(2) Learning about the Cree Culture
As someone who knew next to nothing about the Cree culture, the time spent at the Saddle Lake reserve was an excellent opportunity to learn first-hand about their culture, beliefs and customs. By attending a pow-wow, a pipe-ceremony, sitting in on a high school Cree language class, and participating in many other Cree activities, I learned a lot about the Cree.
(3) Listening to their Stories
The highlight of the trip was sitting down and listening to their personal stories. The local people that we encountered were very willing to share their stories with us. Story-telling happened at people’s homes over a meal, on the street, at the youth centre, ….everywhere. Their personal and collective experiences in the Residential Schools – the psychological, physical and sexual abuse experienced at the hands of the Church for many decades were fresh on their minds and a common theme of their sharings. Another common theme was death and suicide. It seemed like that each person had experienced multiple episodes of death in their family or amongst their peer group. Even during our trip, we were notified that a youth who we had met two days earlier had tried to commit suicide by drug overdose. Saddle Lake reserve was a place that could be described as a place of hopelessness, boredom, and struggle. There was unemployment, drugs, gangs, and broken families. This was the story of Saddle Lake.
(4) Praying for their Needs
Even though their historical experience with the Church was negative due to the Residential Schools and the people of Saddle Lake stilled harbored much resentment against the Church, there were still many occasions where the local people appreciated our prayers for them and with them. It was a privilege to spend time in prayer with them.
Conclusion
I thank God for the opportunity to be a part of the TCCC Saddle Lake Short term mission team. I believe that there was great worth in our visit as we partnered with the local missionary who lives in Saddle Lake. Our ministry of presence provided the salt and light of Jesus at Saddle Lake for a short period of time. Lord willing, another TCCC team will be going back to Saddle Lake next year.
(Pastor Edmund Wu is the Pastor of TCCC English Congregation)