Longtime member, Rick Bourque who will be performing a smudging at the Credit Union on The National Day for Truth & Reconciliation, did not grow up on a reserve and did not know very much about his Indigenous background until much later in his life.
“Growing up I didn’t know much about my heritage at all, says Rick. “It wasn’t ‘cool’ to be Native in those days.”
Rick was born in Chatham, NB where his family has lived for several generations. Rick and his family moved to Ontario when he was only one years old and have lived in Oshawa ever since. While Rick’s family are of indigenous descent, specifically, the Algonquin Nation, he was raised Roman Catholic. Many Indigenous children were raised as Roman Catholics as this was the religion that was taught to the children in the Indian Residential Schools. While Rick and his parents never went to a residential school, his paternal grandmother did as well as previous generations of his family.
“No one ever talks about what happened there. It’s too painful,” Rick explains. “They just want to forget.”
It wasn’t until Rick found himself on a native reserve camping with friends when he began to take an interest in his heritage. On the camping trip, Rick was invited to sweat lodge ceremony which is said to purify the spirit. Intrigued, Rick decided to participate in the ceremony, which is when everything changed.
“I experienced a spiritual awakening. It is really hard to describe it, and it is different for everyone,” explains Rick.
Ever since his spiritual awakening 21 years ago, Rick is dedicated to learning about his heritage and sharing his knowledge with others. Rick works for local organizations including UOIT and Ontario Shores, teaching people about indigenous culture as well as making indigenous arts like jewelry, stone knives and dreamcatchers with authentic materials including a variety of exquisite gemstones, leather, and feathers.