Jessica Orlando Reflection#3
There is not one person on this earth who is exactly the same as another. As individuals, we all bring something different to the table. Our differences create a lot of beauty to the world, and a lot of different ideas and opinions that lead us to the world we live in today. However, our differences divide us and it is the reason we will never be one united planet. What people fail to realise is their responsibility in the world. A tree needs roots to survive. They bring water and nutrients from the soil. It is possible for the tree to survive if a few roots aren't doing their job correctly, but imagine what the tree could be if every root stopped providing water. We have a lot of problems going on in the world, let's take climate change as an example. If country A is putting all it’s effort into taking care of the planet and living eco consciously, the work they put in doesn't matter if country B is destroying earth on the other side of the world. Equality starts when people with privilege take a stand and fight as well. One sided conversations don't make an impact. Let's suppose Bob is living in North America right now and he hears news about indigenous women being refused help at a hospital. He feels bad and knows that it’s not right, but he doesn't think it’s his problem to deal with. His logic is his parents immigrated to North America 20 years ago so it isn't his fault indigenous land was stolen. In that case, one root is not working to its fullest potential and the Tree is affected. Now imagine 36 million roots doing the same, the damage is detrimental. When people make mistakes like the one Bob did, it is important to help educate and encourage them to do the right thing. If every other root attacked Bob for doing the wrong thing, no improvement would be made, and the tree could never reach its fullest potential. Forgiveness and education are the greatest tools to unite people. As I said before, it is unlikely the world will ever be fully united. But the more roots we have working in harmony increases the health and well being of the tree.
Sam Murdock-Rock Releftion#3 SoCI2630
This week I am reflecting on something that stood out to me in class last week. When Maya put a list of words on the screen and asked us to choose one that we felt described us, the word that I chose was over-sensitive. I have always thought this way about myself, that I am too weak and fragile for the world around me. Maya then gave us a word to replace the one that we first chose. Mine was perceptive. I had to think about this for a while, I wasn’t really sure if it applied to me. How could something that I felt was such a negative quality actually be something positive?
I looked up the word to get an official definition and I started to realize that maybe, just maybe, this isn’t necessarily a bad thing. I have sensitive insights about the world and people around me. I notice things that maybe some people don’t. I relate to others in empathic ways and always do my best to put myself in their shoes. This isn’t a bad thing, this actually makes me a better friend, partner, and human.
This made me start to think about other qualities about myself that I feel are negative, and how I can reframe them to be more positive. Here are a few that I thought of:
Quiet could be described as observant Anxious could be described as careful And distracted could be described as interested in a lot of things
The list goes on, but I won’t bore you with them all. The point is that reframing my ideas about myself actually makes me feel a lot better (shocking??). Things aren’t always bad, and I don’t actually suck.
For a long time, I thought that being sensitive was a bad thing, but I am learning how to reframe it and acknowledge it for the gift that it is. I am grateful that I am able to feel for others and that I am able to show people my love and affection.
I wanted to include a little drawing of myself to go along with this, but I couldn’t execute any of my ideas in the way that I wanted to. So instead, I drew cedar. Traditionally, cedar is used to attract positive energy, feelings, emotions, etc., so I thought that it was fitting for what I was feeling this week.
- SOSC2630 Reflection 3 – Healing
I would say that last week’s lecture on healing has been my personal favourite of the semester. The tone of the lecture was in stark contrast to some of our previous classes regarding trauma. Now, this is not to suggest that the previous lectures were invaluable. Trauma is something that affects many of us (both Indigenous and Non-Indigenous), and it is important that we recognize it for what it is. However, it is also very important to understand how we can keep moving forward when the “Rez Dogs” are trying to keep us down. I believe that there is considerable value in the Indigenous approach to healing, and it is definitely a route worth exploring.
The sweet grass teaching which Maya shared in class provides a wise metaphor for how we should all view ourselves. It is true that everyone has a rough side, but by shifting our perspective we can bring out the positive aspects of our character. I found the in-class exercise to be particularly enlightening and would recommend it to anyone who is feeling down on themselves. Personally, I can now see some of my own flaws in a more positive context. To give one example, I consider myself to be a pretty quiet and introverted guy. If I were a character in a Fallout videogame, charisma probably wouldn’t be my highest attribute. I’m sure there are people in my life who view me as being unfriendly; however, in reality this is not at all the case. The world may not see it, but I’m actually just a quiet observer who would gladly help someone out if they were in need. I had never internalized that before, but it has given me a new outlook on who I am as a person. In fact, this is true for all of the character traits that were shown during the activity.
I can especially see how an exercise like this would be beneficial to people living in some of the broken, Indigenous communities that Maya talked about a few weeks ago. Considering the way our country has treated them, I would imagine that many of these people only view themselves in a negative fashion. The exercise seems like a good way to undo some of the damage caused by the “normative box” that we had discussed earlier in the semester. In a practical context, I believe that traditional Indigenous healing practices would have a much greater effect in rehabilitation centers when compared to our current system. To me, something like this seems like it would fit within the wampum belt strategy that the elders had previously described. We could also try looking at Indigenous healing practices within the context of criminal justice. I actually read an article in the news (see the following link) which described how Indigenous mediation circles really helped one women who was a victim of sexual assault: https://www.ctvnews.ca/canada/i-do-forgive-him-as-a-human-rape-victim-confronts-her-attacker-in-restorative-justice-process-1.4665519?cache=yesclipId104062%3FclipId%3D104059
Finally, the last point from this lecture which I’d like to talk about is the discussion around community. As Maya had mentioned, sweet grass on its own is not very strong. We need to braid ourselves together in order to truly shine, and I think that the 20 daily acts of kindness is an awesome goal to strive for. I had never previously considered kindness as being essential, but the more I think about it, the more I realize it is true. If you aren’t helping anyone else around you, then what is point of living? This is a virtue which transcends many different cultures throughout human history. I know that I would like to volunteer and serve my community in some capacity when life gets back to normal. It’s pretty easy to get caught up in the day-to-day demands of our modern society (especially being in university … ), but this class has served as a reminder about what is truly important. I know that the 20 acts of kindness goal will stay in the back of my mind long after I graduate from York.
Reflection 3 | All My Relations Brittani Ellis | SOC
Alexandra Peregoudova. Her name may have little meaning to most, but for me, her name represents the being that has changed my mind, body and spirit forever. When we began the conversation about kindness, I struggled seeing past the pain and trauma discussed beforehand. I wanted to feel the sense of bending like the Sweet Grass towards the injustice and terror that has been displayed against the indigenous. But that was easier said than done. To look through the acts committed and return it with kindness seemed unimaginable. I am still far from an expert in any of the teachings that have been shared with me during this class. Though, through these lessons I have learned there is a dire need to hold on to these instrumental components that reflect these traditions. The Sweet Grass being the one to help guide me through this discovery.
Sasha, as we called her, was my closest friend. She supported me in ways that no one else could. Her belief in me was powerful. So powerful it helped me accept her death. As she struggled with an array of traumatic experiences, her dependency on heavy drugs became the medicine she needed to survive. It wasn't a short process. It was a long and steady descent, where she lost sight of the future she might have had. When the story of the woman and the elder who sat down to discuss spirit, it reminded me of Sash. I could see her wondering how she could find spirit through the pain she was going through. But unlike the woman in the teaching, she had no elder to go to. She searched for the answer for years and years with her strength being shown every day she continued to live. I wish I could have shared with her the knowledge that I've learned in such a short time in this class. Could she have seen her reflection in the woman, who realizes that it was being human she had to learn?
As my reflection, I went and saw Sash and brought with me a braid of pretend "Sweet Grass". I thought that by sharing this teaching with her, that wherever she is, she could possibly find the wisdom that was so helpful for me to see through her pain. To see the kindness needed to be felt and projected to those who had let her search alone. I connected the letters K - I - N - D to her gravestone to show her where the answers could possibly be.
Christina Caronis SocI 2630 Reflection #4
Helia Zamani Mortazavi Reflection #3
Sweetgrass is a sacred plant because it is believed to have a healing effect, the people I have met in this class have had a similar healing effect on me. There is no other class where I would feel comfortable putting makeup on and a dress for an assignment, this class; however, has made me feel very comfortable in my own skin. Without the positive reinforcement and the support I have gotten from Maya and the other students, I would never have been bold enough to step out of my shell. This reflection is a powerful summation of the effect that spreading a little kindness and love can have on a person.
Finally, there is one person that this would not have been possible without - Helia. Without my best friend, not only would I not have been enrolled in this class - I would not be the person I am today. Friends like Helia are very rare and if you happen to be fortunate enough to find one, you better fucking cherish it. She’s made me feel comfortable in my skin to come out as bisexual, helped convince me to do this assignment, and been supportive of me in any endeavour I take. She is the shining ray of light that has given me energy to grow into myself.
Sweetgrass is a sacred plant because it is believed to have a healing effect, the people I have met in this class have had a similar healing effect on me. There is no other class where I would feel comfortable putting makeup on and a dress for an assignment, this class; however, has made me feel very comfortable in my own skin. Without the positive reinforcement and the support I have gotten from Maya and the other students, I would never have been bold enough to step out of my shell. This reflection is a powerful summation of the effect that spreading a little kindness and love can have on a person.
Finally, there is one person that this would not have been possible without - Helia. Without my best friend, not only would I not have been enrolled in this class - I would not be the person I am today. Friends like Helia are very rare and if you happen to be fortunate enough to find one, you better fucking cherish it. She’s made me feel comfortable in my skin to come out as bisexual, helped convince me to do this assignment, and been supportive of me in any endeavour I take. She is the shining ray of light that has given me energy to grow into myself.
The Treaty Tree
By: Cristina Caronis
Reflection #3
When newcomers and settlers came to Turtle Island, First Nations peoples agreed to share the land with them through a treaty-making process. Treaties were negotiated and agreed upon based on mutual reciprocity, meaning that treaties were to benefit both nations. However, Canada’s treaties with indigenous people were not upheld and continue to not be upheld in the spirit of peace, friendship and mutual respect that they were originally intended.
Today, there are misconceptions that only First Nations peoples are part of the treaties, but in reality, both indigenous and non-indigenous peoples are part of treaty. We are all treaty people. Similar to my lack of knowledge that we are all treaty people, I had no knowledge that the wampum belt shown in class also belongs to non-indigenous peoples. In my Treaty Tree, I have written statements I wish to uphold as a non-indigenous person and my own set of treaty responsibilities and affirmations. I chose a tree to display my affirmations to symbolize that treaty relations and responsibilities are rooted within the land and that these relations and responsibilities between indigenous and non-indigenous peoples will hopefully grow in peace, friendship and mutual respect. Since we are all treaty people, non-indigenous people should start by understanding the truth of Canada’s colonial history so we can renew relationships with indigenous peoples and move towards meaningful reconciliation. Are non-indigenous people upholding their treaty responsibilities by fostering reconciliation with indigenous people? Are indigenous people upholding their treaty responsibilities by focusing on their healing process and restoring their cultural practices? Indigenous and non-indigenous peoples need to rely on one another for a successful transition into the future. Treaties hold the keys to a new path forward regarding the relationships between First Nations and settlers in the past, the
By: Cristina Caronis
Reflection #3
When newcomers and settlers came to Turtle Island, First Nations peoples agreed to share the land with them through a treaty-making process. Treaties were negotiated and agreed upon based on mutual reciprocity, meaning that treaties were to benefit both nations. However, Canada’s treaties with indigenous people were not upheld and continue to not be upheld in the spirit of peace, friendship and mutual respect that they were originally intended.
Today, there are misconceptions that only First Nations peoples are part of the treaties, but in reality, both indigenous and non-indigenous peoples are part of treaty. We are all treaty people. Similar to my lack of knowledge that we are all treaty people, I had no knowledge that the wampum belt shown in class also belongs to non-indigenous peoples. In my Treaty Tree, I have written statements I wish to uphold as a non-indigenous person and my own set of treaty responsibilities and affirmations. I chose a tree to display my affirmations to symbolize that treaty relations and responsibilities are rooted within the land and that these relations and responsibilities between indigenous and non-indigenous peoples will hopefully grow in peace, friendship and mutual respect. Since we are all treaty people, non-indigenous people should start by understanding the truth of Canada’s colonial history so we can renew relationships with indigenous peoples and move towards meaningful reconciliation. Are non-indigenous people upholding their treaty responsibilities by fostering reconciliation with indigenous people? Are indigenous people upholding their treaty responsibilities by focusing on their healing process and restoring their cultural practices? Indigenous and non-indigenous peoples need to rely on one another for a successful transition into the future. Treaties hold the keys to a new path forward regarding the relationships between First Nations and settlers in the past, the
Natalia Santilli Reflections #2
one of the things from class that I’ve been fixated on is that it’s not the shitty event that causes the trauma, but what happens afterwards that makes the event traumatic. Maybe this is common knowledge, but it was news to me and it really freaked me out to tell you the truth. I’ve been looking back on my own life trying to find examples of this, and again, it’s pretty alarming to see the truth in it being the aftermath of a situation that’ll really fuck you. For most kids, a pet dies and they’re told it ran away. For me, my dad ran away and I was told he’d died. I learned a decade later that that wasn’t the case. LOL. (Honestly I laugh putting it into those words now, but I’ve had plenty of time to process). I felt guilty for a long time for feeling more resentment towards my remaining family than the guy who left, and I really couldn’t understand why - my family did nothing but take care of me, it was my dad who made the mess. I’ve come to realize now that a large portion of that trauma may have (must have) come from the false narrative I was told at the time. That shit stings to recognize! I’m very fortunate to be able to clarify that my family is incredibly loving, but fuck if that doesn’t prove the great harm that can be done even by well-meaning people in the wreckage following a bad situation. It definitely sucks to learn that a lot of that trauma came from my angel of a mother’s actions, especially since it contributed largely to mental illness down the line. That said, I’ve been privileged to not experience intergenerational trauma, which gives me the advantage of only having to heal from the things that I’ll face over the course of my own life. I can’t at all imagine the exhausting daily effort that would go into managing looming trauma that stems back centuries, all the while facing heinous violence in the present. The importance of a community bundle is clear as day. Not only would it include medicines like sage for soothing the nervous system, but the knowledge of how to cope with and “rewrite” trauma charges, wisdom that would benefit Indigenous and non-Indigenous folks alike. It scares the hell out of me to think of the impact that my actions might have when supporting a loved one through damage-control, and that makes the resource of a bundle absolutely priceless. I think we all like to imagine that we offer healthy support to others in times of crisis, but knowing the timeframe of when trauma actually “ignites” makes shit even more serious.
I struggled for a number of days trying to put paintbrush to paper in a way that would help me to visualize traumatic experience, and I have to laugh because my ugliest piece is the one that I feel to be most accurate. I started off with a deer in the headlights and an amygdala on fire lol, but those really didn’t do much. This ugly little watercolour is my simple interpretation of what I’ve learned to be the way the brain processes and, with great effort, heals to some degree from trauma. The red dot would be the unfortunate experience itself, with the darkest blue being the aftermath, the true source of trauma that comes to take over a person’s world and cloud subsequent experiences. Slowly the person learns to cope, and the intensity of the suffering may fade, but they’ll never be able to eradicate the feeling entirely, which is in some cases more bearable than others. I can’t say that there’s any artistic value in this painting LOL, but it’s helped me to solidify what I consider to be an important life lesson which gives me a sense of relief.
one of the things from class that I’ve been fixated on is that it’s not the shitty event that causes the trauma, but what happens afterwards that makes the event traumatic. Maybe this is common knowledge, but it was news to me and it really freaked me out to tell you the truth. I’ve been looking back on my own life trying to find examples of this, and again, it’s pretty alarming to see the truth in it being the aftermath of a situation that’ll really fuck you. For most kids, a pet dies and they’re told it ran away. For me, my dad ran away and I was told he’d died. I learned a decade later that that wasn’t the case. LOL. (Honestly I laugh putting it into those words now, but I’ve had plenty of time to process). I felt guilty for a long time for feeling more resentment towards my remaining family than the guy who left, and I really couldn’t understand why - my family did nothing but take care of me, it was my dad who made the mess. I’ve come to realize now that a large portion of that trauma may have (must have) come from the false narrative I was told at the time. That shit stings to recognize! I’m very fortunate to be able to clarify that my family is incredibly loving, but fuck if that doesn’t prove the great harm that can be done even by well-meaning people in the wreckage following a bad situation. It definitely sucks to learn that a lot of that trauma came from my angel of a mother’s actions, especially since it contributed largely to mental illness down the line. That said, I’ve been privileged to not experience intergenerational trauma, which gives me the advantage of only having to heal from the things that I’ll face over the course of my own life. I can’t at all imagine the exhausting daily effort that would go into managing looming trauma that stems back centuries, all the while facing heinous violence in the present. The importance of a community bundle is clear as day. Not only would it include medicines like sage for soothing the nervous system, but the knowledge of how to cope with and “rewrite” trauma charges, wisdom that would benefit Indigenous and non-Indigenous folks alike. It scares the hell out of me to think of the impact that my actions might have when supporting a loved one through damage-control, and that makes the resource of a bundle absolutely priceless. I think we all like to imagine that we offer healthy support to others in times of crisis, but knowing the timeframe of when trauma actually “ignites” makes shit even more serious.
