Strong Leaders
The following was sent at work from my boss's, boss's, boss (hope you followed that). Someone who is in a high ranking position but demonstrates how we can show caring and compassion in all areas of our life. Someone who leads by example and is not afraid to put out her feelings. (This is shared with her consent.) In I Ho Chuan, we talk about leadership and making a difference. Strong leaders are needed, but strong leaders must also show compassion and caring to really make changes. This is the type of leader I aim to be.
Team,
Yesterday I sat in a park, across from a church that chimed its bells 215 times. Once for each child buried at just one of the Canadian residential schools. I wept for the parents whose children were taken from them, I wept for the children who were forced to leave their family and live in fear, I wept for a society who were forbidden to practice those rites and rituals they held most dear, I wept for the many, many people who died.
These things are inhumane. That is one of the first tenants of racism, failing to see and acknowledge the humanity in others. In that moment, I let the enormity of what had happened crash over me and ached for the lost generations. My acknowledgement of their pain did not change the past, but it brought better clarity, understanding and compassion in me for the indigenous peoples of Canada. Not an academic understanding of events, but the visceral empathy of standing in their shoes.
It is easier, of course, to stay detached from the impact actions of society has had throughout history. But walking a mile in someone else’s shoes will change the way you see them forever. If we all took time to do that, we might just begin to heal the fissures in our society that still exist today and treat each other with just a little more kindness.
Later this month is National Indigenous People’s day, but given the profound impact my experience yesterday had on me, it seemed better to share in the moment.
When I read this, I had tears in my eyes. These things don't happen in Canada! But they did. Talking to others, I heard comments like "this was years ago", "we have learnt from this", "how does this pertain to us today" as well as comments that expressing sorrow for those that were impacted. I also hear of the issues that are occurring today, in Canada, in Alberta, in Edmonton. Hatred to the Asian population, people blaming the pandemic on skin color and race. Why has intolerance become more prevalent in the last few years? That is why the above email hit so hard. We need to have stronger leaders in today's society. People who are not afraid to show caring and lead by example if we are ever to recover back to the caring Canadians we use to be known for. We all need to be these strong caring leaders TODAY!
Jackie Kohut
