A Four Part Anti-Indigenous Racism Discussion.
Sharing news and resources related to this four part presentation and discussion by Durham Indigenous Voices. Reconciliation (part 1) was an incredibly powerful webinar that I attended with such passionate, articulate and engaging speakers. Each presenter emphasized the need for continued learning, ongoing awareness, and the need to be active as an ally.
The discussions reiterated that supportive actions, even small ones, are the way to move forward in Canada so that real change can happen for Indigenous communities. And, although these are difficult conversations and uncomfortable truths to acknowledge, accept and process, it is paramount that we do not historicize horrific events (which incorrectly views these events as past), but rather acknowledge and own all that has happened and is happening, leading up to this present moment, in order to make impactful and lasting change.
Remember…
Know and honour the land that we are visitors on.
Listen and be aware of our positionality.
Unbraid what we have learned.
Be brave to relearn how to become better allies.
Provide opportunities in our communities for Indigenous voices to be heard.
Value relationships. Remember we are relational to the land.
Protect, nurture and foster these relationships.
Directly support Indigenous-led initiatives and industries (music, art etc.)
Sharing below the links to register for the live event (and links to post-event recordings), plus additional resources for continued allyship, advocacy and learning.
Poster Image Credit: Durham Indigenous Voices • 2021
Reconciliation. Resistance. Resilience. Resurgence.
“A series of panel discussions on anti-Indigenous racism and how you can be an ally and an advocate for change within your own community and relationships.
Durham College, Ontario Tech University, DCSI, OTSU and Durham Region Libraries, the Region of Durham are launching a collaborative four-part panel discussion with Indigenous peoples and First Nations from the Durham Region.
Reconciliation, Resistance, Resilience, and Resurgence will focus on actions that support and amplify Indigenous Voices in our community as we move forward with the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls-to-Action.”
Recordings Available to View Until September 19, 2021.
Reconciliation.
• June 17th, 2021 • 6:30-8:30 • Recording available on youtube view here.
Poster Image Credit: Durham Indigenous Voices • 2021
Resistance.
• July 8th, 2021 • 6:30-8:30 • Recording available on facebook here.
Poster Image Credit: Durham Indigenous Voices • 2021
Resilience.
• July 29th, 2021 • 6:30-8:30 • register here on Evenbrite. Recording available on facebook here.
Resurgence.
• August 19th, 2021 • 6:30-8:30 • register here on Eventbrite.
Follow.
@durhamindigenousvoices
@Suswaaning Endaajig - Durham Colleges First Peoples Indigenous Centre
Speakers.
RECONCILIATION.
Keynote Speaker: Dr. Pam Palmater: www.pampalmater.com • Dr Palmater is Mi’kmaw citizen and member of the Eel River Bar First Nation in northern New Brunswick. She has been a practicing lawyer for 22 years and is currently a Professor and the Chair in Indigenous Governance at Ryerson University
Panel Members: Nicole Blackman • Provincial Director at Indigenous Primary Healthcare Council + Michelle Evans • Durham District School Board + Colleen McCullough • Dnaagdawenmag Binnoojiiyag Child & Family Services
RESISTANCE.
Indigenous Protectors; Elder Shirley Williams + Elder Dorothy Taylor + Anishinaabekwe Vanessa Gray.
“Allyship: an active, consistent, and arduous practice of unlearning and re-evaluating, in which a person of privilege seeks to operate in solidarity with a marginalized group of people”
Additional Resources.
Below is an in-progress resource list for further learning around being an ally and supporting Indigenous initiatives (Most links provided during Durham Indigenous Voices Series).
Advocacy & Allyship.
• How can you advocate? Seven Free Ways to Help • Blackwood
• Support Indigenous Charities that help educate people on the Canadian Indian Residential Schools: Legacy of Hope Foundation
• Truth and Reconciliations Commission and the Calls to Action that have been proposed: http://www.trc.ca/
• An Action Plan for the Lost Children who Died in Residential Schools focused on the Five Stages of Grief: #215 Pledge
• A Guide to Allyship • British Columbia Teachers Federation. 2016
Books & Resources.
• Resources here to help educate yourself about different values & teachings
• Summary here: Positionality & Intersectionality
• #215 Pledge Recommended Resources and Links: https://www.215pledge.ca/recommended-resources/
• Recommended Book • Why Indigenous Literatures Matter - Daniel Heath Justice
• Check out this list of Ajax Library titles that celebrate and amplify Indigenous voices
• Whitby Library. Book recommendations by Powwow Summers
• A timeline of history by D‟Arcy Rheault a Métis gentleman: www.omfrc.org
Continued Learning • Upcoming Lectures and Webinars.
• August 26 • “Indigenous Art and Activism: Three Voices’ - Calgary Institute of the Humanities 3rd Annual LGBTQ2S+ Lecture. Register here on Eventbrite. Joshua Whitehead + Billy-Ray Belcourt + Shawnee Kish
Donations & Support.
• Gord Downie & Chanie Wenjack Fund: www.downiewenjack.ca
• First Nations Health Authority • Support Indigenous-led initiatives that support equitable treatment for Indigenous people in Canadas health care: https://www.fnha.ca/about/compliments-and-complaints
Support Artists and Creative Indigenous Industries.
• Mo Thunder - Monique Aura Bedard is an art therapist and artist. Read about their TATI major project and the formation of the OSOT Program - ‘Our Stories Our Truths’, where Indigenous youth connect with mentors in the community with an art and land-based focus
• Elsa Jayne is a singer-songwriter and Anishinaabekwe. Her song and beautiful voice in ‘Mini-Giizhigad’ (It’s A Good Day) opens Part 1 of the series.
• Indigenous Marketplace for art, beading and accessories: Indigimall.net
• ARTICLE-ART: How Indigenous artists are reinvigorating the art of birch bark biting.
Land.
• Land Back - Land Acknowledgement • Monique Aura Bedard • Toronto Art Therapy Institute
• Whose Land. • Maps & Land Acknowledgements • Territories by Land
Organizations.
• First Nations Child & Family Caring Society • national nonprofit organization for research, policy, professional development & networking to support First Nations.
* Indian Residential School Survivors Society • 24 Hour Crisis Line
Reports.
• Final Report of National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls.
• Indigenous Children in Foster Care,
• First Nations Schools are Chronically Underfunded.
• Indigenous People in Federal Custody Surpasses 30%.