Colonization impacts all areas of our lives as First Nations people. Physically, we are more sedentary and suffer from newer diseases, many of which are completely preventable. Emotionally, the legacy of pain that is colonization has greatly impacted the family unit, with the majority of First Nations children being raised by single mothers, grandparents, and other relatives. Also, there are more First Nations children in protective care in 2010 than in the 1960′s during the infamous ’60s scoop’. Mentally, the vast majority of us don’t know our Indigenous languages, stories and ancestral knowledge. Spiritually, only 3% of us in Canada practice our traditional spirituality.
But, now is the time to be accountable for these deficits and quit blaming. It’s a matter of being whole over being right. We can focus our attention on the injustices of the past or we can focus on what we can do right now, today to make things better. It’s up to us. It’s not in any colonial government’s mandate to indigenize the Indigenous and decolonize the colonized. Only we can lift ourselves up.
Here are 4 things we can do today:
1) Learn a word in your language everyday. It may not seem like much, but over forty years a word a day adds up to 14560 words. If you already know your language, speak it and share it with the young ones. Model the behaviour you wish to see. Language embeds thought patterns and values. It is no coincidence that there are many more verbs in most Indigenous languages than nouns. This prominence of verbs over nouns speaks to our high value placed on processes over things.
2) Decolonize your tastebuds. By avoiding foods that are high in sugar and saturated fat, we are preventing diabetes, obesity, heart disease, among other slow killers. While you’re at it, take a walk on the land. You’ll be freeing four birds with one latch: exercise is good for the body, mind, heart and spirit.
3) Let’s place an emphasis on healthy families. The best way to do this is to keep the lines of communication open. Get in touch today with a close relative who’s drifted and reconnect right now. No matter where we are, with this new technology we can stay connected to our families, however we conceive them. This is an important first step in keeping our families strong.
4) Plan to attend a ceremony. It doesn’t have to be a Sun Dance, but can be. It can be something as accessible as a pow-wow or potlatch, depending on where you are. By honoring our ceremonies, we are modelling this same attitude for the generations to follow.
By taking these initial four steps, we are renewing the journey towards wholeness. What are your suggestions?
September 10, 2010
nativecoach
5 responses to “4 Steps towards Decolonization”
Nu3
September 11th, 2010 at 10:41
Thank you first and foremost – this is the key to finding one’s self mentally, soulfully and physically….Thank you!
“we can focus on what we can do right now, today to make things better. It’s up to us. It’s not in any colonial government’s mandate to indigenize the Indigenous and decolonize the colonized. Only we can lift ourselves up.” Beautifully spoken. Peace is in the present.
Some say that if post colonized educational system patterned after western ways did not exist people would be empowered and have confidence in themselves via their culture. Just because europeans value something does not mean we should but some people say that when power is in the room regardless of anything – certain people will do anything to emulate that power or appear to have it.
What was the ’60s scoop’ ?
“Mentally, the vast majority of us don’t know our Indigenous languages, stories and ancestral knowledge.”
Like you said we will have to take the initiative and instill the pride back into us and make sure those of us who say english or french or whatever language is the new language and it is prevalent in the business world – we must ignore them.
“What are your suggestions?”
Segue home schooling into teaching the way our ancestors taught.
Acting the SAME way in the presence of colonizers and not being ashamed. (That is a big one) You ever notice how people change their voice when talking to colonizers? Very suttle yet odd thing – but even colonizers change their speech patterns to be more accepted by first nation-ers or others some times (not as prevalent as the afore)
What is odd though is that everything we do culturally is outlawed just like they outlawed the use of drums or loud sounds we used to use that as a means of communication…Is it possible to operate under a system that colonized one’s people or has freedom made it that far to the present day?
nativecoach
September 12th, 2010 at 03:59
The 60s scoop happened in Canada during the 1960s and 1970s. Many of our children were apprehended by social services, never returned to their parents and grew up in white foster homes. Oftentimes, there was no good reason for this to even happen. Whatever the rationale given at the time, the purpose was to separate the child from her culture.
I totally agree with your point on home schooling. The most critical years for language acquisition is from conception until the age of six. After that, the brain waves change to make it harder for us to acquire additional languages. For this to happen, there needs to be stable and supportive home environments, which is a challenge given the number of single mothers raising our children. I am not saying that single mothers cannot do everything for a child, but it is harder. This is a time for our men to step up and be accountable for our children.
Regarding your last question: I do not know how to answer. In lieu of a response, I ask you to ponder this article: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/11/world/asia/11caste.html?partner=rss&emc=rss
What intrigues me about this article is the difference between the north and south in India and how entrepreneurship is changing things for the better in the south versus those in the north who pursue political gains.
Nu3
September 14th, 2010 at 08:30
Wow, we just read the great article you directed us to and all we can say is thank you for the wisdom. It seems that the key was that the Southerners decided to depend on themselves and also focus on education. What is odd is that they send their children to the same schools that shunned them in the past rather than create their own schools. Either way it is akin to the states where people vote along religious linse or race lines rather than what is best for the people. Yet again though if the educational system in certain places only glorifies the oppressor then that educational system is tainted – so as the article stated do for self.
60′s Scoop
Are there any books on the 60′s scoop that you have read that you would recommend? We found a link to this site – http://www.originscanada.org/the-stolen-generation/ – we do not know if it is legit or not. But furthermore, that is just sick why are europeans so demented? They tried to do the same thing in Haiti – just go over and take someone’s children….What is the logic? We are sorry to hear that this happened but thankful to know about it because european based schools would never shoot themselves in the foot and tell of their evildoings…i.e. “if the hunter tells the story the lion always loses” type of thing.
Family
“I totally agree with your point on home schooling. The most critical years for language acquisition is from conception until the age of six.”
You are right, if you notice kids are unrelenting in their display of what their family holds in high regard and if they are taught their culture then they will excel very far but not quite fit in mainstream society if mainstream society is not them – but they can still succeed. It seems that some parent(s) have to make that decision to either raise their kid culturally correct and face that war everyday of their life or have them assimilate. It is a sick cycle just like the original people of the americas being told to dress european and go and round up their sister and brethren for whites when they were being hunted throughout the americas in the 1800-1900s. We recall a picture of a european holding a tomahawk mockingly while standing around a group of defeated original americans….just sad – how can someone outnumber someone but be so afraid to fight back? We suppose their will was broken – who knows…..Again thank you for everything and we look forward to more of your teachings and guidance.
nativecoach
September 18th, 2010 at 18:11
Thank you for your response. The source on the 60′s scoop is factual, but it really doesn’t do enough to stress the colonial aspect of this massive kidnapping. I really don’t like using the term ‘scoop’, but it’s accepted by many and people know what I’m talking about. Scoop is a very clean way to describe something that was very dirty, painful and premeditated. The correct term should really be the thirty year colonial kidnapping.
A really good source is Roland Chrisjohn, the author of The Circle Game, which is an excellent read. Here’s a link to a previous discussion: http://www.turtleisland.org/discussion/viewtopic.php?p=5042#p5043
N3 - Your International News Source
September 18th, 2010 at 21:01
Thank you as always – imagine if we as a collective made movies featuring the atrocities of europeans against us and the earth…..The cinema would never end.