Today, June 21, is National Indigenous People’s Day, a day to learn more about the cultures and contributions of the First Nations, Inuit and Metis Indigenous peoples of Canada. Current terminology can assist our understanding and respectful dialogue.
– First Nations is a term that came into common use in the 70’s as an alternative to the outdated term Indian. It refers to people who have official status under the Indian Act of Canada, as well as persons without status who identify as belonging to a First Nation. First Nations have specific names we can learn to use.
– Inuit means people in the Inuktitut language and is used to refer to Indigenous people who live in the Arctic regions of Canada. The term Eskimo is no longer used and may be considered as offensive.
– Metis refers to people of mixed ancestry who have developed their own traditions, cultures and languages distinct from those of their Indigenous and European ancestors. The term should be used only to refer to people who self-identify as Metis.
It helps to move away from using old terms, like Indian or native as these words evoke Canada’s colonial past. Indigenous peoples now have the opportunity to choose the terms used to identify them.
To begin with, I am not an expert on the history and customs of First Nation People. So I can only share with you what I have learned and experienced in my 29 years with the people of the Canim Lake Reserve, Shuswap Nation, known in Secwepemc as Tsq’escenemc.
I would like to tell you a little about the Congrégation de Notre-Dame, of which I have been a member for 61 years. Our foundress, Marguerite Bourgeoys, came to New France in 1653 to be the first teacher of Ville Marie. She fought long and hard to have her group of women recognized as an uncloistered religious community. She wanted the sisters to go out to the native people around the fort that was Montreal at that time. She opened a school located in one of the towers, which still stands on the property of the Sulpician Fathers. So, we have always been a congregation devoted to education and inclusive of all people.
Annual Gathering of Sisters and Associates from Visitation Province West
We met at Seton House of Prayer in Kelowna on the last weekend in May. This is our yearly opportunity to meet old friends and make new ones while sharing our passion for all things related to the Congregation de Notre-Dame.
Participants were invited to bring symbols from their home and explain why these particular items are meaningful reminders to them of the person of Marguerite Bourgeoys. This was a special year for our group as we were offered two presentations – one from Sister Eleanor McCloskey, CND, who gave an interesting, in-depth and lively presentation on Marguerite Bourgeoys in celebration of her 400 year anniversary. The second presentation was from our JPIC Coordinator, Monica Lambton, who spoke to us about taking new steps in new directions towards caring for the earth and for those living in poverty and struggling with injustice. She spoke to us about the fire inside of us and gave us tools for keeping that motivational fire alive and helping others to catch hold of that same flame through her usage of biblical quotes and the life and words of St. Marguerite Bourgeoys. These tools included conversations about how to decide what action will have the biggest impact, what resources are the best fit, and how each of us is invited to be part of living the call of Laudato Sí.
Maureen Wylie, Associate