I struggled for a number of days trying to put paintbrush to paper in a way that would help me to visualize traumatic experience, and I have to laugh because my ugliest piece is the one that I feel to be most accurate. I started off with a deer in the headlights and an amygdala on fire lol, but those really didn’t do much. This ugly little watercolour is my simple interpretation of what I’ve learned to be the way the brain processes and, with great effort, heals to some degree from trauma. The red dot would be the unfortunate experience itself, with the darkest blue being the aftermath, the true source of trauma that comes to take over a person’s world and cloud subsequent experiences. Slowly the person learns to cope, and the intensity of the suffering may fade, but they’ll never be able to eradicate the feeling entirely, which is in some cases more bearable than others. I can’t say that there’s any artistic value in this painting LOL, but it’s helped me to solidify what I consider to be an important life lesson which gives me a sense of relief.
Reflection #3 Ditsha Patel
olivia Pellicciotta
Here is my Reflection 3 for SOSC:
In Western society, calling someone a weasel is something negative. It is often associated with people who are liars, manipulative, sneaky, irresponsible, etc. If you have a friend that is always “forgetting” their wallet when you go out with them, you could call them a weasel. If someone is always evading responsibility or finding ways to squeeze out of situations, they are a weasel. Not only can you call someone a weasel, but there are also phrases called weasel words. These phrases are aimed at creating the impression that something valuable has been said when really it was just something ambiguous and vague. Some examples of these phrases are “some people say” or “most people think”.
We learned the story of how the weasel crawled up the butt of the evil greed being to chew out his frozen heart and save his uncle. That weasel is the complete opposite of Western society’s version. Some words I would use to describe this weasel are selfless, loyal, brave, noble and team player. Who crawls up an evil creature's butt?!?!?!? You would have to really care about the person you were doing it for.
It is very clear where the Anishinabe view of weasels came from since it is in a traditional story, but where did the Western view come from? The expression weasel word could be linked back to two Shakespeare plays in which he includes similes of weasels sucking eggs. The actual term first appeared in a short story published in 1900 in which weasel words were described as “words that suck the life out of the words next to them, just as a weasel sucks an egg and leaves the shell”. This idea of weasels sucking eggs and leaving the shell doesn’t really make sense since weasels’ jaws are not suitable for sucking eggs. I guess it doesn’t really matter that it doesn't make sense scientifically because most people don’t know the origin of the phrase anyway so they aren’t going to call someone out for being incorrect when they use it. For most people, it's just something they’ve heard for a long time and have used but never really knew where it came from.
The idea of calling someone a weasel in a negative context is often attributed to the Roman poet Ovid. He wrote about how Juno ordered Lucina (the goddess of childbirth) to prevent the birth of Hercules. Lucina was performing binding spells outside the room while Hercules’ mother was giving birth. When the mother’s servant realized what was going on, she went out of the room and told Lucina that Hercules was born. In shock, Lucina dropped the spells which allowed for Hercules to really be born. Angered by her lies and mockery, Lucina turned the servant into a weasel. This origin story made more sense to me since a lot of symbolic characters often come from mythology.
I found it interesting to compare the origin stories especially since the Anishinabe story and Ovid’s story are basically complete opposites. The stories about where the term weasel came from are completely new to me, I’d never heard them before now. The term was just something I’ve heard for a long time and I’ve used but never knew where it came from. I find it so interesting how everything in Anishinaabe culture is the way it is because of the traditional stories. It may not seem obvious but if you know the traditional stories then you can understand why things are the way they are. In Western culture, we don’t really have that. Of course all things start from something, but we often don’t know the exact origin of certain things.
(the red words in the graphic represent Western view and the yellow orange ones are how I would describe the weasel in the traditional story we learned)
Here is my Reflection 3 for SOSC:
In Western society, calling someone a weasel is something negative. It is often associated with people who are liars, manipulative, sneaky, irresponsible, etc. If you have a friend that is always “forgetting” their wallet when you go out with them, you could call them a weasel. If someone is always evading responsibility or finding ways to squeeze out of situations, they are a weasel. Not only can you call someone a weasel, but there are also phrases called weasel words. These phrases are aimed at creating the impression that something valuable has been said when really it was just something ambiguous and vague. Some examples of these phrases are “some people say” or “most people think”.
We learned the story of how the weasel crawled up the butt of the evil greed being to chew out his frozen heart and save his uncle. That weasel is the complete opposite of Western society’s version. Some words I would use to describe this weasel are selfless, loyal, brave, noble and team player. Who crawls up an evil creature's butt?!?!?!? You would have to really care about the person you were doing it for.
It is very clear where the Anishinabe view of weasels came from since it is in a traditional story, but where did the Western view come from? The expression weasel word could be linked back to two Shakespeare plays in which he includes similes of weasels sucking eggs. The actual term first appeared in a short story published in 1900 in which weasel words were described as “words that suck the life out of the words next to them, just as a weasel sucks an egg and leaves the shell”. This idea of weasels sucking eggs and leaving the shell doesn’t really make sense since weasels’ jaws are not suitable for sucking eggs. I guess it doesn’t really matter that it doesn't make sense scientifically because most people don’t know the origin of the phrase anyway so they aren’t going to call someone out for being incorrect when they use it. For most people, it's just something they’ve heard for a long time and have used but never really knew where it came from.
The idea of calling someone a weasel in a negative context is often attributed to the Roman poet Ovid. He wrote about how Juno ordered Lucina (the goddess of childbirth) to prevent the birth of Hercules. Lucina was performing binding spells outside the room while Hercules’ mother was giving birth. When the mother’s servant realized what was going on, she went out of the room and told Lucina that Hercules was born. In shock, Lucina dropped the spells which allowed for Hercules to really be born. Angered by her lies and mockery, Lucina turned the servant into a weasel. This origin story made more sense to me since a lot of symbolic characters often come from mythology.
I found it interesting to compare the origin stories especially since the Anishinabe story and Ovid’s story are basically complete opposites. The stories about where the term weasel came from are completely new to me, I’d never heard them before now. The term was just something I’ve heard for a long time and I’ve used but never knew where it came from. I find it so interesting how everything in Anishinaabe culture is the way it is because of the traditional stories. It may not seem obvious but if you know the traditional stories then you can understand why things are the way they are. In Western culture, we don’t really have that. Of course all things start from something, but we often don’t know the exact origin of certain things.
(the red words in the graphic represent Western view and the yellow orange ones are how I would describe the weasel in the traditional story we learned)
Victoria Tininkin Reflection #3
Through your teachings, I realized that only by being supportive and kind to each other can this world become a better and brighter place. People became selfish and overly orientated on success. This all leads back of how society constantly tries to pull people back in the “box” for them to be considered valuable citizens of society. In the twenty-first century norms, boundaries, ethics and principals are starting to get erased more and more from our society. We have to remember that first of all we are humans, we require love, support and each other. And, money will not bring happiness to people, maybe only for a small period of time. In the future I see myself working for the Children Aid Society of Toronto. I would like to help children that are in difficult situations to achieve a healthy future for themselves with different methods and strategies. Through the different exercises that we did in class I was able to understand that people can undergo trauma, but if they have the right support system around them, the impact might not be that tremendous. As from personal experience being a crown ward, I saw how much potential these children have, but they need someone to believe and support them. Only some children in foster care are lucky to have a strong support system, others have to manage with whatever resources they have. My goal will be to become a strong support system to show these children that they can build a happy, stable and successful life. When you told the story of how the elders saw passed all the bad, and they saw the good, that made me remember all the people that never gave up on me. Now, I need to pay back with the same good deeds that these people did for me. The only way not to lose humanity is to show love and kindness to each other, but we have to start with being kind and accepting towards ourselves first. This means being understanding and kind to the journey we went through, and the pain and suffering we encountered along the way.
When I was very little I was always surrounded with lots of love, care and support. I always knew that my grandparents would never let anything bad happened to me. They were my safety net in case of any problems or troubles that I had. My mom was in my life, but mostly I was getting raised by my grandparents. During the time that I lived in Russia, my mom was mostly busy chasing her dreams and becoming successful. My mom worked a good job, and helped my grandparents financially with raising me. She would bring me to circus, theatres, movies, restaurants…etc. But, we never had a close relationship like mom and daughter, the relationship was more spinning around finances. When a parent can't give love or care to a child, most of the time they try to buy them.
One morning I randomly get awaken by my grandparent super early. There are many people in the apartment, I didn't understand what was going on. My grandma started to get me dressed quickly, and we were out of the door. On our way to the airport, it was pitch black as I still remember, the flight was very early. I still remember how my grandma said “it is just a vacation, you will be back soon”…..
When we arrived in Canada…..it was terrifying and scary, the land of the unknown. We had no family, friends or anyone we could ask for help. We came here with one suitcase, and little money in the bank account. The education that my mom received in Russia equaled nothing in Canada, so she had to start from the beginning.
I was ten at this moment. We receive a phone call, on the other end was my grandma with a shaking voice “grandpa has passed away”….. The closes person to me, my best friend and my rock was no longer with me. This made my whole world turn upside down. We didn't have enough money to fly out to Russia for the funeral. At that point a lot of anger, rage and fear started to build inside me. I closed off to the world. I still had hoped this was a joke….but it wasn’t.
fifteen I got taken away into foster care. My mom was super ill at that point with mental health struggles, and the fighting at our house seemed to have never stopped. I was super depressed, and I barely went to school, I was failing all my classes. I was involved in a bad friend group that bought me a lot of trouble.
I usually came every day to sit under her door for hours until she answered, most of the time she had no food. She completely isolated herself from the world, and was not taking any care of herself. One of the days that I came, I sat outside her door for hours without her answering. About a day past, she still wasn't answering…I got super worried and called the police. A police officer came, opened the door but no-one was there. The same day, only a couple of hours later I get a phone call from a police officer, he said “ your mom is in prison”. I was only allowed to see my mom if someone of age came with me. When we got there, they weren't letting us in, I don't remember exactly why now. I just remember how I started crying and begging them to let me see her. I explained to them that “she only has me”, I knew she needed me. I wasn't going to let her down. When I got to the visiting room my knees were shaking, they brought her in but she didn't even recognize me. My mom was giving the recognition that she was not able to stand trial, she was sent to a mental physicality.
I was super depressed at that point, thankfully I had my foster mom beside me. And, a woman that I got to meet through a friend that I meet at one of the alternative schools that I attended. These two women gave me support, kindness and love. They were there for me through thick, thin and everything that came along the way. They excepted and loved me for who I was without pretending which was so important.
At the age of sixteen, my grandma was able to connect with a Russian orthodox church in Canada, she explained our whole situation. They became sympathetic towards our story, they offered to sponsor her through the church to come help her family here. She was able to get a visa for ten years. Around the same time, my mom was released out of the mental health hospital, she lived in one of the downtown shelters for some time.
When my grandma arrived in Canada…I knew everything was going to be okay. She helped us to get a place to live through the church. Also, my grandma became a big support system for my mom. They were everything for each other. During my grandmas stay here she meets a woman through the Russian community. This woman saw potential in me, through her connection I was able to go to a private school. Before I got accepted into this private school, I had to learn academic material up to grade 11. My academic knowledge was very low, I was attending an alternative school, and I had low attendance and grades. The only way I would have ever been accepted if I caught up my academic knowledge in English and maths, I only had six months until the next school year. I studied each day for about three hours, and I managed to get in. I cleaned the school with my mom three times a week, that was the deal to cover the cost of the studies. As well, I had a job at a pharmacy four times a week, which was very hard to manage and fully concentrate on my studies. So eventually they asked me to leave, I had to go back to an alternative school. However, I didn't give up, I was determined to finish at this point because of all the people that believed in me. As I try to finish my studies, my grandma starts having severe pain in her knee. For a non-citizen the health care in Canada is extremely expensive, she had to go back to Russia to get help. My mom was constantly worried and sad after my grandma left, she became sick again. She stopped taking her medication and started hearing voices again. She started being verbally aggressive, and she constantly doing bazar things, it became super scary, I had to move out. No-one could do anything about it because she was not a threat to herself or anybody else.
Last year I went to visit my grandma, her health is very weak. She is constantly scared and worried about my mom. I promised her that I will try to help her. When I arrived back from Russia, my mom was doing much worse physically and emotionally. She was paranoid that I would never come back. My mom's mental health was bad to the point that she had to be put in a mental hospital again. She was doing significantly better in a couple of weeks, the team that worked with her was really good, we were lucky. Now, she is on a community treatment order, and I became her primary caregiver. My mom is doing well both emotionally and physically, she started to take care of herself. Now, my mom is attending a program online twice a week to improve her English.
Through your teachings, I realized that only by being supportive and kind to each other can this world become a better and brighter place. People became selfish and overly orientated on success. This all leads back of how society constantly tries to pull people back in the “box” for them to be considered valuable citizens of society. In the twenty-first century norms, boundaries, ethics and principals are starting to get erased more and more from our society. We have to remember that first of all we are humans, we require love, support and each other. And, money will not bring happiness to people, maybe only for a small period of time. In the future I see myself working for the Children Aid Society of Toronto. I would like to help children that are in difficult situations to achieve a healthy future for themselves with different methods and strategies. Through the different exercises that we did in class I was able to understand that people can undergo trauma, but if they have the right support system around them, the impact might not be that tremendous. As from personal experience being a crown ward, I saw how much potential these children have, but they need someone to believe and support them. Only some children in foster care are lucky to have a strong support system, others have to manage with whatever resources they have. My goal will be to become a strong support system to show these children that they can build a happy, stable and successful life. When you told the story of how the elders saw passed all the bad, and they saw the good, that made me remember all the people that never gave up on me. Now, I need to pay back with the same good deeds that these people did for me. The only way not to lose humanity is to show love and kindness to each other, but we have to start with being kind and accepting towards ourselves first. This means being understanding and kind to the journey we went through, and the pain and suffering we encountered along the way.
When I was very little I was always surrounded with lots of love, care and support. I always knew that my grandparents would never let anything bad happened to me. They were my safety net in case of any problems or troubles that I had. My mom was in my life, but mostly I was getting raised by my grandparents. During the time that I lived in Russia, my mom was mostly busy chasing her dreams and becoming successful. My mom worked a good job, and helped my grandparents financially with raising me. She would bring me to circus, theatres, movies, restaurants…etc. But, we never had a close relationship like mom and daughter, the relationship was more spinning around finances. When a parent can't give love or care to a child, most of the time they try to buy them.
One morning I randomly get awaken by my grandparent super early. There are many people in the apartment, I didn't understand what was going on. My grandma started to get me dressed quickly, and we were out of the door. On our way to the airport, it was pitch black as I still remember, the flight was very early. I still remember how my grandma said “it is just a vacation, you will be back soon”…..
When we arrived in Canada…..it was terrifying and scary, the land of the unknown. We had no family, friends or anyone we could ask for help. We came here with one suitcase, and little money in the bank account. The education that my mom received in Russia equaled nothing in Canada, so she had to start from the beginning.
I was ten at this moment. We receive a phone call, on the other end was my grandma with a shaking voice “grandpa has passed away”….. The closes person to me, my best friend and my rock was no longer with me. This made my whole world turn upside down. We didn't have enough money to fly out to Russia for the funeral. At that point a lot of anger, rage and fear started to build inside me. I closed off to the world. I still had hoped this was a joke….but it wasn’t.
fifteen I got taken away into foster care. My mom was super ill at that point with mental health struggles, and the fighting at our house seemed to have never stopped. I was super depressed, and I barely went to school, I was failing all my classes. I was involved in a bad friend group that bought me a lot of trouble.
