Indians (Natives), Residential school, and God

[R. Smith]

I didn't know where to post this. It could be a hot topic, or not. I am born again, I believe in God. My Church currently has an out reach, to different reserves close to my hometown.

I have often wondered what my fellow people who went to residential school, think of what we do. Both my parents went to residential school, and most of my anties & uncles on my Dad's side of the family went. My Dad never speaks what what happened there, but through family...I had heard of what happened.

My Dad is not really for the Church, and for a long as I can remember...hasn't gone to Church on his own. A lot of people his age & older feel the same way.

I gave my heart to the Lord in my early 20's, I know God is real. I pray that revival would hit the reservations across Canada. In the Name of Jesus.

But I wonder what I would say if I was asked a hard question, how can you believe in a white man's God??? Forgiveness, for myself is a hard thing. I've said that on the boards many times. I know in my heart, God wants me to forgive. But how do you say that to someone who doesn't see things the same way.

[3D NC fan]

Roger-

I've read about the residential schools and see that the Prime Minister apologized last year for the past government's policies of assimilation. The residential school system was a terrible way to pressure indigenous children to accept Christianity. If you have relatives who were in this system, you can't blame them for not accepting the church. You can give testimony of what you believe to be true. Can't God and "The Great Spirit" be one and the same?

[R. Smith]

Well, some Natives call God the 'Great Spirit' or 'Creator Father' and so forth. I call God 'God'. Yes, the Prime Minister has apologized for residential schools and what happened there. I cried when I watched it on the news.

No no, I don't blame any of my Family who went to residential school for not going to Church. I can't imagine what they went through.

But going on trips to reservations, I often wonder what residential victims think of what we do.