Maroon chrysanthemums floated on the inky water of Georgian Bay at dusk on Sept. 30, each placed into the water with a silent thought and shared grief, in memory of the children who died at residential schools, and in compassion for those who survived and are still trying to live.
The act of quiet remembrance was part of a gathering at Awen Circle in Collingwood on National Day of Truth and Reconciliation.
Led by Muckpaloo Ipeelie, the event included a sacred fire kept by Wah'chek and Opichi Commanda, poetry by Jillian Morris, and releasing the flowers into the water.
The Indigenous community gathered earlier in the day, before welcoming the greater community to join them.
Ipeelie spoke to the crowd about harmony, delivering four rules for harmony.
Firstly to work for the common good and not for yourself.
Second to live in respectful relationships with every person you encounter.
Third is to plan and prepare for the future.
And finally to maintain harmony and balance.
When the rules are broken, explained Ipeelie, there's no authority to punish the rulebreaker, but the imbalance within is punishment enough.
"We know that there have been atrocities against Canada's Indigenous people. We, us who are here now, want to see change, and feel it too," said Ipeelie.
She gave out the flowers, alongside Morris, and instructed the crowd to place them in the water.
"In honour of the children who didn't make it out of the residential school system alive, and for those who live with trauma, we will send flowers into the water, in hopes to help lift the burden on their spirits so that they may know that we care for them, and hope that their spirits return to harmony," said Ipeelie.
Morris shared two poems she wrote for the occasion.
Her first poem was as follows:
My Friend My Foe
On the international stage you promote us with pride
Our art, the regalia, you stand by our side
Lights down, you back up, the narrative shifts
The feeling of unity it wanes, and it drifts
Then you call us a threat to organized society
Tell us that we behave without propriety
Then you smile
Like your head's on a swivel
And it's spun around to reveal someone civil
You compliment the beadwork that adorns my jewelry
And you assume that I buy your conspicuous foolery
Dance by our side when you hear the beat of the drum
Then feast on our stories and offer a crumb
So which face did you put on today?
Do you still feel the need to save my soul?
Or can you see the aftermath of all that you stole
You extend your hand
self-hatred wrapped in shiny paper
My distorted image looking back through clouded vapour
Your charity is not welcome, serve it elsewhere
We have our earth Mother and she knows how to share
My friend or my foe?
It's difficult to know.
