Part Two: Love as the Foundation of Reconciliation
Love is often spoken of as if it is light and easy. For Indigenous people, love has carried grief since the genocide — not because we are bound to sorrow, but because we have had to love through loss.To speak of reconciliation as love requires that we first acknowledge the generations of love that were stolen — and the pain that remains when family, culture, and dignity are stripped away.
Colonization did not just take land. It took love. It severed the bonds between parent and child when children were forced into residential schools. It muted the languages in which lullabies and prayers were once spoken. It poured alcohol into wounds too deep to name, numbing hearts that longed for tenderness. It numbered us on government cards, transforming our identities into bureaucratic labels. It taught us to measure worth in productivity and assimilation, not in kinship and care.
My own family lived these losses. My great-grandmother died at twenty-nine. My grandmother at forty-two. My father at fifty-two. None of them were given the chance to tell their stories, to pass on their wisdom, to live a full life of love. Society had no place for them. When I sat with Grandmother Cedar, her medicine revealed to me that it was my responsibility to carry their voices. Grandmother’s Voice is the voice of my ancestors, who could not speak.
To inherit silence is a heavy burden. To reconcile with it requires more than acknowledgment — it requires a return to love, even when that love is scarred. I have come to understand that reconciliation begins within, but within me there is pain as well as beauty. Love does not erase the pain. It walks with it.
In my own family, I know this truth deeply. My husband, my children, and I have carried dreams — some simple, some grand — about what our life might look like. We have happiness, and we have love. But the path we chose has not always been the easy one. To choose comfort would have meant a different kind of life. To choose love meant a harder road: slower, less certain, filled with resistance and misunderstanding. There are moments when those dreams lose some of their grandeur as they come true, when we see clearly the cost of the path we have taken. Yet as Joni Mitchell sang: “Though his dreams have lost some grandeur coming true / There’ll be new dreams, maybe better dreams and plenty.” That line speaks to the passing of time, the changing of expectations, and the perspective we only gain after living through it.
Our family’s dreams have shifted, reshaped by the reality of this duality — comfort on one side, love on the other. We chose love. And in that choice, even when the dream feels smaller, we find something larger: the knowledge that we are walking in truth, together. That is what reconciliation looks like in our own lives — not perfection, not the fulfilment of every dream, but the courage to keep choosing love, again and again.
September is Truth and Reconciliation Month. “Truth” comes first for a reason. We must honour the children who never returned from the schools, the parents who wept in silence, the families fractured by colonial laws, the communities divided by lateral violence born of oppression. These are not stories from the distant past. They are wounds we still carry in our bodies, our DNA, our everyday interactions.
Love, in this context, is not sentimental. It is radical. It is the decision to meet centuries of sacrifice not with denial, but with compassion. It is to say: your pain is real, your loss is real, and still I will choose to love. I will love myself enough to heal. I will love my community enough to keep showing up. I will love the generations to come enough to give them a future different from the one my ancestors endured.
The Elders tell us reconciliation is not a one-time act. It is a process — of reflection, of falling down and getting back up, of choosing again and again to walk with love rather than fear or bitterness. For me, that process has meant resisting the temptation of the easy road, the quick recognition, the chance to elevate myself at the expense of others. I have chosen the harder path because it is the one that allows me to keep my heart intact. It is the path of love, even when it is painful.
There are days when reconciliation feels like a dream too far. When the weight of bureaucracy, competition, and misunderstanding presses down so hard that it seems impossible. There are days when it feels like we will always be captive on the carousel of time, unable to escape the circle of hurt.
And yet — I remember that love has already carried us this far. That despite genocide, colonization, and loss, we are still here. Our songs are still here. Our languages are still here. Our dreams, even when unmet, are still here. Love is what made survival possible. Love is what transforms survival into something more.
If reconciliation is to mean anything, it must be built on this foundation of love. Not love that forgets, but love that remembers. Not love that glosses over pain, but love that holds it tenderly and chooses to keep moving forward anyway.
Love is not the end of reconciliation. It is the beginning, the middle, and the only way through. And if it brings us to tears, then perhaps those tears are the medicine we need to soften our hearts for the work ahead. They were for me.
Dreams shift like the turning sky —
some break, some bend, some are born anew.
Love is never the easy road;
it blisters the feet,
it slows the pace,
but it keeps the fire alive.
