplash

Genocide in Canada?

Genocide in Canada? NEVER!!!

Celebrating National Indigenous Peoples Day in Canada

The news has been inundated with the realities of genocides all over the world, but rarely is Canada included in that list.  A little dose of TRUTH is in order to get a proper perspective.

Prior to the European arrival, millions of various tribes existed across Turtle Island with their system of bartering, governing that worked for them.

Columbus’ “discovery” of the land, was affirmed by Pope Alexander VI in 1493, when he issued the infamous “Doctrine of Discovery” that stated that empty lands “terra nullius” “discovered by European Explorers, became the property of the Crown.  In fact, these lands were inhabited by millions of peoples comprising one fifth of the world’s population at that time. They just happened to be non-Christian and were therefore deemed to be uncivilized and hence the term “terra nullius” or empty lands.

The mentality incurred by the Doctrine of Discovery paved the way for our Indigenous peoples to be horrifically treated due to the policies of the First Prime Minister of Canada by establishing the Residential School system which was specifically launched “to get rid of the Indian problem” and prevailed from the 1870’s to the 1990’s in which more than 130 Residential Schools were established and run by many of our churches.

The “savages”, a term used by Duncan Campbell Scott, were deemed to be subhuman (Indian Act in a plain-language summary). Colonizers attempted to assimilate them into European culture through the residential School System and by the 60’s Scoop when the children were ‘scooped up” and placed into European settler homes. It is estimated that there were even more Indigenous children in the child welfare system than the 150,00 that were in Residential Schools.

The past Chair of the TRC, the Honourable Murray Sinclair’s words ring so true for today:

“it is education that got us into this mess, and it is education that will get us out of it.”

One of the first steps to “getting us out of this mess” was the submission of the TRC 94 Calls to Action 94 Recommendations of the TRC report of 2015. It was carefully drawn up after the Commissioners interviewed thousands of abused survivors and it is estimated that 6000+ died in residential schools.  This is a significant number. This is a genocide. Truly the darkest part of our Canadian history.

Perhaps this is best summed up by Connor Sarazin in the June Kairos times Newsletter:

“Over the course of history there have been acts of genocide from one nation over another on a global scale. Although, you may not see the struggles of Indigenous Peoples regularly on the nightly news. The Indigenous Peoples remain in a fight for their survival. Many communities don’t have running water, never mind being drinkable. Many communities don’t have hydro and rely upon diesel generators for power. Children must travel hundreds of miles away from their home and community to get a high school education, and there are more children in care than at the height of the Indian Residential Schools. It is an alarming rate of epidemic proportions that women, girls and 2Spirit Peoples are murdered and go missing every day. It is easier to erase a people when they have no women.

Words like genocide are used to describe other nations around the globe who are fighting for their survival. We tend to forget that the struggle for the First Peoples on our own land carry these same words and have so for hundreds of years.”

On June 21, National Indigenous Peoples Day, may we recognize and celebrate the history, heritage, resilience and diversity of First Nations, Inuit and Métis across Canada.

-Sister Kathleen Lichti, CSJ