For a long time I have been thinking about reconciliation. Sadly, I have not solved the question of what I can do to move us closer to reconciliation between indigenous and non-indigenous people in Canada.  I think it is important. If we can’t do it in Canada we will all be poorer for that that failure. Yet what can each of us do?

I once asked a respected Indigenous thinker—Niigaan Sinclair—a Professor of Indigenous Studies at the University of Manitoba, Winnipeg Free Press commentator,  and deep thinker that question. He seemed annoyed by the question. He did not want to do my work for me.  It was up to me to answer that question.  Then I was annoyed.

But eventually I realized Sinclair was right. I had to make the effort to figure it out.  He did though have one suggestion. He suggested I could talk to people—white people like me. They might listen a little bit to me whereas they would not read his columns in the paper. That made some sense to me. I knew most people who knew me would justifiably dismiss me as a windbag. That was fair enough. But a few—a very small few– might listen and then consider what I said. Most of those people will never read his columns even though they are excellent.

So I have been trying—you might have noticed—to comment on indigenous issues from time to time in a weak effort to move us closer to reconciliation. That is something. Not much but at least something. That could be better than doing nothing. Right?

Added to that, I have come to realize I can do a few things. Small things. But again better than nothing. For example, today I attended a meeting at the Pat Porter Seniors centre in Steinbach where there was a presentation by a group of indigenous people.  One of the speakers said how surprised and pleased she was that a seniors group in Steinbach wanted to reach out to the indigenous people to learn from them. She was a residential school survivor and leader in the indigenous community. She was very pleased to see a number of orange shirts in the crowd which represented to her a show of support for indigenous people. That was important to her. I could hear that in her voice.  Christiane and I had worn our orange ‘All Children Matter’ shirts today to this event. We had a contributed a very small level of support that she appreciated.

Wow, I thought to myself. We had not done much, but even that small effort was appreciated. She felt good about it and said she was going to brag about Steinbach to everyone she knew. And she made me feel good in return. This was a tiny step towards reconciliation, but it made both of us feel good.

I think reconciliation means to take a step—even a small step—in the right direction. A series of small steps could be an even better thing. Not?

Small Steps Matter.