Haalapi Hawit (Creator) [2 Corinthians 5:18-21]

This poster means very much to me. It was given to me by Remi, a colleague here at The Salvation Army. Remi has taught me much about Nuu-Chah-Nulth culture, tradition, government, and some vocabulary (if only I can remember the words!); he is a friend!

On Ash Wednesday this year, the Tseshaht First Nation released the preliminary findings about the residential school that was on their territory. It is very sad. Everyday since, as before, as I enter my office and as I sit at my desk, I see the painting by Roy Henry Vickers with the words 'Haalapi Hawit' (Creator) written underneath.

'Haalapi Hawit' (Creator) went to the cross for us. The tears in this picture remind me how sad He must be for the way we have treated each other in residential schools and elsewhere and how sad He must be at the way we continue to treat each other today.

'Haalapi Hawit' (Creator) died and rose again so that we could be reconciled to 'Haalapi Hawit' (Creator) and to one another. As 'Haalapi Hawit' (Creator) has done this for us, it is my hope that indeed we will all work diligently and unceasingly toward that end of living a life reconciled both with 'Haalapi Hawit' (Creator) and one another.

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