Love overcomes greatest divide

Page 10

Dear Editor:

As a Two-Spirited Catholic I feel extreme embarrassment and disappointment over the recent decision by the Vancouver archdiocese to ban VanCity from its schools because of their open support of the queer community. Obviously Archbishop Exner is quick to point out the "intrinsic evil" of the homosexual act while omitting the greatest Christian teaching, love.

If you love, then you don't judge, you don't condemn, you don't marginalize and above all-you don't persecute!

Love means you love no matter what differences there are. Whether they be differences of race, religion, lifestyle or opinion.

Unfortunately, love gets shoved to the back burner many times because of doctrine. Throughout history, doctrine has been used as a weapon to repress peoples who are different.

I look at the oppression my Aboriginal brothers and sisters suffered in residential school, my mother being one of them. It was there that doctrine was forced upon my people in the name of saving them from their savage ways. They were stripped of both their culture and dignity that the effects of this abuse are still seen to this day. High rates of drug and alcohol abuse, physical and sexual abuse, high unemployment, suicide, bad health, etc.

When you attack the very core of who someone is, then you might as well put a gun to their heads, because the effect is the same. An empty shell is all that remains.

Part of this attack upon my people was the loss of the wisdom of our cultural teachings in regards to two-spirited peoples. Before the coming of the missionaries, two-spirited people were respected contributing members of First Nation society. We were seen as visionaries who looked out for the community and we also cared for the orphans who lost their parents. We were also seen as peacemakers helping to bring harmony and stability to the community.

But because of the brainwashing imposed at residential schools, these teachings have been forgotten and replaced with fear and hatred. Two-spirited peoples are now oppressed by their own people because of this.

Now the new target is my queer community, so I feel doubly oppressed by the church-first for being a "dirty Indian" and now for being a "dirty faggot."

Fortunately though, we live in an enlightened society so there is no chance of us being carted away to queer residential schools where doctrine would again be used to save us from our savage ways.

That was the reason I put together "Kichx Anagaat Yatx'i: Children of the Rainbow" for the Out On Screen Vancouver Queer Film & Video Festival this year. To help us as two-spirited people tell our story, so as to help us on our healing journey. But our story will also help educate society and help them remember what our culture teaches-love and respect everyone.

That is why my production received the Audience Favourite Award from the festival. Because it was a celebration of diversity and pride that helped the audience with a vision of the future filled with hope.

We've come a long way but actions like those taken by Archbishop Exner show that we still have a long way to go.

Thank you, VanCity, for supporting us, we will support you because of it.

Fight the good fight my people! Never give up and never give in to hate. Fight hatred and discrimination with love and respect, and let our voices be heard once more: "We Queer! We Eat Deer! Get used to it!"

Gunalchish! (Thank you)

Duane Ghastant' Aucoin

Vancouver, B.C.