ORO.CBBA INTERCULTURAL Education, Research & Community-Based Systems Transformation MA, CBRE, CED, CitBAP
In the hyper-vigilant thrall of witch-hunting "Pretendians", people are failing to pay attention to the bigger issues: https://lnkd.in/gZteQ5et Reconciliation IS supposed to be about Healing -through establishing right relations and accountabilities with the First Peoples. Throwing money at anything and anyone waving an "indigenous" flag is not the way. In fact, it only serves to muddy the waters AND to create competition, confusion and strife for everyone concerned. The colonial strategy of "divide and conquer" is still in operation. And people who fail to learn from this history, only perpetuate "Reconciliation as Re-Colonization". The absence of Traditionally-taught First Peoples on every level-of decision making, I believe, is highly problematic. Firstly, because there are so few left of the bona fide Traditional Elders. Secondly, because there is zero trust between bona fide Elders and representatives of the Formal System (FS). Thirdly, because the very mechanisms for influencing decisions and outcomes of the FS are THEMSELVES constructs of coloniality. The machinations of the system itself STILL require us to ASSIMILATE sufficiently in order to gain audience and influence at the levels that matter (e.g., through language, anglicizing, urban proximity, adoption of colonial methodologies in communication, decision-making, contracted timelines, and results expectations, etc.). Genuine Reconciliation cannot happen without a long overdue SHIFT both at the PERSONAL and at the PARADIGMATIC levels. Yes that's right, I am naming it. The structures we have inherited in Canada, within which we are presumed to necessarily operate, are COLONIAL CONSTRUCTS. Traditional Indigenous ways of knowing, being and doing - as I know them - are completely precedent and altern to these constructs. How then can we rely on these colonial constructs - from Governance to Health, Education Social Services, Business and Economics- to be even permeable to, much less comprehensive of, Indigenous ways of knowing, doing and being? Particularly when these colonial constructs are designed to only reproduce replicants of itself? Surprisingly, I do not advocate for a complete dismantling of 'The System'. I actually believe it is possible to steer many of these colonial machinations towards proper Reconciliatory ends. This must start with the People - it cannot be from 'Top Down'. And it must be through Skills Learning and Practice - not through catechism, rote and formulae. Also surprisingly, I am not going to promote my workshop/teachings here. I am wary, critically cognizant and inherently resistant to leveraging social and professional contacts in civic discourse for 'marketing' purposes. And i resent the expectation that i must commodify myself in order to discover a community of similar minds. I DO however have to say a few things in a few directions. (TBC in following post due to character limitations).