Bodies of water, including rivers, have been associated with spirituality and ritual. I have always believed in the power of water. Is it because of its clarity, or the essence of life attached to it? Perhaps its also because we are reflected in its surface. As I pause to consider that felt sense of awe that comes upon me when I am near water, I am reminded of the need to clear our biases to perceive the world with clarity and compassion. Can we see ourselves in a larger context, within systems of nature and systems of imposed order, examining the waters that have been muddied by a colonial narrative? Sometimes, the river’s flow is turbulent, full of uncomfortable truths. This is how it might feel to engage with the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Reports.
