Reconciliation

My friends, yesterday I attended 

a most inspiring event. 

At the Kwisitis Centre, at Wickaninnish Beach,

representatives of the Nuu chah nulth bands 

of the West Coast, 

and of the villages of Tofino and Ucluelet,  

came together to speak of living together 

in this wonderful place, 

 to talk of reconciliation and moving forward 

from the wounds of the past 

to the First Nations of this land. 

We were invited in by the sound of the drums.

On the beach, salmon was being prepared

in the traditional way,

 for our feast

Singing and drumming

by the Ahousaht band

Tofino's wonderful mayor, Josie Osborne,

told a story of being warmly welcomed

on a visit to Ahousaht,

and encouraged Tofino residents to welcome

visitors to our town as warmly. Then she invited

some of the local poets to come forward

and read poems about life on the West Coast

Jan McDougall

Greg Blanchette

Christine Lowther

Joanna Streetly

Many speakers addressed reconciliation.

An elder said words that struck  my heart:

"Speak without giving offence.

Listen without feeling offended."

That is respect, in a nutshell.

People listened with attentiveness to the speeches,

and demonstrated a great desire to live amicably 

and respectfully with those around us,

to remember that we are living

on unceded land, in traditional  territory. 

We are guests here,

as we are on Mother Earth.

These people of the land and water

know that everything is one, and interconnected.

They have much to teach we newcomers

about how to live with and on the land.

Closing words.

This was the day we had. In the morning,

there was a cloudburst, but West Coasters 

are not daunted by rain.

We donned rain gear, and the event was well attended.

At noon, the sun came out, unexpectedly,

to our delight. Bubbles soared through the air, 

children got their faces painted and, though I missed it,

arial dancers were dancing in the treetops down at the parking lot.

Using ropes, they performed among the tops of the trees. 

It must have been a wonderful sight.

I had waves to my heart's delight.

A most wonderful and enriching day.

Soul food.