CANMORE – The success of reconciliation is going to depend on every single person that has a stake in Canada’s future.
That was the message delivered by Fontaine, one of the most widely respected advocates for Indigenous rights in Canada and a key figure in establishing the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.He was at Canmore Collegiate High School on Monday (Aug. 27) to deliver a keynote address and kick off the 2018-19 school year.
During his speech he encouraged parents, teachers and administrators from both the Canadian Rockies Public School (CRPS) division and the Stoney Education Authority to continue to collaborate and work together – a task that both school authorities have undertaken in earnest over the past three years.
“Reconciliation will succeed only if we truly believe in equality, that people must be treated equally,” said Phil Fontaine, who was elected three times as national chief of the Assembly of First Nations.“Sometimes that means doing things differently to bring us to the point of equality, and that’s what you have embarked on.”
Prior to his keynote address he was given an eagle feather by Buddy Wesley of the Chiniki Band and the Stoney Nakoda First Nation. Chris MacPhee, superintendent for CRPS, and Bill Shade, acting superintendent for the Stoney Education Authority, also received eagle feathers.
“Presenting a feather is a very sacred covenant,” said Wesley. “It’s like a memorandum of understanding.”
The feathers were given to the three men for their leadership and commitment to working together toward reconciliation.
Fontaine described their decision to work collaboratively as a “tremendous commitment” and a “beautiful decision.”
At the same time, he warned it won’t always be easy, but said collarboration is critical if Canada wants to truly achieve equality for all of its citizens.
“You must stay the course my friends,” said Fontaine. “This journey ain’t going to be easy. It’s going to be arduous, it’s going to take a human’s effort to address, but the grounding that you’ve established here, in my view, will ensure success.”
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In a moment of passion he urged the audience to take up the cause and commit to making Canada a better place for all.
“Bring all the dedication you can muster, the commitment, the determination, bring all you can to the process. You are leaders in the country. What you are doing here is demonstrating true leadership and, most importantly, an openness and doing things differently,” said Fontaine.
“Don’t be guided by the past and the old way of doing things. They haven’t worked. They didn’t work. They will never work. You have to do something differently –Indigenize,” said Fontaine.
What that exactly means is up for interpretation, however, Fontaine stressed that at its most basic, it’s about embracing Canada’s Indigenous culture.
Throughout his speech he also spoke of the abuse he and thousands of other Indigenous people suffered at residential schools and encouraged the audience to learn and celebrate the success of Indigenous people in science, sports, medicine and war, just like other Canadians who are revered in society.
MacPhee said the school division was honoured to have Fontaine kick off the new school year and reiterated that CRPS would continue to work collaboratively with its neighbours from Stoney Nakoda First Nation.
“You said it was an enormous task and success depends on every single person and we can’t depend on anyone else. But rest assured, we will collaborate and walk together to achieve reconciliation with those dark times,” said MacPhee.
Following his speech, Stoney Nakoda elder Sykes Powderface spoke of the importance individuals play in the country’s ongoing efforts to achieve reconciliation.
“It has been my view that we all have a part to play. We all need to find our place. We all need to make the necessary sacrifices, compromises and do what we need to do to build bridges between Indigenous people and non-Indigenous people,” said Powderface.
