To the citizens of St. Albert regarding The Healing Garden, I feel compelled to respond to the recent negative articles.
Until recently, I was among the vast majority of citizens: Complacent and ignorant about the plight of the indigenous peoples of Canada. However, having had the opportunity to attend the National Truth and Reconciliation Commission in Edmonton in 2014 and the presentation of the final volumes of the TRC report in Ottawa in December 2015, my interest in learning the history of the indigenous people has led me to explore the indigenous culture and become involved.
Knowledge has led to action. The Healing Garden is meant to be a therapeutic place of reconciliation. It will be a visible sign of our community's commitment to walk in right relations with indigenous, Métis, and Inuit peoples and with all Nations.
The vision of The Healing Garden is for the Healing Garden to be an accessible sanctuary for residential school survivors and victims of abuse, who are on a transforming, reconciling journey. The vision is to connect with an entire community for heightened awareness and to learn and grow from trauma to triumph, through prayer, meditation and cultural teachings; A place of healing for all.
The site was carefully chosen for several reasons: its proximity to the water of the Sturgeon River, to a former residential school location and to the Founder's Walk.
A lot of people walk the walk, but right now the residential school story is untold on the Founder's Walk. The site is directly across the river from St. Albert Place, home of city hall and the museum.
Maggie Hodgson, a key advocate for healing and reconciliation in our community, says this of The Healing Garden: “It is a gentle way of bringing that memory of the School, and it's a peaceful way ... it builds relationships. You can speak Reconciliation, but to have a relationship ... that's true reconcili-action.”
A dedicated and peaceful space with healing berries and native trees is the main requirement for a healing garden. Concrete paths and pad requiring underground pilings, account for a significant amount of the cost increase. They are not essential to the beginning of the garden. Delaying the project will also likely escalate the costs.
Asking the advisory committee to find a different spot, because the city does not like the price, runs contrary to the spirit of truth and reconciliation this project is all about.
St. Albert is home to a significant Métis and indigenous population and was the location of two residential schools: One Protestant and one Roman Catholic.
We as a community need to recognize and acknowledge that we live on Treaty 6 land. We are all treaty people, because the treaties were made between the indigenous peoples and our government representatives of the Crown.
Let's show some reconcili-action and get on with The Healing Garden. Let's take this opportunity to bring people together with mutual respect and to oppose the 'us' versus 'them' voices that we hear.
Marilyn McSporran, St. Albert