I usually came every day to sit under her door for hours until she answered, most of the time she had no food. She completely isolated herself from the world, and was not taking any care of herself. One of the days that I came, I sat outside her door for hours without her answering. About a day past, she still wasn't answering…I got super worried and called the police. A police officer came, opened the door but no-one was there. The same day, only a couple of hours later I get a phone call from a police officer, he said “ your mom is in prison”. I was only allowed to see my mom if someone of age came with me. When we got there, they weren't letting us in, I don't remember exactly why now. I just remember how I started crying and begging them to let me see her. I explained to them that “she only has me”, I knew she needed me. I wasn't going to let her down. When I got to the visiting room my knees were shaking, they brought her in but she didn't even recognize me. My mom was giving the recognition that she was not able to stand trial, she was sent to a mental physicality.
I was super depressed at that point, thankfully I had my foster mom beside me. And, a woman that I got to meet through a friend that I meet at one of the alternative schools that I attended. These two women gave me support, kindness and love. They were there for me through thick, thin and everything that came along the way. They excepted and loved me for who I was without pretending which was so important.
At the age of sixteen, my grandma was able to connect with a Russian orthodox church in Canada, she explained our whole situation. They became sympathetic towards our story, they offered to sponsor her through the church to come help her family here. She was able to get a visa for ten years. Around the same time, my mom was released out of the mental health hospital, she lived in one of the downtown shelters for some time.
When my grandma arrived in Canada…I knew everything was going to be okay. She helped us to get a place to live through the church. Also, my grandma became a big support system for my mom. They were everything for each other. During my grandmas stay here she meets a woman through the Russian community. This woman saw potential in me, through her connection I was able to go to a private school. Before I got accepted into this private school, I had to learn academic material up to grade 11. My academic knowledge was very low, I was attending an alternative school, and I had low attendance and grades. The only way I would have ever been accepted if I caught up my academic knowledge in English and maths, I only had six months until the next school year. I studied each day for about three hours, and I managed to get in. I cleaned the school with my mom three times a week, that was the deal to cover the cost of the studies. As well, I had a job at a pharmacy four times a week, which was very hard to manage and fully concentrate on my studies. So eventually they asked me to leave, I had to go back to an alternative school. However, I didn't give up, I was determined to finish at this point because of all the people that believed in me. As I try to finish my studies, my grandma starts having severe pain in her knee. For a non-citizen the health care in Canada is extremely expensive, she had to go back to Russia to get help. My mom was constantly worried and sad after my grandma left, she became sick again. She stopped taking her medication and started hearing voices again. She started being verbally aggressive, and she constantly doing bazar things, it became super scary, I had to move out. No-one could do anything about it because she was not a threat to herself or anybody else.
Last year I went to visit my grandma, her health is very weak. She is constantly scared and worried about my mom. I promised her that I will try to help her. When I arrived back from Russia, my mom was doing much worse physically and emotionally. She was paranoid that I would never come back. My mom's mental health was bad to the point that she had to be put in a mental hospital again. She was doing significantly better in a couple of weeks, the team that worked with her was really good, we were lucky. Now, she is on a community treatment order, and I became her primary caregiver. My mom is doing well both emotionally and physically, she started to take care of herself. Now, my mom is attending a program online twice a week to improve her English.
Heritage
Angela Watts
For this reflexion paper, I decided to collect some of the indigenous-made items in my
apartment. Having moved off the “Rez” as a child, I sometimes struggle to feel a sense of
connection to my heritage. In Toronto, over 1300km away from my community, it’s nice to
remind myself of the items I have in my possession. What do they mean to me? How do I
interact with them on a daily basis?
Moccasins, caribou hide, Innu
My mother gifted these to me when I last visited her in Montreal. She bought them off some
Innu ladies at a powwow or other event — she doesn’t remember exactly. I have always worn
moccasins around the house, especially as the weather gets colder. I keep them by bed and slip
them on first thing in the morning on my way to make some coffee and feed my cats. They smell
faintly smoky, and are slightly rough to the touch. I don’t really think about them on a day-to-day
basis — they are a part of my daily routine, like my socks, sweatpants or underwear. However,
upon closer examination, I notice the irregularity of the hide and other small flaws, and I can
imagine the hands of the woman who made them, carefully rotating the hide, eyes squinted,
lining up beads.
iiyischisinh
moose, caribou hide moccasins
des mocassins en peau d'orignal ou de caribou
Moccasins, sealskin, Naskapi
Several years ago, my mother spent a month up in Kawawachikamach, a Naskapi community in
Northern Quebec bordering Newfoundland. She brought these back as a gift. The hide is
smoother than the caribou ones, and dyed dark blue. They have unfortunately seen better days.
The soles are dotted with growing holes and the lining is torn in multiple places. I wish I could
visit my dear gookum (grandmother). She would always patch up my old moccasins with spare
pieces of hide, transforming the soles into a patchwork of mismatched materials.
kaahkiyaahkwaauaschisinh
short sealskin moccasins
des mocassins courts en peau de phoque
Dreamcatcher, Cree
My uncle crafted this dreamcatcher that now hangs
above my bed. He is a medicine man in my community,
one of many in his generation to focus on preserving
traditional knowledge and skills. However, when I look
at it I can’t help thinking about all the dreamcatcher
tattoos I have seen on white people, proudly displayed
on shoulders or forearms. I wish sacred indigenous items
weren’t treated as aesthetic objects to be used for
decoration. I am looking at you, people who wear
headdresses to music festivals.
puwaamuwin
dream
un rêve, un songe
Bag with beading, moose-hide, Cree
I keep this bag displayed in my room as it is too
gorgeous to tuck away into a closet. I have recently been
using the beaded flowers as inspiration for my attempts
at embroidery. I’m not sure what the bag is meant for--
perhaps for carrying supplies in the bush. The yarn used
for the straps reminds me of the moose-hide mittens I
wore as a child. I stopped wearing them to school in
Montreal after a young boy made fun of me, calling them
ugly, an experience unfortunately all too familiar to
many indigenous children.
wiihkweyaau
bag
un sac, une poche
Embroidery pouch, with moose-hide, Cree
This adorable pouch was gifted to me by my mother
when I was in my early teens. She told me it is
traditional to give embroidery supplies to young girls
as they enter womanhood. To this day I still keep my
embroidery materials inside, multi-coloured threads
and needles of varying sizes. After all these years the
pouch still smells faintly smoky from the patch of
moose-hide. Although I have fallen out of practice over
the years, embroidery still has a special place in my
heart as a calming, creative activity.
masinashtahiikan
embroidery
de la broderie
Special mention to the goose meat in my belly
I am far from family here in Toronto so it’s been a while since I had traditional food. I brought
this piece of goose meat back from Montreal when I last visited. Although the best goose is
cooked over the open fire in a tipi, grease dripping into an aluminum plate carefully placed
below, this chunk definitely satisfied my cravings. As I bit into a pellet, I was reminded of how
much I prefer hunted meat over farmed meat, maybe with the exception of a slice of pepperoni
pizza after a night of partying. Some of my fondest childhood memories are of sitting on my
gookum’s couch, watching TV as an animal is butchered on the floor beside me over black
garbage bags. However, I can’t help feeling a little ashamed— I don’t even know how to pluck a
goose, or set a trap. They are definitely skills I would like to learn someday.
nisk
Canada goose, Branta canadensis
une bernache du Canada, Branta canadensis
Angela Watts
For this reflexion paper, I decided to collect some of the indigenous-made items in my
apartment. Having moved off the “Rez” as a child, I sometimes struggle to feel a sense of
connection to my heritage. In Toronto, over 1300km away from my community, it’s nice to
remind myself of the items I have in my possession. What do they mean to me? How do I
interact with them on a daily basis?
Moccasins, caribou hide, Innu
My mother gifted these to me when I last visited her in Montreal. She bought them off some
Innu ladies at a powwow or other event — she doesn’t remember exactly. I have always worn
moccasins around the house, especially as the weather gets colder. I keep them by bed and slip
them on first thing in the morning on my way to make some coffee and feed my cats. They smell
faintly smoky, and are slightly rough to the touch. I don’t really think about them on a day-to-day
basis — they are a part of my daily routine, like my socks, sweatpants or underwear. However,
upon closer examination, I notice the irregularity of the hide and other small flaws, and I can
imagine the hands of the woman who made them, carefully rotating the hide, eyes squinted,
lining up beads.
iiyischisinh
moose, caribou hide moccasins
des mocassins en peau d'orignal ou de caribou
Moccasins, sealskin, Naskapi
Several years ago, my mother spent a month up in Kawawachikamach, a Naskapi community in
Northern Quebec bordering Newfoundland. She brought these back as a gift. The hide is
smoother than the caribou ones, and dyed dark blue. They have unfortunately seen better days.
The soles are dotted with growing holes and the lining is torn in multiple places. I wish I could
visit my dear gookum (grandmother). She would always patch up my old moccasins with spare
pieces of hide, transforming the soles into a patchwork of mismatched materials.
kaahkiyaahkwaauaschisinh
short sealskin moccasins
des mocassins courts en peau de phoque
Dreamcatcher, Cree
My uncle crafted this dreamcatcher that now hangs
above my bed. He is a medicine man in my community,
one of many in his generation to focus on preserving
traditional knowledge and skills. However, when I look
at it I can’t help thinking about all the dreamcatcher
tattoos I have seen on white people, proudly displayed
on shoulders or forearms. I wish sacred indigenous items
weren’t treated as aesthetic objects to be used for
decoration. I am looking at you, people who wear
headdresses to music festivals.
puwaamuwin
dream
un rêve, un songe
Bag with beading, moose-hide, Cree
I keep this bag displayed in my room as it is too
gorgeous to tuck away into a closet. I have recently been
using the beaded flowers as inspiration for my attempts
at embroidery. I’m not sure what the bag is meant for--
perhaps for carrying supplies in the bush. The yarn used
for the straps reminds me of the moose-hide mittens I
wore as a child. I stopped wearing them to school in
Montreal after a young boy made fun of me, calling them
ugly, an experience unfortunately all too familiar to
many indigenous children.
wiihkweyaau
bag
un sac, une poche
Embroidery pouch, with moose-hide, Cree
This adorable pouch was gifted to me by my mother
when I was in my early teens. She told me it is
traditional to give embroidery supplies to young girls
as they enter womanhood. To this day I still keep my
embroidery materials inside, multi-coloured threads
and needles of varying sizes. After all these years the
pouch still smells faintly smoky from the patch of
moose-hide. Although I have fallen out of practice over
the years, embroidery still has a special place in my
heart as a calming, creative activity.
masinashtahiikan
embroidery
de la broderie
Special mention to the goose meat in my belly
I am far from family here in Toronto so it’s been a while since I had traditional food. I brought
this piece of goose meat back from Montreal when I last visited. Although the best goose is
cooked over the open fire in a tipi, grease dripping into an aluminum plate carefully placed
below, this chunk definitely satisfied my cravings. As I bit into a pellet, I was reminded of how
much I prefer hunted meat over farmed meat, maybe with the exception of a slice of pepperoni
pizza after a night of partying. Some of my fondest childhood memories are of sitting on my
gookum’s couch, watching TV as an animal is butchered on the floor beside me over black
garbage bags. However, I can’t help feeling a little ashamed— I don’t even know how to pluck a
goose, or set a trap. They are definitely skills I would like to learn someday.
nisk
Canada goose, Branta canadensis
une bernache du Canada, Branta canadensis
Amal Khan
Reflection Blog 2
So I thought about what kind of topic I wanted to explore in this reflection, but I’m finding it to be a bit difficult to organize my thoughts. I know that one of the things that’s been poking at my brain recently is how horrible it feels to not feel ok, but to not have a proper place to express that. It’s always been in my mind that everyone deserves a safe place and someone that will listen to and understand them, but so many people don’t have that, or even access to reach out for help. It feels so unfair and it makes my eyes prickle when people could have been helped but weren’t. The scenario is even worse when there is something obviously wrong, but no one does anything, when you feel like you’re screaming at a wall at the injustice of a situation. That’s how I felt when we were learning about linguicide, and how it’s still such a problem in how this situation is being handled. We talked about how it’s proven that Aboriginal youth learning their native language led to a decreased suicide rate, which is amazing and I’m so happy that they’re going back to their roots, healing trauma that’s lasted generations and hopefully are happier. I just wished that it never came to the point where anyone felt that they were in a situation that they couldn’t face any longer, that they didn’t feel so sad or so lonely, that there was ever a suicide rate to begin with. Talking about this really reminded me of a time that I felt the same, and wrote this:
Not a trace of a whisper
Nor even a faint rustle
But the silence screams
It threatens to swallow you
It seeps into your dreams
A voice calls out
To fill the void
It’s your own shout
Just so there’s sound
But no one answers
I don’t like the silence
It makes my thoughts louderAnd I’m scared to be alone with my thoughts
I can’t help but think that we’re not set up to learn things in order to grow together. I think that was the first thing that I noticed about this class as well. I’d never had a class where there wasn’t really required readings or a lot of assignments, but a class that was centered around learning together, in the present moment, as an experience. At first, because it was so unfamiliar, it was kind of “are you sure?” and “how is this going to work exactly?”, but I feel like I’m learning in a way that makes me feel lighter (?) if that makes sense. I don’t feel as much pressure and it feels so much more like a community. Going into other classes kind of brings out sighs now because I feel like a number that’s getting numbers based on what I’ve done. Sure, I retain a few things from regular classes, but the sense of togetherness is completely nonexistent. This is one of the things we learned in a class about culture; about individualistic vs collectivist societies. I feel like this is just another contributing factor that is making it so hard for Aboriginal youth to be happy and flourish. They are expected to live in a society that is so focused on individual performance when they are part of a people that value community and living in harmony with others and the environment around them. This is why it’s so important that they are able to connect back using their language, as we’ve learned in this class.
Reflection Blog 2
So I thought about what kind of topic I wanted to explore in this reflection, but I’m finding it to be a bit difficult to organize my thoughts. I know that one of the things that’s been poking at my brain recently is how horrible it feels to not feel ok, but to not have a proper place to express that. It’s always been in my mind that everyone deserves a safe place and someone that will listen to and understand them, but so many people don’t have that, or even access to reach out for help. It feels so unfair and it makes my eyes prickle when people could have been helped but weren’t. The scenario is even worse when there is something obviously wrong, but no one does anything, when you feel like you’re screaming at a wall at the injustice of a situation. That’s how I felt when we were learning about linguicide, and how it’s still such a problem in how this situation is being handled. We talked about how it’s proven that Aboriginal youth learning their native language led to a decreased suicide rate, which is amazing and I’m so happy that they’re going back to their roots, healing trauma that’s lasted generations and hopefully are happier. I just wished that it never came to the point where anyone felt that they were in a situation that they couldn’t face any longer, that they didn’t feel so sad or so lonely, that there was ever a suicide rate to begin with. Talking about this really reminded me of a time that I felt the same, and wrote this:
Not a trace of a whisper
Nor even a faint rustle
But the silence screams
It threatens to swallow you
It seeps into your dreams
A voice calls out
To fill the void
It’s your own shout
Just so there’s sound
But no one answers
I don’t like the silence
It makes my thoughts louderAnd I’m scared to be alone with my thoughts
I can’t help but think that we’re not set up to learn things in order to grow together. I think that was the first thing that I noticed about this class as well. I’d never had a class where there wasn’t really required readings or a lot of assignments, but a class that was centered around learning together, in the present moment, as an experience. At first, because it was so unfamiliar, it was kind of “are you sure?” and “how is this going to work exactly?”, but I feel like I’m learning in a way that makes me feel lighter (?) if that makes sense. I don’t feel as much pressure and it feels so much more like a community. Going into other classes kind of brings out sighs now because I feel like a number that’s getting numbers based on what I’ve done. Sure, I retain a few things from regular classes, but the sense of togetherness is completely nonexistent. This is one of the things we learned in a class about culture; about individualistic vs collectivist societies. I feel like this is just another contributing factor that is making it so hard for Aboriginal youth to be happy and flourish. They are expected to live in a society that is so focused on individual performance when they are part of a people that value community and living in harmony with others and the environment around them. This is why it’s so important that they are able to connect back using their language, as we’ve learned in this class.
