Opportunity to heal

Dear Mike:
A year ago, the federal government made an official apology on behalf of the Canadian people to First Nation peoples for the residential school system that ripped children from their families and culture, and left them isolated them in sterile and often abusive environments.
The damage was profound and affected the next generations.
At that time, I did what I’m sure some of my neighbours did—thought of ways to heal a broken past. What small thing could we do to express our sorrow and regret.
An opportunity presented itself this year when Weechi-it-te-win Family Services was interested in purchasing a property in Alberton township to establish a school here—their own residential school would serve 10 young people on a healing journey.
The seller, Gayle Arpin, approached the township council for a zoning amendment.
I went to the meeting expecting interest and excitement. Imagine my surprise to be the one lone supportive voice. The language and intensity of the arguments of Alberton residents shocked me.
We are talking about 10 young people who are seeking a loving community that can mentor and support them. Isn’t that us? Are we not a strong and capable and supportive community? Why are we afraid of 10 children?
Can we, in Alberton, not see this as an opportunity to heal old wounds—wounds that have clearly lacerated our own lives, as well, and affected our ability for empathy.
As so often happens when people are motivated by fear, the response is so strong that the council has passed a hasty measure that will not only exclude the school, but might make it impossible for other institutions to come to our community—institutions that not only would benefit residents, but also bring revenue and jobs to our community.
We live in an uncertain economic climate, especially so in this district where our main industry is in bankruptcy protection. As a community, we will have to reach out to diversify and create other avenues of livelihood.
While the words during the public hearing were harsh, I was even more shocked by the language of the council and township clerk during the council meeting. The clerk, whose job it is to be a neutral assistant on technical matters, described attorney Clint Calder’s comment about no zoning change being required to place a group home in rural/residential areas as  a “direct threat.”
A councillor said the amendment had to be put in place so they could not “sneak in through the back door.”
The rush to pass an amendment was described as a “necessary evil.”
All this fear and rush to judgment for an institution serving 10 children?
Some people at the hearing said this was more than a simple 10-student school. They were worried about being taken over because Rainy River First Nations also bought a piece of property in Alberton earlier.
It is remarkable to me that such suspicion is raised about a community which, year after year, invites the whole district to a fish fry and provides such gracious and welcoming hospitality. This also is the same community that spends thousands and thousands of dollars in local business establishments, clearly making a huge contribution to the local economy.
Those in opposition in Alberton are right to recognize that this is a critical moment in our lives. But I say it is a critical moment that we can use to right old wrongs, to build and strengthen our community, and to move beyond “us and them” thinking to one of realizing we are all in this together.
And embracing this opportunity will mean some change–not to our “way of life” as one young father complained during the public hearing, but to our way of thinking and our heart’s ability to see each one as our sister and brother.
(Signed),
Dorothy Friesen
Alberton Township