I’m very fond of the printed word, and I’m a hermit, so many of these ideas for truth and reconciliation will appear to be aimed toward the scholars, and people who go from one year’s end to the next never knowingly interacting with anyone who’s First Nations. Given a choice between doing nothing and looking stupid and elitist, I’ll take my lumps.
I’ve varied terminology between all of Indian, indigenous, First Nations, First Peoples and aboriginal but my personal preference is First Nations, because the words assert the simple truth. They were in Canada – on Turtle Island – long before settlers arrived, and they are nations because they had distinct languages, territories and modes of self-governance and international exchange before settlers arrived. The time has long passed for any settler to be allowed to consider the “Injuns” who were here when their ancestors arrived to have been an amorphous blob of ignorant savages, indistinguishable and extinguishable in equal measure. That they had no cannons doesn’t undo their nationhood.
The material comfort of my ancestors was increased by their losses, but nothing is my ‘fault’ except the racism I’ve embodied myself, in my own person, and the credence I have given to stories I grew up on about First Nations history and people that they themselves did not give me. Human beings capable of the effort owe themselves the clarity that examination of their own biases can bring them. It may not be possible to eradicate the thought, and not all of us are that strong. To eliminate bias from one’s behaviour and speech is the true goal, and to hold oneself to the necessity for not passing bias on to those of tender years should be an automatic corollary of that goal. With the elimination of bias comes the responsibility to force successive Canadian governments to honour the treaties they’ve signed and to move forward with deliberate speed on resolving outstanding issues. It is my belief that a radical overhaul of everything to do with treaties between the government of Canada and the First Nations is required.
1. Read the 94 recommendations.
2. A few days later, read the 94 recommendations again, more slowly this time.
3. Which of these recommendations can you action in your own life?
4. In your church?
5. At your workplace?
6. At home?
7. In your purchasing habits?
8. In your speech?
9. In how you respond to news and entertainment reporting on and depicting the actions and speech of natives?
10. In encouraging yourself to see the ways native narratives are removed from the joint narrative of settler Canadians.
11. Think about whether you’re prepared to call yourself a settler. If you aren’t prepared to call yourself that, think about how you would verbally distinguish yourself from those who are actively hostile and racist toward the First Nations.
12. Do you know where the nearest Friendship Centre is? Locate it if you don’t.
13. Do you know what languages the First Nations in your area speak, including any First Nations neighbours who aren’t from around here?
14. Indigenous people across the planet are spending time with each other and sharing stories, medicine and strategy to address the many issues they have in common. These meetings are formal and informal, recorded and private. What do you know about these meetings and what questions would you have for participants? Having formulated some questions research what indigenous people have said about these meetings.
15. If you have internet access, research and follow at least one First Nations activist on social media, although you will have a tough time keeping it to one.
16. Visit your local library and borrow and read books by First Nations authors which can be fiction, poetry, memoir, non-fiction, academic.
17. Research and donate money to a First Nations cause.
18. Read the Indian Act. There are also glosses and line by line interpretations of the Act which can add dramatically to understanding it.
19. If you have access, watch a youtube video. Google “youtube testimony residential schools”.
20. Go to a powwow. Dance, as you are able.
21. Purchase and display art by aboriginal artists.
22. Examine your speech for racist terms and expunge them.
23. For this next exercise, bannock, with its wondrous golden appeal and dubious nutrition, doesn’t count, nor does salmon, which is too easy. Research, cook and eat a local First Nations traditional dish.
24. Listen to music devised and performed by First Nations artists.
25. See the MMIW display.
26. Learn about Haudenosaunee beadwork.
27. Spend your vacation in accommodations owned and operated under indigenous management.
28. Read the story of the Beothuk.
29. Learn how to say hello, goodbye, please and thank you in a local First Nations language.
30. Support First Nations people by attending demonstrations and making your voice heard.
31. Learn the traditional territorial boundaries of First Nations people.
32. Read about the laws, traditions and spiritual beliefs of First Nations people in your area.
33. If you have school aged children, ensure that they have access to age appropriate materials about the residential schools over the course of their own schooling.
34. http://www.thetattooedprof.com/archives/407
35. http://theracecardproject.com/
36. When native activists request settlers to assist in lobbying the government, protest in person or via your local elected representatives.