Truth and Reconciliation Day

The Dark and The Light

Beginning in May of 2021, with the major public discovery of unmarked graves and remains at former Canadian residential schools and subsequent findings, brought a shocking truth that our (Canada and the Church's) attempted genocide of our Indigenous people and their cultures. (In truth, it was much early than May of 2021).

I don't want to dwell too deeply on this dark topic. But rarely in my life have I've even been ashamed to call myself Canadian.

I have recently had the privilege and honour to have (and continuing) a journey with Jules (Tapas) Inishinapay I.C.C., S.F.O.T.T., to publishing his memoir, The Long Paddle Home.

Born into a family haunted by the legacy of residential schools, addiction, violence, and poverty, Jules Tapas grew up believing survival was simply a way of life. In the Cree communities along the James Bay coast, he witnessed the devastating impact of intergenerational trauma while enduring abuse, loss, and despair from an early age. Yet amid the darkness, another path was quietly calling him.

On the rivers, in the forests, and across the vast muskeg of northern Ontario, Jules learned from the land. Guided by Elders, Cree teachings, and the wisdom of his ancestors, he discovered a source of strength that no hardship could extinguish. Those lessons would become the foundation of a remarkable journey—from a wounded child searching for hope to a respected Cree medicine man dedicated to healing others.

With extraordinary honesty and compassion, The Long Paddle Home tells a story of resilience, forgiveness, cultural renewal, and spiritual awakening. It is a deeply personal account of overcoming trauma without surrendering to it, of reclaiming identity after generations of loss, and of finding one's way back to the Creator through the enduring wisdom of the land.

Powerful, inspiring, and unforgettable, this autobiography is both a testament to the strength of the Cree people and a universal story of hope, healing, and the courage to come home.

When I see his ability to love and heal others, it is a testimony and manifestation to Humanity Spirit itself. A man like Jules Tapas makes me once again feel proud to call myself a Canadian, alongside him.

But Jules Tapas isn't the only or first Indigenous person I've had to privilege to work alongside with.

I had the privilege and honour to work with Dr. Rongo Wetere, ONZM, FNZIM (Maniapoto Tribe from Aotearoa) as a Masori cultural advisor on the novel, Ngaro's Sojourney, in 2019. And although nearly a world apart, the lessons are the same.

I thought the dedication from Ngaro's Sojourney, all of 7 years ago, still stands true and appropriate. And I hope you will allow me to share them:

“The American Dream” is anything but. The belief we are all equal, and should we work hard enough, wealth and prosperity are within all people’s grasp. The unfortunate truth is that with the rampant race to attain superfluous resources, this private, commercial and governmental amassment of wealth also included putting down and crippling others, so as to negate potential competition. It also included a twisted form of legal theft, the blind Lady Justice being anything but.

The European colonization began it. Cultural appropriation? Cultural-genocide.

Deprived of their nurturing, of their native culture and languages, this cultural-genocide was nearly complete.

The loss of these Indigenous voices, Cultures, Heritages, Languages, Worldviews and Wisdom, is of detriment and loss to all mankind. We, collectively, are impoverished with this absence.

It is only through protectionism, xenophobia, non-communal ‘tribalism’ and a culture of fear and greed that has led us to these tragic circumstances. Although I may only speak from the bias of a White North American Westerner, this is not to say it hasn’t occurred elsewhere. Australia, New Zealand, the list goes on and on.

Since childhood I have attempted to imagine our world had the Inca, Aztec, the Māori, the Indigenous Native North American people - only to name a few - had survived and flourished, not only as a culture, but as civilizations; to have evolved and advanced to our modern world stage today. What spirituality and wisdom might they have brought? What might our government and politicians look like today, instead of their short-sighted 2 to 4 year view, they based their decisions in terms of the next 7 generations? What might our world look like?

I believe it would have been wondrous.

One Ocean ~ One Tribe ~ One People ~ One World.