The One With #IdleNoMore

#IdleNoMore

Continuing my induction to aboriginal education from last semester with the course that has the official title: Colonialism of Indigenous Peoples. However, it comes with an unofficial, unpithy but more pertenent title: Indigenous Peoples, Settler, Colonization, Decolonizing and Healing Reconstruction. Deep, eh? The course content and assignments in all honesty, is petrifying. Learning journals to presentations to class discussions to international networks to massive long reading lists - with the added pressure of trying to avoid colonial insensitivity and the morbid fear of being in contravention of political correctness as the British education system has drilled into me - basically, I'm not quite sure how I'm ever going to be able to say anything in this class!

Although, there was a particularly brilliant moment when one guy piped up complaining about Europeans being rubbish, at which point I had two options: either out myself as a Brit or stay silent. I chose the latter. See, sometimes I'm not controversial! It's nice to be in a large group of friends in the class though, including Devon, Beth, Victoria and Kelsey. At the moment it's just all overwhelming.



Rising sound.

After class on Wednesday, there was a demonstration by First Nations people involved in the #IdleNoMore campaign which is First Nations, Metis and Inuits, and indigenous groups around the world, forcing the settlers of Canada to wake up and smell the racist, isolating, fatal coffee they've been dishing out to First Nations since they accidentally wound up these shores however many hundreds of years ago. I hope to get involved with the campaign as a settler in solidarity, because Canada, enough really is enough. Oh and Ottawa Citizen, anyone with half a brain cell can see through your sensationalist techniques attempting to discredit Chief Spence. You're not going to get away with it.



I'm in Canada right as things are changing, right as a new phase and a new force is rising up from the reservations - and it's exciting and humbling and wonderful - and I'm hoping for so much good to come out of it.



Taking over Tabaret.