Questions We Can Live By

Where will we be as a nation

on this road of truth

before reconciliation

in one year, less one week

as we live-into-a-second

National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

on Orange Shirt Day, 2022? 

Maybe this is the wrong question.

From my own sacred teachings,

from Indigenous wisdom traditions on this land

I hear that today, right now 

is the only moment

we can embody and live.

What will we do today?

Will we share a glass of clean drinking water?

Will we visit someone who has lost his mother?

Will we remember the one who has lost her life-partner?

Will we remember those in jail?

Will we feed those who are hungry?

Will we clothe those who are without?

Will we take someone in?

 

Letting the Light Shine Through

letting the light shine through

treaty 4 flag

as long as the sun glows

the river flows

the grasses grow

letting the light shinre through

every child matters flag

illuminating our darkness

with orange healing fire

handled with care

letting the light shine through

the Union Jack flag

exposing the crosses born in

England, Scotland, Ireland

settler colonialism afoot on this land

letting the light shine through

the Canada flag

settlers taking up the crosses bourn

by Treaty-relatives through broken promises

this is a truth that may lead to reconciliation

Photos taken in Fort Qu'Appelle, Treaty 4 Territory

September 30th, 2021

First National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

All Nations Healing Hospital

 

Listening to Flags

when I walk or drive by these flags

they are always telling me a story

some days, when the wind is still

they scroll straight down

a colourful curl beside a silver pole

but today, on the first ever

National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

September 30th, 2021

I am driving by the 

All Nations Healing Hospital

and I step on the breaks

because I see a new flag

every child matters

waving orange promise in the wind

I park my husband's truck

on the edge of the grassy ditch

run across the road

and conduct a photo shoot

the flags floating, falling, fluttering

with so much to say

I am nearly blinded with listening

my eyes gazing into the sun

 

Flags Flying for All Nations Healing

 

we are all invited

all nations

offering our best

to one another

in humility

knowing that we don't always know

what is best for someone else

in humility

for past and present arrogance

systems of racism and errasure

genocide 

on this land

we are invited 

all nations healing

together

in humility

flags flying

for all nations healing

Photos taken in Fort Qu'Appelle, Treaty 4 Territory

September 30th, 2021

All Nations Healing Hospital

Tell Me an Old Story: Every Child Matters

every child matters

with a Treaty 4 flag waving

a reminder

the Canada flag and Union Jack

fly at half mast

a reminder

every child matters

in Nation to Nation sacred agreements

a reminder

for an old story to guide us

into treaty-based relationships

a reminder

Photos taken in Fort Qu'Appelle, Treaty 4 Territory

September 30th, 2021

First National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

All Nations Healing Hospital

Flags Waving a Story in the Wind

 On the morning after the first National Day of Truth and Reconciliation, what story do these four flags tell you?

Photographs taken in Fort Qu'Appelle, Treaty 4 Territory

September 30th, 2021

Outside of the All Nations Healing Hospital