“As survivors we’ve been to the top of the mountain. On top of the mountain we were given new fire to talk about our hurts, our pain, our struggle...We were instructed to be strong. We were instructed not to be ashamed. We were instructed not to be afraid to talk about dehumanization. We were not afraid to talk about the traumatization of our spirits. We came down from that mountain and we’re telling you the truth of what happened. We’re telling you the truth because we’re tired of being hurt. We want to travel with the rest of you in a good way. From that mountain we gained the strength we needed. Many of us went to the various TRC hearings to be able to tell our story, not to be afraid to cry, the way we cried when we were abused like little kids, not to be afraid to cry as an adult, as a grandfather. To me, reconciliation didn’t mean anything for a long time. Why should I reconcile? I didn’t do anything wrong. Why? I was taken away. I was beaten up, but I didn’t do anything wrong. Why should I reconcile to the government? To the church? But because of my wife, her strength, encouragement, I started to understand what reconciliation is all about. And as I get old, I started to understand more that I have to talk about the abuse and be able to release the pain I was carrying. Now I understand what reconciliation is all about. I understand. You know, when a hunter is about to go out and get food for his family, the night before he goes out, he speaks to the game that he’s going to bring home, to ask for forgiveness. From that mountain we were given the power to honour the people that abused us because we want to live a good life.”