Melgignat Nnu E’pit (Strong Indigenous Woman)
Emma Litschko
Learning another Indigenous language has caused me to reflect on my understanding of my own Indigenous language, Mi’kmaq. When I began learning Mi’kmaq, I never received any real helpful information on why the words are structured certain ways and how the words breakdown into different things like in this class. This class especially learning the syllabics has inspired me to research and learn more about Mi’kmaq Komqwej’wikasikl (or hieroglyphics). When how the dialect of Anishinaabemowin has changed too much and been dominated by Manitoulin speakers, I had wondered if something like that had impacted Mi’kmaq Komqwei’wikasikl. Most of the komqwei’wikasikl that still exist are Catholic or Christian prayers and the teachers of the komqwei’wikasikl are teaching through prayers. Finding this made me very uncomfortable and terrified for the future of komqwei’wikasikl. I laid in bed that night eyes peeled, annoying my partner who was trying to sleep with all my earth shattering questions. Can it be saved? Is it all lost? Will I ever be able to learn it? He rolled over and said, “it will be fine”. But will it? Language sustains us, it provides knowledge, creates relationships, tells us who we are, gives us identity. It is core to our being. Without it, we lose so much and become lost.
I am currently applying to schools to do a Masters degree. For most schools there is a language requirement besides English for my program. For some schools, the requirement is two languages besides English. In my mind I fit this requirement as I can speak French and Mi’kmaq. But in the Eurocentric world of academia, Indigenous languages apparently are not languages. These are the sorts of requirements that turn people off from learning an Indigenous language as it is not “valid” in the types of jobs that are so sought after, so people spend time learning languages deemed more “useful”. So not only am I facing barriers as an Indigenous person trying to write a thesis on Indigenous history and not have it dismissed by old white men but now, I am unable to apply to more prestigious schools because I speak an Indigenous language. I contacted one of the schools and they claimed it is because it is “a dying language”, yet somehow Latin counts. If Indigenous knowledge and language is not going to be counted as valid yet you have specific programs and scholarships for Indigenous students, why even have these programs if you are going to gate keep and hold Indigenous people to these white standards???? I am finding the whole process ridiculous and exhausting and at this point even debating if I should continue applying. I am so done. But this class, learning an Indigenous language in an institution that historically I would not even be able to attend gives me hope. It gives me hope that one day my Indigenous knowledge and language will be seen as valid. It gives me hope that one day, my ancestors will not have to deal with this barrier. And instead of being shamed for knowing their culture and a language way more unique and richer than a European language will view themselves in a positive light and be proud of where they come from. I hope one day, Indigenous people will not feel shamed and belittled in school. I want Indigenous knowledge and language to feel empowering. I want Indigenous people to feel they do not need to exhaust or exploit their knowledge in order to earn a place, a voice, or space in academia. I just want my language to be considered valid. The picture of the komqwei’wikasikl are how I want to feel after this process, melgignat nnu e’pit, a strong Indigenous woman. Wela’lioq
Emma Litschko
Learning another Indigenous language has caused me to reflect on my understanding of my own Indigenous language, Mi’kmaq. When I began learning Mi’kmaq, I never received any real helpful information on why the words are structured certain ways and how the words breakdown into different things like in this class. This class especially learning the syllabics has inspired me to research and learn more about Mi’kmaq Komqwej’wikasikl (or hieroglyphics). When how the dialect of Anishinaabemowin has changed too much and been dominated by Manitoulin speakers, I had wondered if something like that had impacted Mi’kmaq Komqwei’wikasikl. Most of the komqwei’wikasikl that still exist are Catholic or Christian prayers and the teachers of the komqwei’wikasikl are teaching through prayers. Finding this made me very uncomfortable and terrified for the future of komqwei’wikasikl. I laid in bed that night eyes peeled, annoying my partner who was trying to sleep with all my earth shattering questions. Can it be saved? Is it all lost? Will I ever be able to learn it? He rolled over and said, “it will be fine”. But will it? Language sustains us, it provides knowledge, creates relationships, tells us who we are, gives us identity. It is core to our being. Without it, we lose so much and become lost.
I am currently applying to schools to do a Masters degree. For most schools there is a language requirement besides English for my program. For some schools, the requirement is two languages besides English. In my mind I fit this requirement as I can speak French and Mi’kmaq. But in the Eurocentric world of academia, Indigenous languages apparently are not languages. These are the sorts of requirements that turn people off from learning an Indigenous language as it is not “valid” in the types of jobs that are so sought after, so people spend time learning languages deemed more “useful”. So not only am I facing barriers as an Indigenous person trying to write a thesis on Indigenous history and not have it dismissed by old white men but now, I am unable to apply to more prestigious schools because I speak an Indigenous language. I contacted one of the schools and they claimed it is because it is “a dying language”, yet somehow Latin counts. If Indigenous knowledge and language is not going to be counted as valid yet you have specific programs and scholarships for Indigenous students, why even have these programs if you are going to gate keep and hold Indigenous people to these white standards???? I am finding the whole process ridiculous and exhausting and at this point even debating if I should continue applying. I am so done. But this class, learning an Indigenous language in an institution that historically I would not even be able to attend gives me hope. It gives me hope that one day my Indigenous knowledge and language will be seen as valid. It gives me hope that one day, my ancestors will not have to deal with this barrier. And instead of being shamed for knowing their culture and a language way more unique and richer than a European language will view themselves in a positive light and be proud of where they come from. I hope one day, Indigenous people will not feel shamed and belittled in school. I want Indigenous knowledge and language to feel empowering. I want Indigenous people to feel they do not need to exhaust or exploit their knowledge in order to earn a place, a voice, or space in academia. I just want my language to be considered valid. The picture of the komqwei’wikasikl are how I want to feel after this process, melgignat nnu e’pit, a strong Indigenous woman. Wela’lioq
My drawing was inspired by the idea that was discussed in class that white philosophers viewed Indigenous people as "having missed the boat on evolution". To say I was horrified and disgusted by the fact that they were actually sold as meat to be eaten is an understatement.
I don't understand why Indigenous people are portrayed as such violent, uncivilized monsters. I think the real monster is Western society because it only accepts people who fit into its box of "acceptable" characteristics, and anyone that doesn't fit the bill is basically just discarded and told they're invalid. I don't think that Indigenous people "missed the boat on evolution" at all, but rather we missed our opportunity to travel on their boat and learn something from them. From what we learned so far in this class, it is my understanding that so much of Indigenous culture and worldview is centered around love and truly accepting people for their differences rather than making differences something to be ashamed of. If only people spent less time fitting others into stereotypes and more time actually educating themselves things would be so different.
Our society can be toxic in certain aspects. Things like this are often hidden from the public because they aren't always talked about or given a lot of coverage in mainstream media. On top of the people who are unaware, there are also the people who choose to live in completely disbelief. Both cases are negative and need to change. There needs to be a lot more discussion around these issues and less just sweeping things under the rug. That is the only way things will start to change.
The fact that, not only Indigenous people, but any group that is outside the "box of normal" is still being discriminated against and the targets of hate crimes and just completely outcasted today shows that our society has a lot more evolving to do. Its 2020 and if we still don't accept people because of their skin colour or spiritual beliefs or who they love then we clearly aren't the "evolved" ones.
I don't understand why Indigenous people are portrayed as such violent, uncivilized monsters. I think the real monster is Western society because it only accepts people who fit into its box of "acceptable" characteristics, and anyone that doesn't fit the bill is basically just discarded and told they're invalid. I don't think that Indigenous people "missed the boat on evolution" at all, but rather we missed our opportunity to travel on their boat and learn something from them. From what we learned so far in this class, it is my understanding that so much of Indigenous culture and worldview is centered around love and truly accepting people for their differences rather than making differences something to be ashamed of. If only people spent less time fitting others into stereotypes and more time actually educating themselves things would be so different.
Our society can be toxic in certain aspects. Things like this are often hidden from the public because they aren't always talked about or given a lot of coverage in mainstream media. On top of the people who are unaware, there are also the people who choose to live in completely disbelief. Both cases are negative and need to change. There needs to be a lot more discussion around these issues and less just sweeping things under the rug. That is the only way things will start to change.
The fact that, not only Indigenous people, but any group that is outside the "box of normal" is still being discriminated against and the targets of hate crimes and just completely outcasted today shows that our society has a lot more evolving to do. Its 2020 and if we still don't accept people because of their skin colour or spiritual beliefs or who they love then we clearly aren't the "evolved" ones.
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Leah Lacorte
Refleftion #2
Saturday October 24 2020
The title of my makeup look is “Why?”. It features a look I did on my own face with half of a typical, me-on-the-regular type look, while the other side is what I look like some nights. The concept of trauma is a huge “why?” to me. It was said in class that every single person on this planet has gone through some type of trauma and my question is WHY and why is it that when people go through trauma, we always feel as if we are alone when there are literally 7 billion people in the world who have faced some type of trauma in one sense or another. My story of trauma, compared to others’, seems a little underwhelming, as I have been made to feel as if my story of trauma was not mine to begin with, but my mother’s. I was really young, maybe 7, and my mom had found out that my dad had been cheating her on for some time. They fought and fought while my sister and I would hide under our bedsheets and play with our Nintendo DS’s as a way of distraction. After weeks and weeks of hearing the same things between them, my parents eventually decided to stay together and work things out. While I just thought it was normal then, I realize now that it was probably one of those “stay together for the kids” kinda situation. My dad did it again when I was 10, and he did it again when I was 13. Today, my parents are still together and I have NO idea why. Years of being lied to and never being able to trust my father again, I would just distract myself with other things to get away from it all. It was never really my story to tell, but as I’ve grown up I have really started to realize how much childhood trauma has affected me as an adult. Years of feeling like I was never good enough for my dad and years of feeling guilty for reasons I can’t even explain have caused me to continue feeling inadequate in my own personal relationships. I feel as though sometimes I am emotionally absent and I’ve had so much anxiety over what people think of me. I had always distracted myself from these kinds of things since I was a kid. From a Nintendo DS to doing makeup, I just needed something to take up my mental capacity in order to stop thinking about what was making me upset. I am grateful to be in positions where I am loved and where I have my own little support system, whereas many people don’t. Residential schools took kids from their homes and from their culture which took them away from their ways of life and their own potential methods of dealing with all the European bullshit. I would be NOTHING without my sister, my friends and my boyfriend. I distract myself with their presence and their love fills my gaps and I hope my love fills theirs. While my (not properly dealt with) trauma has given me many problems, it has also helped me rediscover myself. But the question of “why” will always remain with me.
Refleftion #2
Saturday October 24 2020
The title of my makeup look is “Why?”. It features a look I did on my own face with half of a typical, me-on-the-regular type look, while the other side is what I look like some nights. The concept of trauma is a huge “why?” to me. It was said in class that every single person on this planet has gone through some type of trauma and my question is WHY and why is it that when people go through trauma, we always feel as if we are alone when there are literally 7 billion people in the world who have faced some type of trauma in one sense or another. My story of trauma, compared to others’, seems a little underwhelming, as I have been made to feel as if my story of trauma was not mine to begin with, but my mother’s. I was really young, maybe 7, and my mom had found out that my dad had been cheating her on for some time. They fought and fought while my sister and I would hide under our bedsheets and play with our Nintendo DS’s as a way of distraction. After weeks and weeks of hearing the same things between them, my parents eventually decided to stay together and work things out. While I just thought it was normal then, I realize now that it was probably one of those “stay together for the kids” kinda situation. My dad did it again when I was 10, and he did it again when I was 13. Today, my parents are still together and I have NO idea why. Years of being lied to and never being able to trust my father again, I would just distract myself with other things to get away from it all. It was never really my story to tell, but as I’ve grown up I have really started to realize how much childhood trauma has affected me as an adult. Years of feeling like I was never good enough for my dad and years of feeling guilty for reasons I can’t even explain have caused me to continue feeling inadequate in my own personal relationships. I feel as though sometimes I am emotionally absent and I’ve had so much anxiety over what people think of me. I had always distracted myself from these kinds of things since I was a kid. From a Nintendo DS to doing makeup, I just needed something to take up my mental capacity in order to stop thinking about what was making me upset. I am grateful to be in positions where I am loved and where I have my own little support system, whereas many people don’t. Residential schools took kids from their homes and from their culture which took them away from their ways of life and their own potential methods of dealing with all the European bullshit. I would be NOTHING without my sister, my friends and my boyfriend. I distract myself with their presence and their love fills my gaps and I hope my love fills theirs. While my (not properly dealt with) trauma has given me many problems, it has also helped me rediscover myself. But the question of “why” will always remain with me.
Mila Petrovic
217187303
November 2 2020
Reflection #2
It’s November now and it has been about 3 months of school. So far this year has been
especially challenging for me because personally I don’t retain a lot while online
learning. There are so many tabs open and the Internet crashes from time to time.
Additionally, I’m at home and everything around me is a distraction! Anyways, how is
this all relevant to my reflection you may ask? I just wanted to say that in these three
short months I have learned more about Anishinaabe culture than throughout my entire
schooling “career” which is saying a lot because again, as I said, I do not retain much
from online schooling. I absolutely love when we have story time in class (I sound like a
kindergartener haha). I find it so lovely and peaceful learning through stories. During
class I always look forward to hearing a story about Nanaboozhoo, I find them so sweet
and it makes me wonder how many generations have heard all of these incredible
stories. The two reasons why I really enjoy story time is because they teach me a life
lesson that is actually useful in life and the stories remind me of my grandmother. When
I was little my grandmother would always tell me old Serbian stories that even her
grandmother told her when she was little (and her grandmother’s grandmother!). When I
was younger I thought of them as a bedtime ritual and wouldn’t think about the stories
too much in depth, but now when I think about the stories I am so grateful for them and
my grandma. Like isn’t it crazy of how many generations those stories have gone
through? My grandmother only knows of the stories originating from the early 19th
century but who knows when and who started telling these wonderful stories.
I’m glad we are being taught these stories, so that we could help keep them alive and
spread them with love. Over the weekend, I actually went on a hunt for Nanaboozhoo
stories and was lucky to find at least one online. The one I read was called The Winter
Story: Nanaboozhoo and the First Winter Giveaway ( told by Dr.Martin Reinhardt Ojibwe
Professor at Northern Michigan University). It’s about how Nanaboozhoo went to go
check on the winter animals and they were complaining how there was not enough food
for the winter. After he visited every group of animals, all of them said that they were
taking from one another because of the food shortages in order to survive. I won’t tell
the full story here but it ends with Nanaboozhoo and all of the forest animals working
together so that everyone has enough food to survive throughout the winter. I think this
story is very important and necessary in everyone’s life, really. Because us, humans,
need to work together more and help each other out because we are all here trying to
do the same things: survive and thrive. So why not survive and thrive together?! Here is
the link to the story if you wish to read it:
Going back to language… So far we have been introduced to many verbs and
conjugating as well. Personally, I find the conjugating aspect wayyyy easier than
remembering the verbs. Right now, I think I feel pretty confident with my conjugating.
For the verbs, the only thing that seems to help me understand what means what is
through our break out room activities and repetitions. This all might be difficult for me as
well because I speak another four languages so I’m mixing them all up haha!
Some great news that I can share with you is that I have inspired two people to start
learning Ojibwe. My sister and her friend started reading my notes and they actually
downloaded an app that teaches you vocabulary (hopefully it’s all accurate?). I’m
hoping that together we can inspire more and more people to start learning Ojibwe, to
preserve and pass on this beautiful language and culture.
Niombendam <3
217187303
November 2 2020
Reflection #2
It’s November now and it has been about 3 months of school. So far this year has been
especially challenging for me because personally I don’t retain a lot while online
learning. There are so many tabs open and the Internet crashes from time to time.
Additionally, I’m at home and everything around me is a distraction! Anyways, how is
this all relevant to my reflection you may ask? I just wanted to say that in these three
short months I have learned more about Anishinaabe culture than throughout my entire
schooling “career” which is saying a lot because again, as I said, I do not retain much
from online schooling. I absolutely love when we have story time in class (I sound like a
kindergartener haha). I find it so lovely and peaceful learning through stories. During
class I always look forward to hearing a story about Nanaboozhoo, I find them so sweet
and it makes me wonder how many generations have heard all of these incredible
stories. The two reasons why I really enjoy story time is because they teach me a life
lesson that is actually useful in life and the stories remind me of my grandmother. When
I was little my grandmother would always tell me old Serbian stories that even her
grandmother told her when she was little (and her grandmother’s grandmother!). When I
was younger I thought of them as a bedtime ritual and wouldn’t think about the stories
too much in depth, but now when I think about the stories I am so grateful for them and
my grandma. Like isn’t it crazy of how many generations those stories have gone
through? My grandmother only knows of the stories originating from the early 19th
century but who knows when and who started telling these wonderful stories.
