ROTHENBURGER: Some questions from a white dude about the death of reconciliation

Because we’ve really worked at this. There was the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and the National Inquiry Into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls, for starters.

More recently, Canada adopted the United Nations Declaration on Indigenous Rights, and B.C. has made it law. These are big items — they’re about accountability and the path forward.

But we’ve been busy doing a lot of other, smaller things, as well.

No public gathering is held anymore without an acknowledgement that it’s taking place on the traditional territory of a First Nation.

Civic governments hold Community to Community meetings with their nearby Bands, sometimes annually, sometimes more often, to talk about mutual interests.

Statues of some of our most revered historical figures have been removed from public property because of actions or words that are perceived in modern times as racist.

For the same reason, names are being changed on public buildings, schools and geographical landmarks. And we’ve gone further — the names of several B.C. parks have been changed not because of anything done by the person they were originally named after, but because of a sincere attempt to show respect.

And new facilities are being given indigenous names, the multi-use path in Kamloops being one example. Few will get used to trying to pronounce Xget’tem Trail but it’s a positive, reconciliatory gesture.

Indigenous languages are being revived — even “white dudes” are trying to learn them.

Public schools now teach indigenous history and culture. Universities have entire departments devoted to it.

Pretty much every federal and provincial funding program has a component specifically designed for First Nations.

Infrastructure on reserves — such as water systems — is gradually being improved, maybe even more so than in non-indigenous rural areas. First Nations are being brought into the economy, including resource development, more than ever before.

Indigenous art and music are celebrated in our media, awards shows, exhibits. Our art galleries, airports and public places display it and explain it.

Just about every government decision these days is made with consideration of the impact it will have on indigenous people.

Two prime ministers and two B.C. premiers have offered official apologies for historical wrongs and perceived wrongs.

These things we’ve achieved together. They’re just a small sampling of the progress that’s been made. Any one of us might disagree with certain things on that list but we understand the

necessity of compromise. Reconciliation is a big undertaking, and it can’t be done quickly, but it felt as though we were making progress.

Let’s talk about racism, because there’s plenty to go around. Just as I’m certain that most non-indigenous Canadians share the value of respectful, co-operative inclusivity — and condemn the bigots among us — I’m confident the same is true with indigenous Canadians.

As politicians like to say these days, “we’ve still got much work to do” but I thought we all believed in reconciliation and understood the limitations of the process. Yet recently the conversation becomes more and more punctuated by name-calling.

Those of us who care about this have tried to be sensitive to changes in how we talk to each other. We avoid using the word “Indian,” even though a lot of bands still call themselves by it. We used “aboriginal” for a time, but that became less acceptable, as well, so we now use “indigenous.”

That’s as it should be, because if someone is offended by a term, we should find another. But there’s another side to it. You call us “the white man,” and “settlers” and “colonial oppressors” and “colonial invaders.”

These terms are not neutral; they’re spoken and written as insults. One side of my family has been here — right here, in Kamloops — for eight generations. How long does it take before we are no longer “settlers,” before we who are alive today stop being blamed for the past?

And so what if someone has just arrived here from somewhere else? These people bring their skills and their hard work and we value them. They deserve to be fully vested Canadians as much as anyone else. That’s what Canada is about — the strength that comes from diversity.

When you demean us with a word like “settler,” you’re saying some people have a right to be here and some people don’t. Isn’t that racism?

So would you concur that it would be best if we could agree on what to call each other? But, you say, reconciliation is dead. What’s to replace it?

I worry about this. I worry that spitting on people, defiling our flag, blockading intersections and setting fires on railway tracks make things a lot worse, not better. People don’t typically respond well to being insulted. Meanness can’t be justified under any conditions.

This is why I respectfully ask these questions. Reconciliation doesn’t mean you must get everything you ask for, and that anyone who disagrees with you does not.

It takes two to understand that. Nobody can win all the time on everything, but if we could both win on most things, most of the time, isn’t it worth trying? Why is it so hard for us to allow each other to disagree without instantly pointing fingers?

Your declarations that reconciliation is dead have the distinct possibility of becoming a self-fulfilling prophecy. Maybe it’s already too late. Is it possible for you to respond — agree or disagree — to what I’m saying without confrontational rhetoric and hot-button labels? Can we dispense with stereotyping each other? This issue is much bigger than one pipeline. But reconciliation is impossible unless everyone participates, so we need you.

If reconciliation is dead, all the progress we’ve made is null and void. We can’t and shouldn’t forget the past but there’s a saying that we shouldn’t waste too much time looking back because that’s not the direction in which we’re heading.

The Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s report itself says reconciliation involves “coming to terms with events of the past in a manner that overcomes conflict and establishes a respectful and healthy relationship among people, going forward.”

Which direction do you choose?

Mel Rothenburger is a former mayor of Kamloops and newspaper editor. He writes five commentaries a week for CFJC Today, publishes the ArmchairMayor.ca opinion website, and is a director on the Thompson-Nicola Regional District board. He can be reached at mrothenburger@armchairmayor.ca.

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Editor’s Note: This opinion piece reflects the views of its author, and does not necessarily represent the views of CFJC Today or the Jim Pattison Broadcast Group.

by Mel Rothenburger

ROTHENBURGER: Some questions from a white dude about the death of reconciliation

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