Waterbird's Nest: Open Letter to Pope Benedict, Pope of the Catholic Church

Dale Auger

Dale Auger: On Art, Blood and Kindred Spirits
by Terri Mason

Defining Dale Auger in one sentence is akin to releasing the colours of a diamond in one cut. It can’t be done. It’s the many facets that release a diamond’s true brilliance, as it is the many facets of Auger’s life, education, ancestry, experiences and beliefs that have shaped and polished his work into the internationally acclaimed and collected artist that he is today.

Born a Sakaw Cree from the Bigstone Cree Nation in northern Alberta, Auger’s education began as a young boy when his mother would take him to be with the elders. “I used to say to myself, ‘Why is she leaving me with these old people?’ – but today I see the reason; I was being taught in the old way.”

Auger’s respect for traditional teachings led him on a journey to study art, opening the door to a doctorate in education. He is a talented playwright, speaker and visual artist whose vividly coloured acrylics have captured the attention of collectors that reads like an international ‘Who’s Who’ spanning English to Hollywood royalty. The essence of his work is communication, and now Dr. Auger has come full circle, interpreting the life of his culture – from the everyday to the sacred - through the cross-cultural medium of art.

Read the rest here:

http://www.daleauger.com/printversionbio.cfm

Friday, April 18, 2008

Open Letter to Pope Benedict, Pope of the Catholic Church

An Open Letter to Pope Benedict, Pope of the Catholic Church

By: Pamela Waterbird Davison

You’re Imminence:

I am honored to have you reading my words and beg your indulgence while I address you as a human being. You see, I am no one to you. I’m not even Catholic. But I am the descendant of a North American Aboriginal People. Recently, I’ve seen you on my television, visiting Washington, and addressing issues among the people, including sexual abuse committed by priests of the order. As of April 15, 2007, an investigation conducted by the International Human Rights Tribunal into Genocide, established by indigenous elders, will attempt to address the issue of many mass graves containing school children near Indian Boarding Schools.

“Our Tribunal will commence on April 15 by gathering all of the evidence, including forensic remains, that is necessary to charge and indict those responsible for the deaths of the children buried therein.”

What has been found, You’re Imminence, are twenty-eight sites of evidentiary remains – mass graves – some of which are five intact skeletons observed in school furnace. Many schools have been destroyed, some facilities are still functional, however, and a great many of these “boarding schools” were, and some remain, run by the Catholic Church. Kuper Island: Catholic school (1890-1975), offshore from Chemainus, Mission: St. Mary’s Catholic school (1861-1984), Cranbrook: St. Eugene Catholic School (1898-1970) names just three locations belonging to the Vatican.

For hundreds of years my people have told the stories of the holocaust committed on this land, but no one has listened…until now. Finally, we have proof of the stories; can show the world exactly what the true history of this land is.

I heard with gladness in my heart as you visited with victims of priests in your order. It feels like a step in the right direction. I appreciate your courage of conviction to meet truth head-on. Now I hope you will meet this truth with equal dedication.

A country which denies its own culpability is doomed to destroy itself. The same applies to a religious sect, especially those countries and religions as powerful as the United States of America and the Catholic Church. Will you continue to deny truth in the face of evidence, or will you acknowledge us, finally, into the proper context of history? It may not seem significant to you or other world leaders, but it is very significant to indigenous people all around the world and we are watching.