I’m glad we are being taught these stories, so that we could help keep them alive and
spread them with love. Over the weekend, I actually went on a hunt for Nanaboozhoo
stories and was lucky to find at least one online. The one I read was called The Winter
Story: Nanaboozhoo and the First Winter Giveaway ( told by Dr.Martin Reinhardt Ojibwe
Professor at Northern Michigan University). It’s about how Nanaboozhoo went to go
check on the winter animals and they were complaining how there was not enough food
for the winter. After he visited every group of animals, all of them said that they were
taking from one another because of the food shortages in order to survive. I won’t tell
the full story here but it ends with Nanaboozhoo and all of the forest animals working
together so that everyone has enough food to survive throughout the winter. I think this
story is very important and necessary in everyone’s life, really. Because us, humans,
need to work together more and help each other out because we are all here trying to
do the same things: survive and thrive. So why not survive and thrive together?! Here is
the link to the story if you wish to read it:
Going back to language… So far we have been introduced to many verbs and
conjugating as well. Personally, I find the conjugating aspect wayyyy easier than
remembering the verbs. Right now, I think I feel pretty confident with my conjugating.
For the verbs, the only thing that seems to help me understand what means what is
through our break out room activities and repetitions. This all might be difficult for me as
well because I speak another four languages so I’m mixing them all up haha!
Some great news that I can share with you is that I have inspired two people to start
learning Ojibwe. My sister and her friend started reading my notes and they actually
downloaded an app that teaches you vocabulary (hopefully it’s all accurate?). I’m
hoping that together we can inspire more and more people to start learning Ojibwe, to
preserve and pass on this beautiful language and culture.
Niombendam <3
https://www.dl-online.com/lifestyle/family/4826829-Winter-story-Nanaboozhoo-and-the-First-Newebiboon-Migwewin-Winter-Giveaway
N.F reflection #3
Daniela Reflection #2
Reflection: Trauma
We live in a world where we tell others they have done wrong but will not admit or accept the consequences of our own wrong doings. I find it appalling that I did not officially learn about residential schools and Indigenous trauma until I got into university. Once I learned about them, I felt that we should be teaching this at a much younger age as this is part of our history. This is also something that only ended very recently, in 1996, compared to the World War which happened further in the past, yet it is talked about much more frequently and in more detail. In university I have read many different stories and have written an essay on the trauma Indigenous people have faced and how they are still dealing with the repercussions of residential schools. For this reflection piece I was inspired by one of the books I read last year for class called Fatty Legs. The story in this book was very similar to what Maya said in terms of once a child is in residential school their parents are not able to pick them up whenever they please. The child in this story begged her parents to go to residential school with her friends and when she finally got there, she wanted to go home due to the way they treated her but year after year her parents never came to get her. Their school outfits in the book inspired me to crochet an Indigenous girl and her transition from “uncivilized” to “civilized”. To some this may just look like cutting one’s hair and changing their wardrobe, but it was much more than that. Indigenous children were stripped of their culture and forced to abide by the European ways while being physically and sexually abused. They were not allowed to speak in their native tongue, dress in their traditional clothing and were forced to learn English and learn and practice the Catholic faith. Many children, who are now adults still experience trauma from their days in residential schools and this trauma is now being passed on to their children. The trauma of school has not only affected them but their children as well. After leaving residential schools many of these children were so scared, they never returned to school resulting in low education level which then results in low income levels. Parents never want their children to experience the traumas they have so many parents did not allow their children to go to school or gain a higher level of education. This results in the poverty levels on reserves to stay at a high rate as jobs are difficult to acquire without education. Another example of trauma still affecting them now is the mental trauma they face and how they cope with this. Many have turned to substance abuse in order to cope which not only affects their overall health but affects those around them. Many substances when abused, affect a person’s behaviour making them act irrational. This then affects their children as they can be abused and neglected, taking on their parents’ trauma.
Learning more about residential schools and Indigenous trauma I have become very angry that as Canadians we believe we have done our part by apologizing years ago. As stated, many are still overcoming the repercussions of residential school and we need to find ways to help them. We need to help them, not in ways that fit our needs but, in ways that will best fit their needs. As discussed in my last reflection we “help” them but in ways that fit our wants and needs in order for them to fit in this normative box. If we want to do right to our ancestors’ actions, we need to work with the Indigenous peoples to find ways to fit into their society and allow them to take back control of their land.
Reflection: Trauma
We live in a world where we tell others they have done wrong but will not admit or accept the consequences of our own wrong doings. I find it appalling that I did not officially learn about residential schools and Indigenous trauma until I got into university. Once I learned about them, I felt that we should be teaching this at a much younger age as this is part of our history. This is also something that only ended very recently, in 1996, compared to the World War which happened further in the past, yet it is talked about much more frequently and in more detail. In university I have read many different stories and have written an essay on the trauma Indigenous people have faced and how they are still dealing with the repercussions of residential schools. For this reflection piece I was inspired by one of the books I read last year for class called Fatty Legs. The story in this book was very similar to what Maya said in terms of once a child is in residential school their parents are not able to pick them up whenever they please. The child in this story begged her parents to go to residential school with her friends and when she finally got there, she wanted to go home due to the way they treated her but year after year her parents never came to get her. Their school outfits in the book inspired me to crochet an Indigenous girl and her transition from “uncivilized” to “civilized”. To some this may just look like cutting one’s hair and changing their wardrobe, but it was much more than that. Indigenous children were stripped of their culture and forced to abide by the European ways while being physically and sexually abused. They were not allowed to speak in their native tongue, dress in their traditional clothing and were forced to learn English and learn and practice the Catholic faith. Many children, who are now adults still experience trauma from their days in residential schools and this trauma is now being passed on to their children. The trauma of school has not only affected them but their children as well. After leaving residential schools many of these children were so scared, they never returned to school resulting in low education level which then results in low income levels. Parents never want their children to experience the traumas they have so many parents did not allow their children to go to school or gain a higher level of education. This results in the poverty levels on reserves to stay at a high rate as jobs are difficult to acquire without education. Another example of trauma still affecting them now is the mental trauma they face and how they cope with this. Many have turned to substance abuse in order to cope which not only affects their overall health but affects those around them. Many substances when abused, affect a person’s behaviour making them act irrational. This then affects their children as they can be abused and neglected, taking on their parents’ trauma.
Learning more about residential schools and Indigenous trauma I have become very angry that as Canadians we believe we have done our part by apologizing years ago. As stated, many are still overcoming the repercussions of residential school and we need to find ways to help them. We need to help them, not in ways that fit our needs but, in ways that will best fit their needs. As discussed in my last reflection we “help” them but in ways that fit our wants and needs in order for them to fit in this normative box. If we want to do right to our ancestors’ actions, we need to work with the Indigenous peoples to find ways to fit into their society and allow them to take back control of their land.
Emily Issacs Reflection#2
Liam Galimberti Soc 2630
Reflection 3 (All my relations/We are all treaty people) When I hear the phrases “all my relations” and “we are all treaty people” I think of many things. Firstly, when it comes to the phrase “all my relations” I ponder on the fact that we as humans are all connected (no matter race, gender, sexual orientation etc.) through the relationships we forge and we become a sort of community/society within these relations where we give and take and learn and teach just like in Indigenous clans. I think this is a method of imparting knowledge that is very different from the modern ones we are so often exposed to but it is a different but equally important style of learning which relies more on experience and empathy rather then repetition and memorization. I really believe that it is important that we form supportive communities in our lives so that we never feel alone and feel like our friends and peers are there for us no matter what. I appreciate that our SOC2630 classes is one of those supportive and safe places and I think it is beyond cool that I get to be a part of it. When I think of the phrase “we are all treaty people” the first thing that jumps to the forefront of my mind is that video about land acknowledgement you showed us during the first class where the people in the video mention how they are on (essentially stolen) Indigenous land but they do nothing tangible to address this situation other then just repeating the same statement countless times. To me, “We are all treaty people” signifies that we (when I say “we” I mean non-Indigenous folks) are on sacred land and that we need to acknowledge and respect the ground that we walk on for this reason. I think it also how we (by this “we” I mean my colonial ancestors) fucked over Indigenous people back in the day as there were so many treaties that we did not adhere to at all after promising to do so and even more that we only respected temporarily but that we backed out of later as soon as it was convenient or the second we were able to. The “Canada” we know today was actually founded on the basis of treaties and all the infrastructure and roads in cities such as Toronto were made possible thanks to treaties. This really makes me mad because I know that we took so much land from Indigenous people and we gave so little (if anything) back in return. I also remember you saying during one of our earlier classes that Indigenous reserves only represent 0.2% of Canada’s total land mass which is obviously the furthest thing from equitable. It is also for this reason (among several others) why I think there is a good chance reconciliation may be impossible because not only have Indigenous people been abused and marginalized from Canada’s colonial times all the way to present times (that video with the Quebec nurses hurling slurs at the dying Indigenous woman was beyond fucking disgusting and more then anything it is disheartening because it shows that systemic violence against the Indigenous is still alive and normalized). All of these injustices plus the fact that we have destroyed so much of the land held sacred by the Indigenous tribes that once resided there with terrible environmental practices such as logging, deforestation, pollution and over-development is why I believe we may never arrive at (or even deserve) reconciliation. I think It is very easy for children (like me) who are the product of colonialism to forget that we are on sacred land that does not belong to us and that is why it is absolutely crucial to be aware that we are on Indigenous land and that all of us are treaty people whether our ancestors chose to uphold those same treaties or not. I think we as a community (whether in this class or outside of it) need to be the agents of change in our generation to make sure that one day disgusting acts of blatant racism like what took place in Quebec never take place again. Liam Galimberti Soc 2630
Reflection 4 (Wondering with and through Indigenous worldview) When I think about wondering with and through Indigenous Worldview, I think about how this class as taught me to truly appreciate the profound negative impact Colonialism has had on the world and more particularly in Canada. I was always aware that Colonialism and the impact that it has left was negative, but I had no idea just how rampant and present it is in our everyday lives even many generations later. This class has taught me to be more aware of the many colonial institutions that surround me such as governments, churches and schools. I also learned about normative violence and generational trauma which helped me appreciate and comprehend why phenomena like drug and alcohol abuse as well as suicide can be common in Indigenous populations due to the lasting effects of our shared colonial past (especially as many would argue that Colonialism is still alive and well today.) I also sincerely appreciate this class for fostering a respectful and engaged community where everyone can feel safe, loved and valued. As an extremely shy person myself who suffers from multiple anxieties including social anxiety, I am still a little anxious to come out of my shell but I feel like if I were to, I would be accepted regardless. Another thing this course has made me reflect on is my trauma dogs and how to cope with them. I have many trauma dogs but the biggest and most ferocious ones would be the death of my father. In the past I have always been afraid to address this dog for fear of feeling worse and this has led to me keeping a lot of my emotions bottled up and repressed. This course has really helped me in that front as it has inspired me to face that dog instead of constantly hiding from it. I have begun to speak to a therapist about the loss of my father and while talking about him and reliving his death did initially feel worse, I do feel that it is helping in the long run. This class also got me thinking on ways that each and every single one of us can be activists and change the world in our own ways. In breakout rooms we focused mostly on Glendon and ways that we can fix a broken post-secondary education system but there are also many other broken systems in this world and in Canada that depending on the career paths that we take we could have a hand in improving and maybe one day even fixing. I also want to express looking back on the course so far how grateful I am to be in a class that does not put a heavy emphasis on study and memorization and instead looks to implement creative thinking, learning and change into a university class. I truly believe this is what the university courses of the future should look like as this type of class encourages many different styles of learning instead of just one (memorization) so that students from all different walks of life can grow and flourish within the confines of the course. Writing my second reflection for this class also taught me a very important lesson which was that that the exact same traumatic events/scenarios (if not worse ones) happen to others just as frequently (we all have trauma dogs) which has helped me shake the feeling that I was all alone in what I was going through. Finally, I feel that this course has helped me rekindle a sense of wonder particularly for the natural world which I have come to learn is an extremely important part of Indigenous culture. I have not had this sense of wonder since I was a child due to being bogged down with the pressures of being a young adult/adult but I have been forcing myself to take the time to stop and enjoy the beauty of the natural world and to take full advantage of the nature that a green city like Toronto has to offer. In doing this I have noticed that my head is a lot clearer and that when I am out in nature my stress greatly diminishes so I feel like that could be another coping mechanism that I could use to fight my trauma dogs. This course has helped me revaluate my life and the things I cherish a great deal not only by helping me see things through an Indigenous worldview but by giving me ways of coping with my trauma dogs and I am extremely fortunate to have been a part of it. Leah Stammis
CDNS 2636 Professor Maya Chacaby November 2, 2020 Reflection #2 Linguicide – the “death of language”. Its impacts, as we have explored in this class, are devastating and perpetually disparaging to those impacted. An indigenous language falls out of existence every two weeks and is forever forgotten. Languages are one of the most complex and meaningful structures that humans have ever created. Language allows us to express emotion and reaction, to define our perceptions of the world around us, to communicate and create poetry and song, to explore and engage with others in a way that reflects our ways of knowing. It is an innate part of who we all are and how we navigate our lives. Linguicide – a “silent genocide”. It is a process by which the fluency of a language slowly disappears until it has vanished into oblivion. Genocide denotes intent. An intent to destroy. An intent on the part of colonial forces to marginalize indigenous peoples and subordinate their languages as a way to destroy them. The forceful removal Indigenous children from their communities to residential schools, enshrined linguistic and cultural genocide and resulted in adverse repercussions for Indigenous peoples all across Turtle Island. As a language is lost, so too is the knowledge contained within it. Given the unique ecological diversity of Indigenous inhabitance across the world, their languages hold knowledge of the earth and environment unknown to Western understanding. With the loss of this knowledge, comes the loss of tradition and understanding. As we have discussed in class, based upon the personal accounts of Indigenous peoples, the devastations are far more than an inability to communicate. It is an inability to interact with traditional ways of knowing and of living that make up that person’s cultural identity. As such, the identity and relations within their community are increasingly fragmented. Linguicide – Language revitalization. We all must recognize and fight against linguicide, to reconcile and revitalize the language loss that still pervades today. I feel that in order to truly understand the impacts of linguicide and how language loss has impacted Indigenous people, we must put faces to the names and the stories. As such, I sought first-hand accounts from Indigenous people who have experienced linguicide and are actively seeking to revitalize their traditional languages and cultural histories. They are replacing the malicious intent of genocide toward languages with the intent to preserve language, as a means to preserve their people and their diverse heritage. I have collected two short testimonies of individuals from Indigenous communities on Turtle Island to further understand their perspectives on language learning and their endeavours to revitalize language in their communities. To wake up the Nakota language | Nakón-wi̧cííé oĝųĝa Link: https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=10156020530333952 The first account is that of Arman McArthur, one of the last fluent Nakota speakers in Pheasant Rump First Nation, Treaty 4 territory, in southern Saskatchewan. He explains the significance and sacredness of language and culture for his people - “when you don’t know your language or your culture, you don’t know who you are”. All those who knew the Lakota language have passed on into the sky, and now he is alone. He has no one to talk to. In an effort to reconstruct the language base in his community, he began teaching them the language of their ancestors. One can see the life that is brought back into the community through his teachings. It felt as though these teachings were something they all longed for and it was evident that there was a reconnection through the language. He concludes that “we have to get [the language] back so that everybody will have it.” He desires to bring ancestral wisdom back into his community, and to revitalize language and culture for his community and future generations. This reflects many of the endeavours of various Indigenous peoples across Turtle Island to restore their cultural ways of life through language revitalisation and resurgence. Revitalizing the Wolastoqey Language Link: https://www.cbc.ca/originalvoices/language/wolastoqey/ In this second account, Logan Perley, a young member of the Wolastoqey nation in New Brunswick addresses the need for language revitalization in his community, especially among the younger generation. With below 60 speakers of the language, it seems inevitable that the language will vanish. This exposé addresses the issue of linguistic fluency vs. linguistic knowledge and that Indigenous languages perish so easily due to deficient emphasis on obtaining fluency. The younger generation of Wolastoqey people are identifying their detachment from the language and seeking support from elders and community leaders to revive the language of their people. Something that struck me about this piece was the interconnectedness of language, land and water. Wolastoq – the “beautiful and bountiful river” – defines the Wolastoq people and effectively their responsibilities on Turtle Island. It relates to the notion of “all my relations” – perceptible and animated relationships to land, to our creatural relatives, and to one another. Further, the anglicization of traditional territories, such as the Wolastoq river, is perceived as an assault on the land and subsequently, the language. The Wolastoq people identify a powerful relation between language, land and cultural identity. For them, and many other Indigenous nations across Turtle Island, the language defines their entire identity, and without language there is so little to hold on to. It destabilizes nations and their ability to connect with ancestral ways of life. This disconnect is what linguicide stems from, and the efforts of these Indigenous people and communities seeks to counteract and revitalize their communities and ways of life through rediscovering language. Sam Murdoch-rock Reflection/ramblings #4
