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Truth and Reconciliation: Raising awareness in 2022 key, says Red Deer elder

The tipi in Corky and Lynn Jonasson’s backyard is a testament to Indigenous ingenuity — and so much more.
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Corky Larsen Jonasson and her husband Lynn have set up a tipi in their Red Deer backyard that has helped make connections in the community. (Photo from Facebook)

The tipi in Corky and Lynn Jonasson’s backyard is a testament to Indigenous ingenuity — and so much more.

It has been a place of healing, learning, spiritual awakening, friendship and community, as well as offering a window into a deep and ancient culture for non-Indigenous people.

That culture and the efforts to eradicate it were thrust into the light in 2021 when 215 unmarked graves were found at a former residential school near Kamloops. Weeks later, a staggering 751 unmarked graves were found near the site of Marieval Indian Residential School in southeastern Saskatchewan.

Many others have been found since and in Red Deer the search for lost student graves on the former Red Deer Indian Industrial School site continues.

Corky Larsen Jonasson said the sad discoveries have prompted many more people to approach her to talk about what happened.

“A lot of these people are dealing with not knowing how to process their own personal feelings about it. And I understand.”

Following the discovery of the Kamloops burial sites, Jonasson went on Facebook and invited people affected by the discovery to tie remembrance ribbons to a tree in her yard. The tree was soon festooned with offerings.

So many more now know about the shameful legacy of the residential school system because of the work of the Indian Residential Schools Truth and Reconciliation Commission and the persistent effort of Indigenous groups to help Canadians understand what happened and why it has hurt so many so much.

“Something happened when the Kamloops kids woke up. I call it that because I believe we weren’t doing enough fast enough,” said Jonasson, who is an Elder and Indigenous advocate with ties through her mother to Samson First Nation at Maskwacis.

“When that happened. I don’t know and I can’t explain it but it hit hard — for not only the Indigenous communities, and especially the residential school survivors we still have around, but also the non-Indigenous communities.

“And I think it’s because it became much more real and much more truthful. And truth can sometimes be hard, but it is also the very, very best thing that can happen.

“It will bring up a lot but that’s good. Conflict precedes clarity and the more we talk about it and the more we discuss it — not only in our Indigenous community but in our whole entire community — the better it is. That’s my words.”

Jonasson fears the initial shock and anger at revelations that thousands of residential school children lay buried, their graves unmarked, their sad lives forgotten, is already dissipating.

“Where’s the outcry, where’s the outrage, where’s the disbelief now. The numbers (of unmarked) graves found is even greater but it’s just not being talked about anymore.”

Jonasson and her husband, who is also an Elder who helps provide guidance to others through the Safe Harbour Society, erected their tipi about three years ago. It is here to stay.

“I think I’m always going to have a tipi in my yard wherever I live. I wish more Indigenous people did in the community.

“I have not had one negative comment.

“It’s created more of an awareness for my neighbours and my community around me. It’s done good.”

Neighbours have not only asked questions, they have offered tokens of support in the form of a beautiful imported hand-woven rug from Peru or Mexico in one case, and a musk ox hide in another.

Many people passing by, often with young children, have asked to look inside. They are always welcome.

Tipis themselves are fascinating examples of human inventiveness. Built to be erected and taken down quickly, the poles could serve as travois to haul the rest of the tent and the owners’ belongings. Covered in hides, an inner liner could be filled with grass or other insulation to keep them warm in winter.

And structurally, tipis are amazingly strong. When plough winds slammed into Red Deer a few years ago, her tipi and one at Fort Normandeau did not budge.

The tipi also serves a deeper purpose.

“It’s a place to have our coming-of-age ceremonies and small gatherings and teachings. We did a lot of teachings in there this year with different elders in the community.”

Jonasson hopes to see more of those kinds of gatherings.

She believes Truth and Reconciliation Commission chair Justice Murray Sinclair got it right when he said, “education got us into this mess and education will get us out of it.”

“So, the more we learn about it, and that even means the newcomers to our country, the better it will be.”

At Sunnybrook Farm and Museum, the Red Deer Aboriginal Dance Troupe, of which Jonasson is a board member and Elder, set up a tipi in recent years to raise awareness about local Indigenous culture. Fort Normandeau also has a tipi and a sweat lodge that is regularly used for ceremonies.

“That community sweat lodge could run every day and it would be full — and not just with Indigenous people.”

Jonasson sees many positive signs that change is happening. She credits Telus for its Indigenous recruitment efforts and the support shown by Red Deer-based Peavey Mart Industries.

“Our schools — where all the magic is happening — are doing incredible work.”

And what does she hope for 2022?

“Just increased awareness. So many people are doing good and so many companies are really trying. And you see that and it makes your heart warm.”