I arrived in Kenora Ontario yesterday around noon. The members of our CPT delegation (11 people all together) met at the Baptist Church where we’re staying while in Kenora. We represent 6 countries and our ages range from 20 to 71! Everyone is already involved in some social or peace project somewhere and has converged here inspired by the same desire to learn more about the Aboriginal communities and their reality. This part is new for all of us. Before getting out, we need to become real
CPTers and receive the famous CPT "red cap." A short ceremony and we are now an official CPT delegation!
Today we had our first visit in the community; we went to the Fellowship Center downtown Kenora, a homeless shelter that provides support for people who don’t have anywhere else to go. Many belong to the Aboriginal community. We ate and talked with people, just to hear a few pieces of their stories.One woman who volunteers at the shelter tells us that Kenora was known as the Alabama of the North because of its racial divide. But right away she adds: "it has changed a lot over the past 5 years; this is a great time to be in Kenora!" Tomorrow we are going to Grassy Narrows, 2 hours North of Kenora, on the reservation. I am curious to see if there too, some small positive changes have transformed reality... wouldn't that be encouraging? Since yesterday, while getting to know each other, people in our group have mentioned a few times the role of positive reinforcement. The more I listen to people's struggles, the more I realize how much positive reinforcement is necessary; I would possibly name it the practical side of faith!
I arrived in Kenora Ontario yesterday around noon. The members of our CPT delegation (11 people all together) met at the Baptist Church where we’re staying while in Kenora. We represent 6 countries and our ages range from 20 to 71! Everyone is already involved in some social or peace project somewhere and has converged here inspired by the same desire to learn more about the Aboriginal communities and their reality. This part is new for all of us. Before getting out, we need to become real CPTers and receive the famous CPT "red cap." A short ceremony and we are now an official CPT delegation!
Today we had our first visit in the community; we went to the Fellowship Center downtown Kenora, a homeless shelter that provides support for people who don’t have anywhere else to go. Many belong to the Aboriginal community. We ate and talked with people, just to hear a few pieces of their stories.One woman who volunteers at the shelter tells us that Kenora was known as the Alabama of the North because of its racial divide. But right away she adds: "it has changed a lot over the past 5 years; this is a great time to be in Kenora!" Tomorrow we are going to Grassy Narrows, 2 hours North of Kenora, on the reservation. I am curious to see if there too, some small positive changes have transformed reality... wouldn't that be encouraging? Since yesterday, while getting to know each other, people in our group have mentioned a few times the role of positive reinforcement. The more I listen to people's struggles, the more I realize how much positive reinforcement is necessary; I would possibly name it the practical side of faith!
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