For the last reflection in the course, I wanted to end off with a self portrait type drawing that represented my growth/learning from the class. I spent a while thinking of the idea, doodling and making a rough copy, but when it came to actually making a final product I couldn't do it. My vision for what I wanted to do couldn’t be brought to life. I was getting really frustrated, feeling angry at myself for not being talented enough to do what I want to do. For me, it's really easy to go from feeling inspired to I-absolutely-suck-at-everything in a matter of seconds. Recognizing this, I took a step back. If I have learned anything from this course, it's the importance of reflection. There must be a reason other than my lack of talent that I can't execute my drawing, maybe I am meant to use a different skill and think about a different thing this week for my reflection. This class came at the most perfect time in my life. I am in my 5th (and final!) year of my undergrad and, to be honest, I'm over it. That's not to say that I haven't enjoyed my time or my program, I'm very thankful for it, but I am tired and burnt out and have lost almost all of my motivation to care about what I am learning. The past few years I have come to understand that for me, education is about inspiring and encouraging people to utilize their gifts, and I don't think that the program that I'm in does that for me. The way that I was being taught (without compassion and understanding for anything other than white ideologies) wasn't sitting well with me anymore. I think that there is more to life than memorizing facts and answering multiple choice questions. I think that the most important learning comes from community connections, exploration of different hobbies and skills, and from introspection. As an Indigenous person who grew up outside of the culture I have always felt like I am a fraud in the Indigenous community. It's hard to feel connected when I have spent so many years of my life being disconnected. I have felt that because my skin is white I have no right to call myself Indigenous. But, through this class I have learned that feeling like this is very normal and I should not be ashamed. I have come to understand that because of trauma faced by my family, my indigeneity has ben colonialized and white-washed. I am in the process of reclaiming and re-learning my culture with the help of my human and non-human relatives. I am learning how to be proud of where I come from and eventually I hope to be able to encourage others to do the same. Olivia Pellicciotta Reflection #4 What have I learned in this class? A question I ask myself at the end of every semester. Usually the answer is a few facts, concepts, or structures that the details have been dumped from my brain on tests and will definitely be completely forgotten in a few weeks. The grades are usually good but have I reallylearned anything? The main thing I consistently learn from all my classes is how to find out what the professor wants and regurgitate some sort of bullshit in the form they're looking for. A sure-fire way to get the grades without really understanding anything or knowing what you’re doing. But I cannot say that these things remain true for this class. If the societal institutional education system wants to tell me that I haven't learned anything in this class because I can’t regurgitate all the dates and details we discussed in the history portion at the beginning then so be it. The truth is, I’ve learned more in this class than in all my other classes combined. I may not be able to recite key dates and figures off the top of my head but I can tell you the importance of dealing with trauma and some ways to do so, the characteristics that make a good human and some ways to look at the world beyond the whitewash that has been flooding our brains thanks to that very education system. Lessons that, in my opinion, are far more important than just knowing facts that really have little to no application or meaning in day-to-day life. Leaving class feeling drained is nothing new, but in this class it's different. Usually I’m drained from having things thrown at me rapid fire style and trying to absorb them all. In this class, I left not with my brain feeling like it was going to explode but rather drained in the sense that the discussion forced me to think with my mind, heart and basically every part of my being. We got into some pretty deep and real topics. Topics that are often avoided or diluted in most classes. These discussions were so important and valuable. They prompted deep thinking and reflection and made me realize things about myself and the world that I've never thought of before. The topics and discussion ran so deep sometimes that I left class crying. But leaving class crying from deep reflection was so refreshing compared to leaving class crying because a prof basically called me stupid to my face or feeling so dumb and not belonging at all. Rather than just telling us how the concepts in this class are supposed to apply to everyday life in the real world, we got a first hand look at how they connect thanks to the lovely people from Nokiiwin. I feel like I learned so much in these past few weeks just from them being there. They were so gracious and kind to share their personal experiences and stories and to let us listen in on their debriefing sessions. Their knowledge and sharing is so valuable and added an extra layer that is lacking and would be so useful in other courses. To be honest I’d never heard of Nokiiwin or had any interaction or experience with indigenous organizations before this class. Being able to hear first hand the connections between the concepts being discussed and real life was so helpful. It would have been much harder to imagine the connection without this layer to the class. It was so nice and refreshing to have a perspective beyond that of universities students being voiced in class discussion. I was really nervous coming into this class because it was a subject I didn't know that much about and it's definitely not in my wheelhouse. The only experiences I've had with “Indigenous studies” prior to this class was looking in from the (whitewashed) outside. I didn't fully know what to expect or what the course would be like but I'm so glad we got to look at the world through an indigenous worldview and not just “study the Indians”. I am so glad I made room to take this course. I can’t recommend it enough to all my friends and other students I talk to. I’ve learned so much about the world, myself and seeing things through other people’s perspectives. Though I didn’t take notes or memorize the content, I know I will remember these lessons and discussions and use them in my life. This class not only taught about Aboriginal People of Canada (as the title suggests) but it was rooted in teaching about life and being a good person. Lessons I think everyone needs and every student should have access to. I’ve never felt a stronger welcoming sense of belonging than in this class, a place I thought I definitely would not have felt that. Mary Delos-reyes
HUMA 2636 Reflection 2 Vimala Suppiah These past few weeks has been an eye opener for me. I have learned so much about the Anishinaabe language, culture, and beliefs. I came into this class having a limited awareness and knowledge about indigenous communities even though I have been in Canada for a decade. This process of self-reflection has allowed me to examine my personal beliefs, helped me in developing my self-awareness and has increased my personal knowledge and understanding of the issues surrounding indigenous people and their communities. Throughout the class, there are several key components that have stood out for me personally. Healing Lodge I had the privilege of participating in an indigenous ceremony a couple years ago on campus in Saskatchewan. A close friend of mine, an indigenous lady by the name of Angela invited me to this ceremony. It was a smudging ceremony. Pow wow. Although she did explain in detail at the time what the ceremony was all about, what I remember very vividly to this day is the impact it made on me. I entered a dome shaped circular hut and there was an elder who was dressed in a traditional costume. Incense was lighted and he began chanting, drumming, and singing. There were about 25 people sitting in a circle, being respectful and very quiet. I took it all in. I experienced something very different that day, I have come to believe that in the process of it all, there was this energy moving within my body. I felt a shift in the energy state within me. My mind, my heart and my spirit felt moved and my thought processes became clearer that day. I would love to participate in the ceremony again. Story telling is such a powerful teaching technique and oral tradition. It is a way of learning about history and the life lessons of people who lived before us. It functions to build social relationships and connect people. It gives us a cultural identity and meaning. It is always a treat and a privilege to hear a traditional Anishinaabe story. Whenever I hear a story, it spurs my imagination and I find myself coming back again and again to analyze the narratives and the numerous hidden meanings behind it. I love the various stories Ms. Chacaby tells during lessons, of nanabozho and others. I especially enjoyed the stories about nanabozho, the trickster and cultural hero in Anishinaabe belief who was sent to teach important lessons. I have learnt much from these stories. Even more so, for this very reason, I feel that it is important especially for children to know their native language to be able to connect to this beautiful storyland world around them. It gives them identity and meaning in their lives. The medicinal bundle concept discussed in class represents one of the various healing aspects that it brings to indigenous communities. The medicinal bundle is all powerful and carries with it meanings and the ways of understanding and doing things in the world. It is believed to protect or give spiritual powers to its owner. It is sacred. All the contents in the bundle relate to you. The bundle may consist of medicine, pipes, rock, staff, rattle, and various other items used for in ceremonies and your spiritual journey in life. There is a strong identity rooted in the bundle which would help us and even though I am not of indigenous origin, I would like to explore it if I am given the opportunity and embrace it in my life. The bundle reminds me of the beauty of creation and of spirituality. I feel that much of the learning done in this course was meaningful to me in many ways, more than one. It is unlike the other subjects I had taken where rote memorization, regurgitation and herculean effort was made to attain a certain grade. I think that in time, when I look back, I am not going to remember all the contents of forced memorizations as time passes. I feel that true learning occurs when the subject is practical and can be applied to my everyday life and it is of interest to me. Lastly, I would like to end with a note saying that although colonization created a fragmentary worldview of the aboriginal people, and attempted to destroy them, it was unsuccessful. Here we are, you and me – reviving the language, creating it, taking it apart and examining it from every angle and piecing it back together again. What further evidence do we need than to say that it has stood the test of time? It is “alive and breathing”. Nanye- Hi Little star Natalia Santilli Reflection #4:
I remember looking through the list of reflection prompts on the first day of class and being nervous about this one. I wasn’t sure that 10 short weeks would be long enough for me to absorb a culture so very different from the one I was brought up in. What I’ve learned is that Indigenous worldview has been incredibly “absorbable” not only for how beautiful it is, but for how clear it is that much of western social fuckery could be remedied if curmudgeony white men would take a leaf out of the metaphorical book they’ve long worked to snuff out. It’s not that people, generally speaking, just “haven’t found” a way to live peaceful, flourishing lives. It’s not that that hasn’t been figured out yet. Someone had figured it out. There were people, Indigenous people, who had figured out how to live fully and harmoniously ages ago, and there were complex social systems upholding those foundational values and things ran smoothly, and then came the white man. So it’s not that Western society is earnestly trying to figure this whole “wellbeing” thing out, but that it’s being actively worked against, and I just can’t understand that. It feels incredibly dishonest and empty. The first thing I felt when we discussed the Anishinaabe way of celebrating and raising children in their gifts was admittedly a deep sadness. It’s so simple and so beautiful that it just made me think, really?? Why would that be so terrible for us all to be doing?? And I know there are a lot of really amazing parents out there who to some degree are doing just that, but I mean as a ~society~ on the whole. Why do we have to find ourselves caught in this paradox of needing to fit in and simultaneously stand out, only allowing people enough wiggle room of difference to allow for winners and losers while still maintaining a boring ass overall homogeneity. I’ve been thinking of it in terms of a really trite analogy lol but how about the fact that say if someone had a really large plant collection. It would only be cool if the plants were all different, right?? And way less so if it was the same thing over and over again, especially because then it would be way too easy to rule some out as uglier versions of others. Why is it that we can appreciate the value of a diverse plant collection, but for whatever reason we can’t seem to allow that to translate to ourselves. I’ve been thinking of this also in terms of how there’s a fucking lot going on in the world right now. Not that that isn’t always the case, lord knows, but it really feels like shit is reaching a fever pitch lately. With so much going on, we need all kinds of people doing all kinds of things. Some folks need to protest, some need to call gov officials, some need to donate, some need to speak publicly, some need to this and that and on and on and there’s a LOT. And on the whole, no one thing is more important than the other, because each is an essential component of something bigger. And so with this, now is really a time when we’re seeing how people need to act on their gifts. I’m able-bodied and not immunocompromised, so I go to protests. I fucking suck at talking on the phone and public speaking, so I leave that to more socially-competent people. And that’s okay. And we can’t judge people for being weaker in some departments than others. In fact I’m feeling kinda bad now for guilting my boyfriend out to protests when I know his anxiety really makes him better suited to behind the scenes activism. I’m kind of digressing here but my point is that this deeper understanding, or even just having it spelled out to me that people deserve the opportunity to “bloom where they’re planted” (or whatever pinterest-y terms we want to use lol) has been very relevant to now/today, and I needed that. I have to believe that there would be a fairly natural balance of folks in various fields if they were given that freedom. It really does make me sad to recognize what a beautiful way of life that would be, or rather must have been for those who experienced it only to have it torn away in the most brutal way. I know individual gifts are only one very small part of Indigenous world view, but it’s been on my mind a lot. I can tend to be hard on people who I perceive to not be “doing their part” (even though I’m definitely nothing spectacular), so this has helped me gain the perspective that there are more roles to fill that meet the eye, people only need to be allowed to fill them. And I think there’s an opportunity here for people to realize this, which circles back to just how applicable Indigenous worldview is to non-Indigenous folks as well. Terms like “community bundle” might not make sense at first glance, but the concepts themselves aren’t limited by any means to Indigenous people, and these tools and ideas really ought to be integrated into Western culture for that reason. Better late than never, as I’m definitely learning. And I think I say this at the end of every reflection lol, but I'm very grateful to be getting a better handle on things now. Jessica Orlando
A lot can be learned about the world when looking at it through an Indigenous worldview. Knowledge always opens your perspective to people and things around you. The more I listen and understand, the more I can take from the world and the more I can offer to it. The telescope I drew has limited sight. Beyond that, there is more that can be learned and applied to our lives. Our sight can expand when we learn and think in new ways. I work in the bakery department of a grocery store, so it’s kind of my job to be nice to people. But it is a 2 way streak and if a customer is rude, I’m not inclined to show them kindness. I had to learn patience and restraint in my job, so when people are rude to me and my coworkers, there is not much I can do. But it is a good feeling when a customer pleasantly interacts with me. Then I genuinely feel happy to help them. It starts with kindness, which I used to mistake as being the same as niceness. I wouldn’t know the difference without learning it from an Indigenous perspective. Since we’re all stuck at home these days, I’ve practiced my kindness with my family, and learned to differentiate just being nice. And we’ve been spending more time with ourselves lately, which gives more time to be honest internally. I now have an opportunity to think of how I can improve myself, and I got help figuring that out with Spirit Helpers from class. I chose the rock J, which had a beaver on the back of it. For me, beavers represent hard work, and I need to start putting more passion into the things I do to get better results. Luckily, this realization came early enough into the school year, so I can really focus on my year term classes and work harder. The harder I work, the more I can offer to the world. I understood what it’s like for people not to acknowledge your gifts. Being genuine is not always an easy thing to do, and being shut down makes it even harder. I also acknowledge that I’ve done the same to people around me. Learning about it has made me more aware of it. Hopefully now I won't let that cycle continue. In all three instances, my perspective grew because I can look at the world a little differently now. I can see more through the telescope that I was missing before. I will try to make myself and others around me more free because of it. SOSC2630 Reflection 4 - Wondering with and through Indigenous Worldview
