Ralph and I are headed to Athabasca to celebrate my Aunt and Uncles 50th wedding anniversary so on the drive we listened to two episodes by the Indian and Cowboy podcast network (search Red Man Laughing on iTunes). The first was Ryan McMahon's Red Man Laughing "Reconciliation" episode. Ryan and I were part of the National Friendship Centre movement back in the early 2000s. I didn't know him well by any means but I'm so incredibly proud that a fellow Friendship Centrer has developed such a widespread and transformative platform for Indigneous conversation. The conversation on this particular podcast was his thoughts on Reconciliation in Canada. He started with a very impactful statement: "think about it, we aren't supposed to be here", if everything went by plan, Indigneous people would have been fully assimilated or exterminated. McMahon disagrees with reconciliation, his argument is that for reconciliation to happen truly, we need decolonization in Canada. For that to happen he had a few suggestions for non-Indigenous ppl: donate your lakelot to Indigenous people for language retention, invite an Indigenous student to live in your sewing room (after you clean it out) for free, donate your acreage to Indigenous groups, etc... He made it sound as though this is so outrageous that is unlikely to happen but there are examples of similar donations taking place. In Edmonton, the family donated Fox Farm to the City of Edmonton with the cavaet that it will be for exclusive Indigenous use (not stipulations on the type of uses - respecting that Indigenous groups would identify uses themselves). For more information on Kichiy Askiy click here. Decolonization is education everywhere but particularly schools. We hear that the curriculum is changing, however will it challenge the settler mentality for future generations enough to bring decolonization to fruition? I think it can, but it will take an enormous amount of time as McMahon says. He quoted Murray Sinclair that "the truth will set you free" and added "but first it will piss you off". That means having uncomfortable conversations, Canadian learning about the true history and getting pissed off about the atrocities in this country. Essentially, this won't be happening overnight. The second podcast was the first episode of Kanada Pod hosted by Lisa Gibrav recorded on the unceded Coast Salish Territory at the Kanata Festival in Vancouver. In this episode, Ryan McMahon and Gibrav talked in depth about Canada 150, Canada 300 and what needs to happen in between.
On July 1, 1867 the Eastern British colonies united without the proper consultation with Indigenous people, which was followed by the Western provinces joining the nation we now know as Canada. 150 is a celebration of the 150 years sovereignty over the land mass of Canada. What that celebration is missing is recognition of the original inhabitants, their dispossession and genocide within that 150 years and the treaty promises and contractual obligations of Canada. McMahon reminded us about the two row wampum treaties, where both parties agreed to co-exist in harmony but separately. His analogy was "you stay in your canoe and I'll stay in mine". These foundational agreements that led to prosperity through the fur trade was swiftly forgotten with the establishment of the Canadian government. It's subjugation and enslavement of Indigenous communities and the cowardly targeting of Indigenous children had one goal: to espouse colonial assimilation and break the bond of uncivilized lifestyle. Gibrav and McMahon discussed how Indigenous people turtle island wide all saw the plans for 150 and asked how could we possibly celebrate colonization and the systemic attack on Indigenous way of life. An example was the 66 year ban on potlatches or the residential school system. McMahon sounded encouraged when he described the Indigenous response to 150, describing Indigenous people as having become "emboldened" and the opportunity we have to align our priorities and discourse. The challenge is now that the year of 150 has commenced, which he identifies rightly as July 1, 2017 to July 1, 2018, how are we as Indigenous people are going to ensure the conversation about decolonization and Indigenous liberation continues throughout the full year, setting the foundation for the next 150. The vision for Canada 300 is a celebration of the diversity within Canada, that before 2167, we similar to Europe, encourage the exploration within Canada and the difference Nations here - there are 64 different language groups in Canada, each with numerous languages, and future each language their own songs, laws, traditions and civilizations . I'm from Northen Alberta myself and I've always wanted to learn more about Dakota or Blackfoot cultures this is my opportunity to explore the diversity within Alberta itself, in Wood Buffalo we have Metis, Dene and Cree as well as visitors from other Indigneous nations within our region - let's celebrate our Indigneous diversity. Both McMahon and Gibrav agreed that for the next 150 years to see positive change that non-Indigneous Canadian "keep and open heart and mind to Indigneous liberation". We are the strongest we have ever been as Indigneous people, with more Indigneous university students than ever. with more doctors and lawyers than ever and with people returning to the land. Opportunities such as urban reserves and resurgence of Indigneous languages will give our youth the foundation they need to forge their way forward. McMahon's vision for the next 150 is a safe place to live for our youth, Gibrav expanded on that vision challenging the country and Indigenous sovereign governments to address (instead of coping with) the underlying societal problems that have led to those safety concerns. Further they challenged Indigneous people and allies, those with "a strong heart to come up to the front of the line" of #resistance150.
1 Comment
Tarina Colledge
12/1/2018 12:28:35 pm
“CBC Unreserved” and “The Jig is Up” are two other great podcasts.
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About me
I grew up in Athabasca, AB and have spent the majority of my life in Northern Alberta or Montreal, PQ. My husband has been in Fort McMurray since the 70s and continues to love this town and all that it has to offer. We are avid outdoor enthusiasts, spending our summer weekends quadding and camping. As Opimian members we thoroughly enjoy wine pairings and tastings and are working on our wine collection. Ralph is a carpenter by trade and has framed more houses in Fort McMurray than I could count and knows the city inside and out. I work all throughout the region from the NWT to Janvier for the tribal council. My passion is doodling and photography which is featured throughout the website (various mediums), writing, Indigenous studies, and learning in general. Categories |