An Edmonton children’s class makes art intended to express reconciliation

Artwork created by the Riverdale Bahá’í Children’s class in Edmonton, Alta. to support the process of cultural reconciliation in Canada.

The Truth and Reconciliation Commission was established “to contribute to truth, healing and reconciliation” and seeks to “rebuild and renew Aboriginal relationships and the relationship between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal Canadians.” Here is a letter that describes the efforts of a children’s class to learn more about the reconciliation process and express their understanding through art.

Every Tuesday after school, up to 15 children between the ages of 5-11, from the Riverdale School and community, gather at my home for Bahá’í children’s classes. Following a Truth and Reconciliation Commission event here in Edmonton [which took place in late March], I was inspired to approach Bent Arrow Traditional Healing Society, an organization that works primarily with Aboriginal families, to suggest that the children’s class offer a personal expression of reconciliation.

Following our meetings, the Bent Arrow outreach coordinators came to our children’s class once a month to offer Aboriginal programming for the children and the children embarked on an ambitious project of creating a canvas to gift to Bent Arrow as a personal expression of reconciliation.

The experience of working with the lovely people of Bent Arrow on the process of reconciliation has been wonderful.

–Ania Tefler, Edmonton, Alta.