Jeffrey Mauceri 213683917 My understanding of the Indigenous worldview is that there is a strong sense of respect for elders, community members, traditional teachings as well as the land we live in (turtle island). In traditional indigenous societies, individual members of society are valued and respected both young and old. Each member is encouraged to use their unique talents and abilities to contribute to the community. This social environment creates feelings of encouragement among all of its members, leading to an overall positive way of life. In colonial society certain accomplishments are valued much greater than others, hence those who are “more successful” are given greater respect. Those that do not achieve certain types of success are looked down upon resulting in poor-self worth, shame and even depression. The colonial society needs to get past some of these negative viewpoints and see people for their unique and valuable characteristics (i.e. sweetgrass teaching). There seems to be a strong sense of interconnectedness and community within Anishinaabe culture. The land, animals and people are closely linked, according to the creation story which Maya shared in class. Many members of the community will hunt together in groups and everyone will receive a share of the food hunted and gathered. Everyone cares for and helps each other living together as one, as opposed to colonial culture which is entirely centered around the individual. I would imagine that there is much less loneliness within these traditional indigenous cultures. There is one example in the Indigenous Writes book which I felt really contrasts the Indigenous worldview with the Colonial worldview. In her book, Chelsea Vowel tells the story of an Inuk woman, Christina David whose aunt gave her a ptarmigan bird she had brought with her from home. Christina was very excited to get the bird and began plucking the bird’s feathers on the subway in Montreal as she could not wait to cook it. Subway riders were shocked by her actions as they did not understand her excitement at having received the bird. She later explained to an interviewer she was much more excited to receive the bird than she would have been to receive many presents on Christmas. The interviewer then wanted to know if the bird was an expensive delicacy which she could purchase. Christina was shocked by this question and replied “As Inuit, we don’t buy that. We hunt it up north, and we share it with our people!” Colonial society would consider plucking a bird on the subway as strange however; to Christina picking up a bird at the local supermarket was just as weird. This story made me see the world from the perspective of the Inuk people, which is something that I hadn’t considered before. I can now see how bizarre our commodity-based system might appear to some Indigenous peoples. In colonial society, everything in nature must immediately be assigned a dollar value. This story allowed me to really understand and respect their viewpoint towards mainstream Canadian culture. Unfortunately through years of abuse, many indigenous people view the world quite differently than their traditional culture did. A lot of healing needs to take place in order to restore their traditional cultures and worldviews. I can’t help but wonder what a better place this country would be if the European settlers had respected the original Wampum belt treaty. Our eyes could have been opened to a worldview which would likely benefit everyone living here on turtle island. Jessie Vickey Reflection #4
Jennifer Bianca Weerasinghe November 2020 Reflection Blog #2
Niamajise, Niwaabam, - Jordan M. Burns Reflection#2 Nigiinibaa → Nigiiamajise → Nigiiwiisin → Nigiimaajaa → Nigiianokii → Nigiigiiwe → Nigiibagamise → Nigiibiindige → Nigiiwiisin → Ninibaa Ninibaa - I am sleeping. Whispered stories, watered Earth, the tone of madness, the drone of classes. Ninibaa - I am sleeping. Abstraction. Distraction. The loss of the past. Opening the door. Destruction. Seeming aghast. Ni-gii-noojigo-nibaa - I was foolishly sleeping. An abstraction of reality and language. Who am I? Who? AWENEN? A W E N E N ? A W E N E N ? A W E N E N ? How do you destroy a language? You take away its inner-workings. You take away the ‘who’ who speaks it. How do we save what’s left in time? When do we do it? When? Aanapii? AANAPIISH? A A N A P I I S H ? A A N A P I I S H ? A A N A P I I S H ? How do you go about fulfilling your responsibilities when you feel there is no time? You go. You do your best. An empty feeling. Tell me where is this happening? Where? Aandi? AANIINDI? A A N I I N D I ? A A N I I N D I ? A A N I I N D I ? Where am I to go when the place that holds my history is missing? Continue moving, explore new routes, and passageways for myself and my heritage. I feel a strong pull towards the verbs of travel. Maajaa, bishaa, bagamise, biindige, giiwe. This ever-wondering sense of wandering leaves me wishing wanderlust amongst the Earth, wind, and whispered words. Traveling. Leaving my home to explore the gifts that nature has given. Ni-nepiji-mikoshkadendam that ni-noojigo-nibaa. I am permanently worried that I am foolishly sleeping because there is so much information to know/discover/consider and getting through it all seems overwhelming. Nidaatagaadendam. Ni-nepiji-daatagaadendam. Always overwhelmed by the task at hand because the task has seemed unattainable for generations. Seeing the animals Anonymous to me “Longwalk journey ahead” Keep your eyes up, your nose down, your thoughts big. The path behind Lost I’m losing Lost... The frozen past mm-oo-vv-ii-nn-gg HELP! Crystalized future CRACK CLOUDY This moment in time Breathe. Breathe. Breathe. Still, years after the fact, my father refers to himself as white. He’s one of the “good Indians”. He’s “good” because they successfully tore him from his own people, his land, his story. Longheld hate seems to stand longer than longheld goodness in the modern-day. The inability to properly cope with negative feelings of abandonment and betrayal keeps the “good Indian” in-line with the righ- white society. Yet, they don’t see… The colours that we wave high when we laugh. The tears of joy we shed when we dance. The connections to the world that we have developed despite the circumstances. The idea of hope stands tall. For once gaawin, nidaatagaadendamsiin, nimaamagaadendam. I am amazed at all of the possibilities that have opened since I have started learning Anishinaabemowin. Communicating, even only one word - or small statements at a time, brings a bit of joy to my life that wasn’t there before. Words and statements like eha, gaawin, nishin, aniish na giin, aniin, and words for how I’m feeling have started to replace their English counterparts and for once I don’t feel so lost. I don’t feel as helpless when I feel like I have access to a language that can help me communicate important thoughts and ideas that were wandering, unnamed before. I am starting to see you. Ni-maaji-waabam giin. Guiding me as I begin to take on my inheritance and responsibilities. Ni-kichi-anokiimin, and niashwii to do the big work too. Lorem ipsum dolor sit Reflection 4 SOCI2630A
The Wolf The wolf is my animal and spiritual helper! The wolf represents Humility – Dbaadendiziwin. Life for the wolf is lived through his pack and to be ousted by the pack would be very shameful to his life. We all need to be humble and not take anything for granted. I admire the wolf for her commitment to family, her strong instincts, her protectiveness, and intelligence. Wolves travel in packs and rely on their pack for food and protection. They also can be ferocious – working together as savages to get food for everyone in their pack in any way they have to. On the other hand, they are elusive and do not show themselves openly unless they have to. The wolf mates for life and is fiercely loyal to her family. What can the wolf show me in my life and how can the wolf help me to become a better person? I am a mother of 5 children although they are now adults and live on their own, but we know that a mother is always a mother and will be until the day she dies. Life has not always been perfect and it may have come in handy at times to have looked to the wolf to help me get through some difficult times! There are instances that my (or our) lives are similar to the wolf. When the kids were young we travelled in a pack lol. I am very protective of my children and we are all very close and committed to each other. I am not a hunter but I knew how to feed them and provide them with good nutrition. I like to think that I have earned the trust and devotion of my children by teaching them what I know and by allowing them to follow their life path in their own way. I am not blowing my own horn here – although there are similarities, there are a lot of things that I can still learn from the wolf. I have an extended family now but we are still a pack and will always stay connected. I will teach what I know to my grand children and stress to them the importance of family. There is strength in numbers, - (the wolf shows us that by the way they hunt). I will teach my grand children to trust their instincts. I will support my children and grandchildren with whatever talent they have and encourage them. I can always be reminded to be humble. This can be a difficult way to be sometimes and I struggle with it often. It is easy to show off at times. The most important thing is to not take anything for granted and to treat every person equally – no one is better than anyone else. One must continue to support our loved ones even if we don’t like what they have chosen. We need to support and help our children/ friends and help them to get over any obstacles that they come across. , consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi. Sed ut perspiciatis unde omnis iste natus error sit voluptatem accusantium doloremque laudantium |
Ditsha Patel
November 19, 2020 SOCI 2630 Reflection 4 I decided to create a bundle for my own community for my final reflection. I come from a Hindu / Indian background and throughout this class, I’ve noticed many similarities between Indigenous teachings and Hindu teachings and values. However, I’ve also noticed how broken my community has become and how many of us have lost our path, our ways of life and forgot how to be human. Ever since the members in my community have immigrated to Canada, many of them have become distant and it is so rare to see someone doing an act of kindness without having them expect something in return. Western ideologies, colonization and patriarchy really made my people lose and forget their values and responsibilities. They became another product of western culture. It was only through this class that I realized that in order to save my community, I needed to introduce the bundle. We need to go back to roots and be able to accept ourselves and help guide other’s spirits, as we have done in the past and back home. Whenever my mom tells me stories of her childhood back home, she always smiles and was so happy because every story was genuine. In her village, everyone knew each other, and everyone would help each other out of pure kindness. Unfortunately, I don’t see much of that here and it's time to start a change. Here’s a list of the items in my bundle and their explanations along with a drawing of what these items would look like: Cultural dances: In my culture we have these cultural dances called garbas. This dance is done in a circle and signifies that all humans have a divine energy within them. I believe the meaning of this dance has been forgotten and it’s important we remember why we do what we do. Colour: This is a big aspect of my culture. Colour is used everywhere throughout India, from our clothes to our decorations, and we even have a holiday to celebrate it. We use colour for bringing out our emotions, thinking and actions. It's a vital part of our human life. Instruments and music: We have specific instruments that create these melodic tunes. It gives us rhythmic value in life. Many people don’t play these instruments anymore, but it’s important we bring them back to our culture. Light: For us, light signifies the victory of good over evil, knowledge over ignorance and hope over desire. For Diwali, we set up lights in a row to create a path to goodness and clarity. Many of my people underestimate its importance or have forgotten its meaning. Education: Education helps us better ourselves, teaches us morals and values and lets us look at life through different perspectives. But it's equally important that everyone is able to receive proper education. Whether it’s stories from our elders or lessons taught in school, everyone should have a right to proper education. Unfortunately, many of my members, particularly the older generations, believe that once a girl reaches a certain age, they must stop their schooling and get married. This was never the case in the past, and we need to abandon this ideology that was formed from colonization. Herbs: We use herbs for almost everything, in our food, our medicines and for healing. It is part of our everyday lives and we believe it cleanses our body and soul. Ever since we’ve adapted to this western society, many of us have stopped using herbs because it isn’t valued anymore. I believe it is important to use these natural gifts from Earth to help our spirit. Family and friends: Overall, I am very family oriented and have many cousins and family friends. We are always there for each other, but recently I’ve noticed how people are starting to forget their roots and are becoming more distant. It’s important that we check up on one another from time to time, give each other a call or simply listen. Our family celebrates each other’s success, but we are also a support system in times of crisis. We need each other to survive. Yoga: We use yoga to help strengthen our mind and soul. It promotes calmness, clarity and helps us be more aware. Many people have stopped doing yoga because they’re either too busy or don’t see its value. It’s important we try and integrate this meditation practice in our everyday lives so we can become better versions of ourselves. Gods: We have many Gods, but in the end they’re all one. It’s important for my community to know these Gods, because it's their stories that give us faith and strength. Their stories are different, but they preach the same values: kindness and love. They remind us about what it is to be human and how we can truly gain happiness. My community, especially the youth, have forgotten these stories and it's important we embrace their teachings. Nationality: The reason I put nationality is because although our background is Indian, we all live in Canada, more specifically Turtle Island. It’s important to embrace this because we need to come together as a community and change these oppressive policies and laws that the Canadian government holds. Many members of my community ignore and dismiss what goes on in Canada because they think it doesn’t “apply” to them. But the truth is we live on Turtle Island, so we must accept our responsibilities and help reconcile, heal and guide others for a better and more promising future. We live on this land and we must give back. Traditional foods: Food is a large aspect in an Indian community. It is our identity, and its recipes hold a lot of history behind them. So many of us have replaced our traditional meals with fast-food and take-outs. It is vital that we bring back these recipes and these traditional foods so that we do not lose our identity and history. It is one thing that we have brought from India to Turtle Island that everyone, including those who are not Indian, can appreciate. Art: Our art has been around for centuries. The way the designs and colour integrate to create a masterpiece is truly beautiful. However, they also tell stories. This is essential in our bundle because it can provide us with everlasting stories that we can learn from and use. It holds sentimental and historical value that creates our identity but also guides us. |
Alyssa Argueta-Hinkson
Reflection #2
This experience of learning Anishinaabemowin so far has been a fun and really
rewarding one. I have learned many things, not just words, but also a new viewpoint in life.
This class really helped tune into my own spirituality and cultural connections, and it helped
me understand the necessity of making time to connect with your ancestors. So, for my
reflection submission, I would like to show you my personal altar for the Day of the Dead
celebration (Mayan/Guatemala) I had for the night of November 1, and also my family altar
for Samhain (Gaelic/Ireland) I had on Halloween. This is our first time celebrating Samhain,
while I started celebrating the Day of the Dead last year. I want to start relearning lost
traditions that colonialism has attempted to destroy. I want to celebrate my ancestors and
build a relationship with them. I want to be able to celebrate traditions like how my ancestors
did.
For Samhain, my family prepared a huge feast. For both celebrations of Samhain
and the Day of the Dead, my family set up altars for our ancestors. I was in charge of setting
up the altar of the Day of the Dead since The Day of the Dead altar was for my ancestors on
my father’s side of the family and the Samhain altar was for my mother’s side of the family.
Both days, we celebrated our ancestors’ lives by telling stories about them and playing
music that they enjoyed.
The Samhain altar consisted of pictures of our
passed loved ones, along with incense, flowers,
candles, alcohol, and some items to represent
our ancestors. We also prepared a big feast
and prepared an ancestor plate, which was
placed on the dinner table while we ate so the
ancestors could eat with us. For the Day of the
Dead altar, I struggled with if I wanted to display
any pictures of my ancestors. I don’t have a relationship with any of
them, nor do I know about their lives as I have been told few to zero
stories about them. In the end, I decided to place items that
represent Guatemala on the altar to draw in my ancestors. I also lit
an incense specific to Central America in hopes that my ancestors
would recognize it. I also placed water, food, and candles on my
altar.
It is particularly hard for me to connect with my ancestors on
my father’s side as my mother and father divorced when I was
young, and my father and I never had a strong relationship. The fact
that we haven’t talked in years shows how disconnected we are. For
this reason, and also the fact my father makes fun of me embracing our Indigenous heritage,
it has been an ongoing struggle to reconnect with my ancestors from Guatemala. The
Spanish did a really good job at brainwashing the Indigenous Peoples in Central and South
America to make them believe they were just “Latino” or “Hispanic”. The shame associated
with being Indigenous runs deeps in my family, as being Indigenous is associated with being
poor. Due to this, my father’s family refuses to name themselves as Indigenous, despite
practicing Indigenous ways of being. The Day of the Dead for me was a really emotional
experience because of the disconnection I thought I had. For both the nights of Samhain and
the Day of the Dead, I felt my ancestors’ presence as they made themselves known to me. It
was overwhelming as I felt so lost for the longest time, and last night helped me understand
that all my ancestors from my all lineages are there for me.
I am going to continue to relearn the traditions of my ancestors, and also continue
reconnecting with my ancestors on a more frequent basis. Spirituality has been in the past
for me something I sought after when I was in need of help, but I realize now that spirituality
should be incorporated into my everyday life. I will be engaging in my spiritual practices a lot
more now as I understand now how important it is.
Reflection #2
This experience of learning Anishinaabemowin so far has been a fun and really
rewarding one. I have learned many things, not just words, but also a new viewpoint in life.
This class really helped tune into my own spirituality and cultural connections, and it helped
me understand the necessity of making time to connect with your ancestors. So, for my
reflection submission, I would like to show you my personal altar for the Day of the Dead
celebration (Mayan/Guatemala) I had for the night of November 1, and also my family altar
for Samhain (Gaelic/Ireland) I had on Halloween. This is our first time celebrating Samhain,
while I started celebrating the Day of the Dead last year. I want to start relearning lost
traditions that colonialism has attempted to destroy. I want to celebrate my ancestors and
build a relationship with them. I want to be able to celebrate traditions like how my ancestors
did.
For Samhain, my family prepared a huge feast. For both celebrations of Samhain
and the Day of the Dead, my family set up altars for our ancestors. I was in charge of setting
up the altar of the Day of the Dead since The Day of the Dead altar was for my ancestors on
my father’s side of the family and the Samhain altar was for my mother’s side of the family.
Both days, we celebrated our ancestors’ lives by telling stories about them and playing
music that they enjoyed.
The Samhain altar consisted of pictures of our
passed loved ones, along with incense, flowers,
candles, alcohol, and some items to represent
our ancestors. We also prepared a big feast
and prepared an ancestor plate, which was
placed on the dinner table while we ate so the
ancestors could eat with us. For the Day of the
Dead altar, I struggled with if I wanted to display
any pictures of my ancestors. I don’t have a relationship with any of
them, nor do I know about their lives as I have been told few to zero
stories about them. In the end, I decided to place items that
represent Guatemala on the altar to draw in my ancestors. I also lit
an incense specific to Central America in hopes that my ancestors
would recognize it. I also placed water, food, and candles on my
altar.
It is particularly hard for me to connect with my ancestors on
my father’s side as my mother and father divorced when I was
young, and my father and I never had a strong relationship. The fact
that we haven’t talked in years shows how disconnected we are. For
this reason, and also the fact my father makes fun of me embracing our Indigenous heritage,
it has been an ongoing struggle to reconnect with my ancestors from Guatemala. The
Spanish did a really good job at brainwashing the Indigenous Peoples in Central and South
America to make them believe they were just “Latino” or “Hispanic”. The shame associated
with being Indigenous runs deeps in my family, as being Indigenous is associated with being
poor. Due to this, my father’s family refuses to name themselves as Indigenous, despite
practicing Indigenous ways of being. The Day of the Dead for me was a really emotional
experience because of the disconnection I thought I had. For both the nights of Samhain and
the Day of the Dead, I felt my ancestors’ presence as they made themselves known to me. It
was overwhelming as I felt so lost for the longest time, and last night helped me understand
that all my ancestors from my all lineages are there for me.
I am going to continue to relearn the traditions of my ancestors, and also continue
reconnecting with my ancestors on a more frequent basis. Spirituality has been in the past
for me something I sought after when I was in need of help, but I realize now that spirituality
should be incorporated into my everyday life. I will be engaging in my spiritual practices a lot
more now as I understand now how important it is.
