Indigenous hospitality

Throughout Hearts Exchanged, participants encounter ‘hearts broken’ experiences as they hear first-hand stories from Indigenous people, and learn history from a new perspective. Hearts Exchanged offers the space and opportunity to discuss, reflect, and turn to right relationships – both personally and corporately.

Jasper Hoogendam (from Coldsprings, Ont.) participated in Hearts Exchanged over the past eight months, and his heart change was poured out through poetic reflections. What follows is Jasper’s poem, “Indigenous Hospitality.”

You can hear more of Jasper’s poetry at this link.

We are the visitor
We are the stranger
Being taken in
As settlers we were welcomed

As settlers we were respected
We were helped
We were cared for
Through Indigenous hospitality

As settlers
We overstayed our welcome
We gradually took over the house
We acted as if we were the owners

We wanted more prime space
We pushed our hosts out
We gave them the basement
We thought it was good enough

Soon we found it inconvenient
Having people in the basement
And so we had an enticing plan
We pushed our hosts into the garage

Soon we needed more space
We saw real value in the garage A place to park the SUV and store the yacht
So we offered our hosts the garden shed

Step by step we pushed them away
Step by step we inserted ourselves
Then we decided to teach them
Christian values
Christian hospitality
Christian virtues of sharing

We have isolated our hosts
We have deprived them of opportunity
We have marginalized them
Then we express our exasperation
They always have their hands out
They always want more

The Indigenous people led by example
They practiced hospitality
They lived the Christian principles
As settlers we have been blind
How long before we honour our hosts?
When will we appreciate their patience?
When will we honour them as people

When will we regard them . . .
Not as subjugated
Not as conquered
Not as lacking moral fortitude
Not as lacking proper ethics
Not as the inconvenient other

When will we regard them . . .
As deserving quality education
As having equal potential
As having land rights
As having a valued identity
As living with a rich culture
As respected citizens
As equal partners
As sovereign people

This page is made possible through a partnership with CRC Ministries within Canada.