28 - Stinday, April 4, 1993 — North Shore News The separation of families led to the sad loss of | centricity From page 22 of articulate men and women from the native community. We, the ones needing to know, heard things we wished we hadn't and things that shocked us and some things that gave us hope. We also learned some histo- ry and something about the human hunger for survival and we were frequently moved and often dismayed. There were times too when we could laugh out loud. That was very ‘helpful. It was also pretty surprising, considering that the most of what these people had to tell us was far from laughable. We were surprised at and grateful for their capacity for straightforward reportage lightened by a strong sense of the ludicrous. We learned a lot. We learn- ed about treaty Indians — we don’t have such tribes in B.C. because treaties were nevet made here — and about the number of distinct languages here in this one province, and about why the potlatch was banned, and what the healing circles are meant to do, and how some native people for- sake their own bands and come to the city for the simple, awful reason that they want to get lost. A. very high percentage of -them succeed in that, to the sorrow of ail. _ But there are some who have not succumbed, and some who have emerged from what one would see as a totally damag- ing childhood into strong, ‘well-balanced, compassionate people able to help their kin. - . Such a young woman spoke “to us for two rending hours about the warping of children . in the residential schools. UP TO 4&6 We, the ones needing to know, heard things we wished we hadn't and things that Shocked us and © some things that gave us hope. #9 She, one of thousands, was taken from her home and the teaching of her grandmothers when she was five years old. She was allowed two wecks ‘at home each year. When she was 13 she met her sister who was 18 — they’d had no con- tact in all that time. How do you make a family out of that kind of thing? This woman’s career now is helping people like herself put off the effects of that in- carceration that destroyed en- tire families and released teenagers with no knowledge of family life, mutual help, or their people’s language and spirituality. And the unnatural childless houses on the reservations were occupied by men and women with no way to practise being fathers and mothers, no one to pass the tribal lore on to; what had they made those children for? It was a perfect formula for breeding resentment and hope- lessness, which slid easily into violence and disappointment and rage and abuse. The old ways were forgotten and never practised, of learn- ing to admire and respect the power of the earth, of water, of love, and of the salmon. Alcoho! was a handy com- ) CASH BACK FROM KITCHENAID ON THE ALL NEW B& at cineanAied ELECTRIC RANGES (Except Model YKERISOOY) When purchased with other selected KITCHENA!D Appliances. Or $100.00t Cash Back on a new KITCHENAID RANGE (except Modei YKERISOOY) when purchased on its own. Between March 1, 1993 and April 30, 1993. tA reduction sn GST payable, and Provincial Sater Tan where spplicabie, is mcladed in the Rebate Valor, “Trade Mark of KITCHEMAID, U.S A, Ritchenaid Canada Inensey vn Canada us! COLONY ‘HOME FURNISHINGS 1075 Roosevelt Crescent North Vancouver OPEN DARY: Fri. $9; Sun.124 (2 biocks behind the Avalon Hotel) forter. The family, which histori- cally was where each member got his education about life, and for each generation of which there were special roles in the teaching, lost all its in- fluence, all its centricity. Where were we while this was going on? Why did we ac- cept that separation of child and parents? Our confidence in church and state wouldn’t permit us to question the worth or visu- alize the harm. The church and the Indian Act between them broke these people’s hearts, both of them so powerful, both of them bent on arbitrary assimilation and the destruction of the an- cient culture. There’s a lot still to tell you. 4st Wodnecday a Month is SENIORS DAY ve DELIVERY AVAILABLE ON REG. PRICED ITEMS (Minimum purchase required) 1846 MARINE 929-3071 f West Va-couver What a Cateh! Enjoy 0 ur Delicious Lemon Breaded Sole Dinner Now at 1/2 Price Our delicious dinner includes your choice of potate and vegetable. 901, Food Services, Coupona and other discounts not applicable. 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