For
St. Boniface Archbishop Albert LeGatt, the Grandfather Rock is just a
“small symbol” of reconciliation — even if it stands over 1.5 metres
tall.
The
Grandfather Rock, so named by Indigenous people for how it contains
generational knowledge, ancient memories and a spirit, was unveiled June
20 in the Archdiocese of St. Boniface’s Heritage Park, across the
street from St. Boniface Cathedral in Winnipeg.
“I
hope it will indicate to Indigenous people this is a safe place and all
are welcome,” said LeGatt, adding it represents an “intertwining of
Christian faith and Indigenous spirituality, values and beliefs, a
weaving of the two together.”
Called
M’shoomis Asin in Ojibwe, the Grandfather Rock was donated to the
archdiocese by a parishioner five years ago. It is surrounded by a
symbolic see-through sweat lodge made out of rebar by local high school
students.
The
placement of the Grandfather Rock and sweat lodge in the Heritage Park
is a way for Roman Catholics to indicate they are taking seriously the
Calls to Action directed at the churches by the Truth and Reconciliation
Commission, LeGatt said.
“It
shows how we are playing a part on the long and rich journey of
reconciliation between First Nations people and non-Indigenous people,"
he said. “It is a way to understand and share our common values that are
truly essential for a unified humanity."
At
the same time, it’s a way to acknowledge “the inherent value and worth
of Indigenous spiritual values” and the Church’s acceptance of
Indigenous culture and spirituality, he said.
Elder
Clayton Sandy (adoptee) of the Sioux Valley Dakota First Nation worked with
LeGatt to create the installation. For him, the placement of the
Grandfather Rock and symbolic sweat lodge on property owned by the
archdiocese is significant since Indigenous spiritual practices like
sweat lodges were forbidden for many decades by the Roman Catholic
Church.
“Now
there is a representation of a sweat lodge on church grounds,” said
Sandy, whose parents and six siblings are residential school survivors
while he was a Sixties scoop child. It is, he said, a “symbol of healing
between Indigenous people and the Church . . . we have come a long
way.”
It
also shows that Roman Catholics and Indigenous people are making
progress in the journey of reconciliation, he said, adding “if we don’t
come together with open minds, nothing changes.”
Beside
the installation are two panels, one explaining the significance of the
Grandfather Rock is in English, French, Dakota and Ojibwe and the
other, in English and French, describing the role of sweat lodges in
Indigenous tradition and culture.
In
addition to the Grandfather Rock and symbolic sweat lodge, the Heritage
Park also contains information and statuary about the religious orders
who were instrumental in the development of Manitoba’s health,
educational and social service systems.
SOURCE: https://www.catholicregister.org/item/2406-grandfather-rock-a-sign-of-reconciliation-in-st-boniface
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