Yesterday I went to check out some of the Canada Day events with a friend on Granville Island and in downtown. As we do every year, we wore our crazy Canada hats attracting attention among locals and tourists.
Towards the end of the day, we passed a man who wished us a “happy Native oppression day.” I replied, “I agree with you.”
I was expecting to see some performances or displays honouring Aboriginal people in at least some of the locations. But we didn’t see anything.
Like many topics, quite a few people rely on stereotypes or any available information to make sense of things or people. I’ve heard repelling comments when I talk about the past wrongdoings against the people who, let’s face it, were on this land long before us.
When I mention the genocide committed against Aboriginal people—you know, normal coffee conversation—someone responded by saying, “Ahhh they need to get over it and move on.”
I’ve also heard the usual, “They get free tuition and welfare with our tax dollars. I didn’t do anything to them. How is that fair?”
Some of the people I know who have made these comments grew up poor so they’re not completely out of touch with struggle. But they haven’t endured the physical, emotional, and systematic abuse many Aboriginals have gone through in the past and continue to face today.
I admit, I am not completely in tune with the history of Aboriginal people and I am making an effort to learn more. I’ve come across enough stories of residential schools and the abuses children and families have had to go through since Canada was “discovered” to at least have a basic understanding of the challenges they face today.
One of the images that I remember most regarding residential schools was from a documentary that was shown to our class while I was in university. The film focused on children who were yanked away from their families and placed into residential schools run by Catholic nuns to “civilize” the children from their roots.
One girl had her period and she told the nun. Instead of excusing the young girl, the nun made her stand in front of the class and wear her stained underwear on her head. To degrade an emotionally beaten child in a repressive environment for something that is so natural says a lot about the daily realities they endured.
So far, the Anglican Church, the Presbyterian Church, and the United Church have apologized for the abuse at residential schools. But the Catholic Church, who administered three-quarters of residential schools across Canada, haven’t apologized to the many students who suffered. Ninety thousand of the former students are still alive.
Apology is only the first step. I’m not sure how I would react if someone just told me, “Sorry for abusing your parents when they were young and traumatizing your family,” without doing anything afterwards.
Every child is entitled to be fed healthy food every day, to have access to a good education, and to live in an environment where they can explore their interests and potential. I don’t consider that a controversial statement. But to work towards a Canada where this is a reality for everyone is often blocked by a lack of political initiative, an increasingly apathetic public, and political labels like “left-wing propaganda.” Funny how some words stir up raw emotions.
Suicide rates among First Nations youth are five to seven times higher than for non-Aboriginal youth. Endless studies coming from universities and government agencies are great at identifying problems. We are trained to do research, analyze, write reports, and “be objective,” if there is such a thing. Among these thousands of pages of information, people often miss the question, “Why is this happening?” or “What can we do about it?”
In the case of Aboriginal communities and many other marginalized people, socio-economic factors contribute to the suicide rates including high rates of poverty, barriers to education, limited employment opportunities, inadequate housing, and deficiencies in sanitation and water quality.
It’s only in the last 15 years that we’re getting the ball rolling with the apologies. Prime Minister Stephen Harper also apologized in June 2008 for the abuses of residential schools while the church denominations did so beginning in the early nineties.
The acknowledgement is definitely significant. But if you are in a position of power and say you care about the wellbeing of ostracized people without any policy changes, I’m not thinking so much about your words.
Everyone deserves an equal playing field. Where people go from there is up to them. Yes of course personal responsibility is necessary. Keep in mind that people’s understanding of responsibility and commitment to not doing harm to other people depends on how they were raised and where they grow up.
Talking heads and mainstream opinion often tell the average person or people in poorer communities to take “personal responsibility.” But rarely do they make the same demands to people in suits (corporate executives, politicians, and so on) even when they sometimes act as accomplices to murder and theft through their policies and practices.
Personal responsibility applies to many people and specific circumstances. If a homeless eight-year-old steals to survive, is he a thief without a conscience? Is a nine-year-old child soldier in Uganda a cold-blooded killer?
We all need to fulfill our responsibilities to solve community problems and do more than apologize. An apology is only step one.
There’s a reason they say actions speak louder than words.
Love or hate Oprah, you can’t deny that what she says can influence the behaviour of a mass audience. So when she gives 
Happy holidays everyone!
Why not kick off 2009 with a communication plan?
I talked about the importance of communication planning in my 
Once you’ve outlined the purpose of your project and identified the audiences you’re talking to, state your goals and objectives.
I, like millions around the world, have been hooked on coverage leading up to the long-awaited inauguration of Barack Obama.
It’s been an amazing day. The crowds, the ceremony, and Obama’s speech will be carved in the memories of hundreds of million around the world.
