How do we bring about the transformation that is needed?
Anne-Marie Jackson, Jesuit Forum for Social Faith and Justice, Toronto, Canada
Locust seed bean cake. What is it and what has it got to do with the Jesuit Forum for Social Faith and Justice based in Toronto, Canada??
I’m at a women’s cooperative near Bauchi, Nigeria.
It’s 1996. Participants have just described to a group of us from Canada the lengthy
production process of locust seed bean cake. It’s used to flavour soups and stews.
Working together has given these impoverished women some income and the chance to
talk about many issues in their lives. They are Christian and Muslim women.
They are also peace-builders for our world – from the ground up. One woman asks:
“Are you going back to Canada and never coming back?”
A young girl, maybe ten years old, hovers near our table. We’re having dinner in Juigalpa, Nicaragua in 1995. She has an open plastic bag. Finally, she points to leftover scraps on our plates and takes any she can quickly scoop with her fingers before the management sends her out. I am deeply ashamed.
The Oneida people in southern Ontario, in the community of Onyata’aka welcome us to their school where children are taught in their own language and from their own perspective as First Nations in Canada.
It’s 1993. Their creation story talks of twins who brought balance to the world. European contact
upset the balance and brought negative energy. Canada was founded on racism. The
Oneida people are now grooming new leadership and decisions are based on the
children.
Chiapas is the poorest state in Mexico with the highest indigenous population. They endure racism, hunger and militarization. But Jorge S. Santiago asks us to “communicate the hope in Chiapas” when we return home in 2000.
Bricks Mokolo from Orange Farm, South Africa, tells us in 2005 of people in his community who used to walk a long way to the well for water. Now there are pipes to each home. But if you don’t have money for the meter, you don’t get water. Unemployment is the norm in Orange Farm. People are very poor. Now they have no clean water.
This year, Sharon Ruiz Duremdes of the Philippines reminded us that thirteen Canadian mining companies wreak havoc and death in her country.
How do we bring about the transformation that is needed? Inuit leader, Sheila Watt Cloutier says we need to free people’s imaginations. “Listen to your neighbour, listen to your heart. A way will come.”
The stories and voices above remain an anchor for my work. They live and breathe and inform our plans, action, and evaluation.
At the Jesuit Forum, we take seriously the proposition that a good revolution begins in the hearts and minds of people. We are bringing together small groups – especially leaders in society. We promote listening – dialogue – getting beneath the debate. Our process attempts to bring some meaning in our uncertain times. The hope is that attentive listening and reflection will foster decision-making and action that will make a difference.
Locust bean seed cake flavours everything we do at the Jesuit Forum.
Anne-Marie JacksonJesuit Forum for Social Faith and Justice [email protected]