I carry the silence of those gone too soon,
their songs hidden in my ribs.
Even in loss, love remains,
the one dream that never dies.
Presented by Samantha Doxtater
Presented by GRANDMA RENEE
In a world seeking direction, Indigenous teachings offer clear and enduring policies for how to live in harmony with one another and the Earth. This workshop invites participants to explore the profound lessons of the Two Row Wampum Belt and other wampum belts as frameworks for mutual respect, environmental care, and collective well-being. These belts, created long before colonization, embody ancestral agreements that guide humanity on how to coexist with honor, dignity, and reciprocity.
Led by Grandmother Renee, this session emphasizes the importance of relearning and honoring the policies established by our ancestors, rather than creating new paths disconnected from this wisdom. Through the teachings of the belts, participants will uncover the principles of self-care, stewardship of the land, and respect for all beings. This is not about inventing something new—it is about rediscovering the instructions that were always there and committing to uphold them.
Key Takeaways:
Through this workshop, participants will be reminded that the wisdom of the belts is not only a guide for Indigenous communities but a path for all of humanity to walk together in respect and care for one another and the Earth.
Presented by Grandma Gail and Angela DeMontigny
Ceremony is more than tradition—it is a deliberate practice rooted in wisdom, responsibility, and foresight. This workshop explores the “science of ceremony” as a guide to living with intention and accountability for the next seven generations. Our ancestors used ceremony to prepare for the future, ensuring that their actions would benefit not only their own time but also those yet to come. Now, it is our responsibility to carry that practice forward.
Led by Grandmother Gail, this session will examine what has been lost and the actions we must take to restore, respect, and reclaim the ceremonial practices that ensure the well-being of future generations. Participants will be encouraged to reconnect with ceremony as a means of healing, reflection, and renewal, building a foundation of responsibility to guide us in restoring balance and harmony.
Key Takeaways:
Through this workshop, participants will rediscover the transformative power of ceremony as a pathway to healing, accountability, and preparation for a sustainable and harmonious future. Together, we will reaffirm our responsibility to the generations to come.
Presented by Asha Frost
Join Asha Frost, an Indigenous healer, teacher, and bestselling author, for a transformative workshop rooted in traditional teachings and the power of self-discovery. Asha’s work often centers on reconnecting with ancestral wisdom, embracing one’s authentic self, and creating pathways for healing and empowerment. Drawing from her Anishinaabe roots, she weaves stories, teachings, and practical tools to inspire participants to reclaim their power and align with their purpose.
Through her signature blend of traditional healing practices and modern insights, Asha guides participants in understanding how to honor their own journey, navigate challenges with resilience, and embrace the interconnectedness of all beings. This workshop is an invitation to explore the sacred within and around us, fostering personal growth and collective transformation.
Key Takeaways:
Whether you are seeking personal healing, professional inspiration, or a deeper connection to traditional wisdom, this session with Asha Frost promises to be a profound and enriching experience.
Presented by Allen Sutherland
The Seven Fires prophecy, as shared by seven prophets across different time periods, offers profound guidance for humanity’s path forward. According to Anishinaabe oral tradition, these teachings speak to the choices we face when the world has been polluted, and the waters turned bitter by disrespect. The prophecy teaches that humanity must choose between materialism and spirituality—one path leading to survival and the other to destruction.
In this workshop, Mishoomis Allen will guide participants through the teachings of the Seven Fires prophecy, exploring its relevance in today’s world and its call for spiritual renewal. Additionally, he will share his Canadian Indigenous Historical Timeline, providing a broader context for understanding the cultural, social, and spiritual significance of these teachings.
Key Takeaways:
This workshop offers an opportunity to reflect deeply on humanity’s collective responsibility and the transformative power of choosing a spiritual path for the survival of future generations.
Presented by Thohahoken Michael Doxtater
In this session, Thohahoken Michael Doxtater explores the ongoing impact of Canada’s colonial policies on Indigenous communities and the historical journey toward Truth and Reconciliation. He examines the systemic attempts to erase Indigenous identity, from residential schools to the suppression of cultural practices, and highlights Indigenous resilience and legal resistance. The presentation also delves into the concept of the “Canada Rafter,” a historical agreement acknowledging Canada’s adoption into the Indigenous Longhouse, raising the question: Has Canada truly upheld its responsibilities in this relationship?