Ronin Smith Reflection#2
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Reflection #4
Short Story -Wonderings with Indigenous Worldview
By Charleen Ayeni
As I wonder and reflect on the world I live in today, I’m always brought back to reflect on the ways I grew up learning about our traditional teachings and how to respect the land and animals in the bush. Remembering the great river that we use to flow down to get to our fishing net and camping grounds was always a refreshing feeling because of the serenity and peace it brought, not worrying about what lies ahead in the path. As I gather the information in my mind, I have learned so much from the course on kindness that I can keep with me along my journey in life and also made me see kindness through a Indigenous lens and look back on the ways kindness has shaped the way we make other people feel around us. Each act of kindness shows through the community and I always viewed a community as always coming from there heart and being more of a collective and togetherness. I always remember how my big Cree family gathered at family potlucks at my Mooshum and Gookums house, everyone was together celebrating and enjoying the company of each other, laughing and step dancing away while all the kids would be running around and playing outside because everyone could not fit into the house, this always brought gladness to my heart being together as a family and sharing with one another.
During the start of the pandemic in the Spring, my whole life came to a stop and I knew within me that I had the courage to get up a try again, So I took a step back and reconnected with my children, and helped them with kindness through there online schooling and we also learned new things together at home through cooking, baking and sewing, this made me feel more beautiful inside. It is a time to bring back the old teachings of the love and happiness taught by mother and grandmothers from back in the day. Although the pandemic feels constant, we strive to keep our families knit together within our dwelling places and one day we hope to flourish out of our hibernations.
By bringing back the balance of relationship building with kindness, we come to realize that we make each other feel better inside by working towards mutual respect and love. Sometimes are spirits are overtaken by the forces of looking the other way from the Creator and we forget to care about the simple things in life. While we have this time to think and reflect, we come to realize that being kind to all creatures on earth makes life more sparkly.
Short Story -Wonderings with Indigenous Worldview
By Charleen Ayeni
As I wonder and reflect on the world I live in today, I’m always brought back to reflect on the ways I grew up learning about our traditional teachings and how to respect the land and animals in the bush. Remembering the great river that we use to flow down to get to our fishing net and camping grounds was always a refreshing feeling because of the serenity and peace it brought, not worrying about what lies ahead in the path. As I gather the information in my mind, I have learned so much from the course on kindness that I can keep with me along my journey in life and also made me see kindness through a Indigenous lens and look back on the ways kindness has shaped the way we make other people feel around us. Each act of kindness shows through the community and I always viewed a community as always coming from there heart and being more of a collective and togetherness. I always remember how my big Cree family gathered at family potlucks at my Mooshum and Gookums house, everyone was together celebrating and enjoying the company of each other, laughing and step dancing away while all the kids would be running around and playing outside because everyone could not fit into the house, this always brought gladness to my heart being together as a family and sharing with one another.
During the start of the pandemic in the Spring, my whole life came to a stop and I knew within me that I had the courage to get up a try again, So I took a step back and reconnected with my children, and helped them with kindness through there online schooling and we also learned new things together at home through cooking, baking and sewing, this made me feel more beautiful inside. It is a time to bring back the old teachings of the love and happiness taught by mother and grandmothers from back in the day. Although the pandemic feels constant, we strive to keep our families knit together within our dwelling places and one day we hope to flourish out of our hibernations.
By bringing back the balance of relationship building with kindness, we come to realize that we make each other feel better inside by working towards mutual respect and love. Sometimes are spirits are overtaken by the forces of looking the other way from the Creator and we forget to care about the simple things in life. While we have this time to think and reflect, we come to realize that being kind to all creatures on earth makes life more sparkly.
Mackenzie Gauthier Nov 2nd 2020 Reflection two:
New language I’m not going to lie, I spent a lot of time pondering what I should write about for this second reflection. I will say it to anyone, that I am probably one of the least creative people and I know this has to do with the fact that in school we are taught to just regurgitate the information given to us and for the most part not have our own input. Whatever the teachers tell you, that is what you are expected to know, nothing more nothing less. No feelings, and no emotions. Laying awake one night in bed, due to all the stress I have been dealing with, the idea of discussing my thoughts and feelings on the learnings of this language and culture came to mind and I’ve decided that I am just going to go with it and see where it takes me. Firstly, this beautiful language that I never even knew existed is being taught to me in one of the most unique and interesting ways. When signing up for this course I did not think this would be the way I would be taught, its a language course, language courses and profs usually all they do is speak at you and expect you to memorize all the rules. Maya’s class is completely different, this is a new way of learning for me and I am slowly adjusting and realizing that I am able to learn in different ways and that this way of learning is actually way more beneficial to me. In 10 years am I going to remember all the rules to french grammar, probably not (even though I should since I’m going to be a french teacher), but what I will remember is the basic communication skills from the Anishinaabemowin (ojibway) language. I will never forget how to say hello (Aniin), how are you doing? (Aniish na giin?), how to say I am happy (Niminwentam) And most importantly I will never forget the verb for drinking (Minikwe). The only reason I am going to remember how to say these words and use them is because of the way Maya teaches it, she does not expect us to be perfect, she wants us to learn something, understand it, not regurgitate the information she tells us, cause like she says she already knows all of that she doesn’t need us to tell it to her. I may not be the most talkative person in class or in real life, I am the type of person to sit back and listen. In the other class I take with Maya (Aboriginal peoples of Canada) we did an activity called “The Sweetgrass Kindness Activity”, now I’m not going to explain it but one phrase that I have been saying to myself since that class is “Sometimes I think/others think that I am overly shy but really I am a good listener”, this is how I feel during this class, I am a quiet person for the most part especially in big groups, in reality I prefer to sit back and listen to what others have to say. Now with that in mind it certainly does not mean I have nothing to say, I just prefer to keep things to myself and only open up when I feel comfortable enough to do so. Overall the learning of this language and culture has been nothing but beneficial to me and the way I now look at the world. We live in this fucked up society, where we are taught that the only thing in life to strive for is to finish school, get a good paying job, get married and have kids. I am so thankful to be learning this language and culture and cannot wait to see where this journey takes me. I am so grateful to have taken this class and it being taught in this amazing unique way.
- 2630 Reflection #4 By R.F.
Page lalonde Reflection#2
Nigiiminobimaatis
Paige Lalonde
I am reconciling
That one day I will die
And I am terrified
That when that day comes
I will forget everything that it meant to be alive
I will forget that
Nigiigizhewaadiz
I will forget that
Nigiigotaaj
I will forget that
Nigiibizindam
Like a language who’s people hold onto its body
Breathe life back into its chest after someone tried to murder it
Will I be worth trying to save?
Like a culture across a continent
Different everywhere but so much the same
Will I mean something to the people that loved me?
Like a people neglected
Under the bloodied hand of forced disappearance and silence
Will I have the resilience to push back against the foot that presses down on my neck
And threatens to take me out before I’ve finished?
Will I be able to say
Nigiiminobimaatis
I lived a good life.
When I am filled with these questions
Like lead in my hands and fire in my throat
I remind myself of this:
So long as I am trying
I am alive
So long as I am learning
I can’t be dying
So long as I am giving myself to something
Then I will never disappear
When my tongue feels out of place in my mouth
Rolling over Anishinaabemowin I find it hard to pronounce
I am alive
When I learn of the frog who waited his turn
And gave us the five moons of winter
I can’t be dying
When I listen closely to the phrases of the beings who learn with me
And offer myself to them
I will never disappear
Just like a language
I am more than just one thing
Just like a language
I am always growing and changing
Just like a language
I will be important to many
Nibiiminobimaatis
Gigiiminobimaatis
Giiminobimaatisi
Nigiiminobimaatisimin
Gigiiminobimaatisimin
Gigiiminobimaatisinaawaa
Giiminobimaatisiwag
I am a part of all of these beings
People will know me and I will know them
And I will give myself to them
And in that way, like a language
I will never die
Nigiiminobimaatis
Paige Lalonde
I am reconciling
That one day I will die
And I am terrified
That when that day comes
I will forget everything that it meant to be alive
I will forget that
Nigiigizhewaadiz
I will forget that
Nigiigotaaj
I will forget that
Nigiibizindam
Like a language who’s people hold onto its body
Breathe life back into its chest after someone tried to murder it
Will I be worth trying to save?
Like a culture across a continent
Different everywhere but so much the same
Will I mean something to the people that loved me?
Like a people neglected
Under the bloodied hand of forced disappearance and silence
Will I have the resilience to push back against the foot that presses down on my neck
And threatens to take me out before I’ve finished?
Will I be able to say
Nigiiminobimaatis
I lived a good life.
When I am filled with these questions
Like lead in my hands and fire in my throat
I remind myself of this:
So long as I am trying
I am alive
So long as I am learning
I can’t be dying
So long as I am giving myself to something
Then I will never disappear
When my tongue feels out of place in my mouth
Rolling over Anishinaabemowin I find it hard to pronounce
I am alive
When I learn of the frog who waited his turn
And gave us the five moons of winter
I can’t be dying
When I listen closely to the phrases of the beings who learn with me
And offer myself to them
I will never disappear
Just like a language
I am more than just one thing
Just like a language
I am always growing and changing
Just like a language
I will be important to many
Nibiiminobimaatis
Gigiiminobimaatis
Giiminobimaatisi
Nigiiminobimaatisimin
Gigiiminobimaatisimin
Gigiiminobimaatisinaawaa
Giiminobimaatisiwag
I am a part of all of these beings
People will know me and I will know them
And I will give myself to them
And in that way, like a language
I will never die
Natalia Santilli Reflection #3
knit a mini two row wampum to hang on the wall across from my bed (where I sit almost literally 24/7) as a reminder of my anti white supremacy responsibilities as someone from the colonizer's side of the river. I'd also like to mention that crafting is something that I use to cope with anxiety, so I really appreciate the ability to work with my hands and use the time to "meditate" on your class teachings - reflections in their truest sense!
Thanks always,
Reflection#3 Jessie Vicky
Treaty people you say.
An obligation to fulfill, left incomplete
The honour, the duty, the trust,
All broken for what? Murder and assault
Treaty people you say.
The traditions, the customs, all disregarded
The clans, the relations, the bonds
All left broken for what? Exploitation and deceit
Treaty people you say.
All that was once there,
Is all that is now left desolate.
The people divided, the peace that is broken
Anishinaabe of Turtle Island,
One of the first teachings GWAYAKWAADISIWIN
Kindness, the honest meaning and its importance endless,
And embedded in the culture.
DIBASENDIZOWIN, an ancient teaching,
its meaning, humility.
A connection that is deep,
With the intention of creating virtuous quality,
Cornered between choosing their identity,
Status lost over choosing education or living,
The children will not repeat the phrases or traditions,
Of their parents, kin or friends.
Treaty People you say.
The solution for the trauma
Going back to the ancient teachings,
Learning the language, kindness, empathy and kin.
Treaty people you say.
An obligation to fulfill, left incomplete
The honour, the duty, the trust,
All broken for what? Murder and assault
Treaty people you say.
The traditions, the customs, all disregarded
The clans, the relations, the bonds
All left broken for what? Exploitation and deceit
Treaty people you say.
All that was once there,
Is all that is now left desolate.
The people divided, the peace that is broken
Anishinaabe of Turtle Island,
One of the first teachings GWAYAKWAADISIWIN
Kindness, the honest meaning and its importance endless,
And embedded in the culture.
DIBASENDIZOWIN, an ancient teaching,
its meaning, humility.
A connection that is deep,
With the intention of creating virtuous quality,
Cornered between choosing their identity,
Status lost over choosing education or living,
The children will not repeat the phrases or traditions,
Of their parents, kin or friends.
Treaty People you say.
The solution for the trauma
Going back to the ancient teachings,
Learning the language, kindness, empathy and kin.
Pavi kang Reflection#2
A Love Letter to You
Dear Earth,
This is a love letter to you.
You, who gave us land to live on, food to eat and a safe place to sleep. You take care of us because you have never been known to be selfish. You give and give and give some more. More than you can and ask nothing in return. Your oceans are deep, and your mountains are steep. The grass is warm, and the skies are endless. I can talk about your strength and resilience because in every moment of my life, you surprise me. You surprise me in ways that remind me to have patience and faith. I love you. For in moments of despair or loss of hope caused by humanity, you remain humble and that humbles me.
Humans are picking at you in all ways. Drilling holes, tearing the ground apart and corrupting ecosystems… just to take from you. The miners do not understand the price they are paying. Their mental health crumbles the deeper they dig. No medicine will treat them. They do not understand what is wrong with them, but you and I know. The medicine for their sickness lies within you. Life is a mirror. Everything we say or do to others is always reflected back to us in some shape or form. They are feeling sick because they’re hurting you. The very dirt that holds us up, they break it apart. In search for what? Everything that is gold is unchanged, right in front of our eyes, if we only cared to look.
You need our protection and our unconditional love because you deserve it. You deserve kindness and loyalty. You take care of us; we take care of you. That is the deal. The deal we always forget as we get lost in our own temptations and our own greed. It all starts with one person’s change of heart. Hurting you is the same as hurting ourselves, because to simplify it, humans are nature themselves. We are the soil on the ground, and the clouds in the sky. We have depth as deep as the sea, and feel anger, as do the trees. We cry when it rains and smile when it shines. We know true pain as our Earth does, so why do we hurt her? Why do we hurt ourselves?
I want to see the world change and it all begins inside. What is inside our hearts? Can we show more compassion and more respect for our home? Is this the best humankind can be or can we do better? Humankind. We need to be both. The miners experiencing mental health problems need to take a step back. This love letter to you also serves as a promise from me that I will do my best to play my part in cherishing your resources and not taking them for granted. If life is a mirror, all good things we do will be returned to us in blessings.
Love,
My Heart
When I was thinking about what I wanted to write for my reflection, something Maya said earlier in the semester came to mind. She talked about the miners who were experiencing mental health issues and how this could be due to the fact that they are harming the land. How can we expect to take care of others when we cannot even take care of our Earth? After a couple of classes with Maya, I understood how important nature is to Indigenous communities and how much they care and respect the land they are on. It is important that everyone steps up and thinks about their actions. People need to take initiative to create a better world and future for generations to come.
A Love Letter to You
Dear Earth,
This is a love letter to you.
You, who gave us land to live on, food to eat and a safe place to sleep. You take care of us because you have never been known to be selfish. You give and give and give some more. More than you can and ask nothing in return. Your oceans are deep, and your mountains are steep. The grass is warm, and the skies are endless. I can talk about your strength and resilience because in every moment of my life, you surprise me. You surprise me in ways that remind me to have patience and faith. I love you. For in moments of despair or loss of hope caused by humanity, you remain humble and that humbles me.
Humans are picking at you in all ways. Drilling holes, tearing the ground apart and corrupting ecosystems… just to take from you. The miners do not understand the price they are paying. Their mental health crumbles the deeper they dig. No medicine will treat them. They do not understand what is wrong with them, but you and I know. The medicine for their sickness lies within you. Life is a mirror. Everything we say or do to others is always reflected back to us in some shape or form. They are feeling sick because they’re hurting you. The very dirt that holds us up, they break it apart. In search for what? Everything that is gold is unchanged, right in front of our eyes, if we only cared to look.
You need our protection and our unconditional love because you deserve it. You deserve kindness and loyalty. You take care of us; we take care of you. That is the deal. The deal we always forget as we get lost in our own temptations and our own greed. It all starts with one person’s change of heart. Hurting you is the same as hurting ourselves, because to simplify it, humans are nature themselves. We are the soil on the ground, and the clouds in the sky. We have depth as deep as the sea, and feel anger, as do the trees. We cry when it rains and smile when it shines. We know true pain as our Earth does, so why do we hurt her? Why do we hurt ourselves?
I want to see the world change and it all begins inside. What is inside our hearts? Can we show more compassion and more respect for our home? Is this the best humankind can be or can we do better? Humankind. We need to be both. The miners experiencing mental health problems need to take a step back. This love letter to you also serves as a promise from me that I will do my best to play my part in cherishing your resources and not taking them for granted. If life is a mirror, all good things we do will be returned to us in blessings.
Love,
My Heart
When I was thinking about what I wanted to write for my reflection, something Maya said earlier in the semester came to mind. She talked about the miners who were experiencing mental health issues and how this could be due to the fact that they are harming the land. How can we expect to take care of others when we cannot even take care of our Earth? After a couple of classes with Maya, I understood how important nature is to Indigenous communities and how much they care and respect the land they are on. It is important that everyone steps up and thinks about their actions. People need to take initiative to create a better world and future for generations to come.