Understanding Reconciliation Through Speaking Our Truth

For readers who want a tool to help them understand what reconciliation means and what they can do as allies, Speaking Our Truth: A Journey of Reconciliation by Indigenous author Monique Gray Smith is an excellent resource. As Chief Dr. Robert Joseph of the Gwawaenuk First Nation says in the book, “Reconciliation begins with you”. And in that spirit, the author includes questions readers can ask themselves so that they can engage more deeply and reflect on the content and their role in reconciliation.

An award-winning author, Monique Gray Smith has written a book that is valuable to both Indigenous people and anyone seeking to understand the intergenerational impact of the residential school system. Written as a children’s book, Speaking Our Truth is just as important for adults to read. Noting that the rules of residential school were “Don’t talk. Don’t trust. Don’t feel. Don’t love,” the author encourages readers to read the book and do the exact opposite to counter the damage done to Indigenous people by the residential school system and the impact of that trauma that still exists today.

The book is full of teachings, stories and lessons. It’s not just the author’s voice in this book. It’s the voices of residential school survivors and their children, elders and TRC commissioners, honorary witnesses, allies and young people. It’s a tough read, designed to make you think and is divided into four sections – Welcome, Honesty, Love, Kindness and Reciprocity.

The first section of the book welcomes readers not just to the journey towards reconciliation but introduces the author’s journey towards writing such a difficult book as well. “As Commissioners we have described for you the mountain. We have shown you the path to the top. We call upon you to do the climbing.” (Justice Murray Sinclair, Chair, Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada). The Seven Sacred Teachings or Grandfather Teachings – Honesty, Respect, Love, Courage/Bravery, Truth, Humility and Wisdom – are also introduced.

Part two of the book – Honesty - begins with an honest look at the history of Canada that has long been overlooked. The author talks about the pre-contact, early history of Canada and describes historical events and legislation that have harmed Indigenous people. Smith writes openly and honestly about residential schools. But she doesn’t just write about it, she breathes life into it by sharing the personal accounts of the people who lived through it. The most impactful way to show the effects of the residential school system is to hear stories firsthand from survivors and their families.

Part three – Love – is best described in the author’s own words. “Love is not a word that comes up often when Survivors describe how they felt and what they experienced at school. It makes sense, then, that one of the best ways to heal the wounds from those schools is to focus on love. A key part of our country’s journey of reconciliation is learning to love each other. I don't mean in a romantic way, but in a way that is rooted in respect and honours the uniqueness of each individual. This is critical because respect and honour were rarely part of the Residential School experience.” —Monique Gray Smith. This section introduces the work of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and its 94 Calls to Action and what reconciliation means.

The final part of the book – Kindness and Reciprocity – talks about what we can do now and delves into the importance of being an ally and what allyship means. “An ally is someone who does not act on his or her own concept of what ‘should’ be done, but someone who listens deeply. The idea of listening deeply to me is you are listening with the attitude that you might be changed by what you hear. That’s it...that’s being an ally.” - Jennifer Manuel, author, founder of the TRC Reading Challenge. Smith spoke to young people from across Canada about reconciliation and allyship and ends the book with her own message of how this book changed her. She also includes many more important resources for learning.

This is a very short, oversimplification of an incredibly valuable, well-researched, brilliantly-written book meant for children but equally important for readers of any age searching for answers about Canada’s history and how they can take steps towards reconciliation.