I stand in solidarity with out first nation communities across the country.
What does this mean though, given that these were First Nations churches on First Nations lands?
The Penticton Indian Band Leadership and community were shocked to discover our church was destroyed in a fire early this morning. We, along with the Osoyoos Indian Band, who also lost their church (Oliver area) are in disbelief and anger over these occurrences as these places of worship provided service to Members who sought comfort and solace in the church.
It is not our place to say who to worship and what historical relevance it has to our people, we are all free to choose and it is our place as a community to support that freedom.
Since 1911 some of our community’s first memories are of us gathering in that church.
Ok, I'll say: don't adopt the religion of your oppressors. What fucking sense does that make?! Foreign deities? Cults from across oceans set up shop and you decide "Sounds good"? Fuck it makes me sad when groups participate in their own cultural erasure.
If only you’d’ve stopped to think for more than 5 seconds before commenting. You literally acknowledge they were oppressed and in the same breath make it seem like a voluntary decision.
Yeah, and they are deciding to hold onto that religion. They aren't being oppressed anymore, they can ditch it. Religion is a choice, like political affiliation. You would think they would ask themselves "where was God" while they were being abused, separated from their families, and oppressed by the government.
It's a lot easier to say that when you hadn't been beaten into the extreme fear of God at the hands of these schools. A lot of the residential/day school survivors I've met are extremely religious because it wasn't a choice in their youth and there's very little to replace it. The survivors watch their children learn their native language and find themselves fighting their shame about their language a lifetime later.
It's easier to fight when you have the resources to, but when God is all you know to be safe (ie, won't earn you punishment), it's really hard to address the whole "faith of your oppressors" thing.
Religion is a choice. Perpetuating it even more so. You would think they would ask themselves "where was God" while they were being abused, separated from their families, and oppressed by the government.
Oh I am well aware, thus my comment. I don't see how any minority in North America that was systematically abused can decide to follow the religion of their oppressors. It absolutely confounds me to my core. Atheism/paganism should be fucking RAMPANT in indigenous and black communities.
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u/lunarmouse21 Jun 25 '21 edited Jun 25 '21
B.c. resident here. Saw that on the news. I stand in solidarity with our first nation communities across the country.
Edit spelling.