Indigenous Perspectives: Paths to Understanding

In this presentation, Anishinaabe Elder and artist Rene Meshake will share stories related to his recently launched book Injichaag: My Soul in Story (University of Manitoba Press, 2019). This work was done in collaboration with Metis scholar Kim Anderson, who will speak about the process of working with story and in particular how Meshake’s story fits in the context of a larger narrative of Indigenous peoples in Canada throughout the twentieth century. The two will perform and read from their collaborative work, which includes history, story, poetry and Anishinaabe (Ojibway) word bundles.

A gift from the Creator, that is where it all began. In Haudenosaunee culture the game of lacrosse is understood to be a gift from the Creator and it has been a central element of North American Indigenous cultures for centuries. However, the game has undergone a considerable amount of change since the introduction of non-Indigenous players in the 1840s. From that point on, the game was appropriated from Indigenous peoples and molded into a sport stripped of its original cultural and ceremonial significance, reframed instead to exemplify Victorian Anglo values. Through this reformulation, non-Indigenous lacrosse enthusiasts attempted to establish a Canadian identity through the sport and barred Indigenous athletes from competition. And yet, lacrosse’s Indigenous originators continued to play the game and claim it as a significant piece of their identities.

While the game was being appropriated and used to construct a new identity for those that identified with the nation-state of Canada, this presentation will demonstrate it was also at the centre of Indigenous forms of resistance to residential school experiences, a site of pan-Indigenous political mobilization in the first half of the twentieth century, and important venue for articulating Indigenous sovereignty on the world’s stage in the second-half of the twentieth century.

Cody’s presentation will look at the designation of national historic sites of Canada, specifically sites that relate to Indigenous history. This presentation will discuss well-known Ontario sites such as the Peterborough Petroglyphs and Sainte-Marie Among the Hurons, and lesser-known sites such as the Sheguiandah paleo-indian archaeological site, occupied nearly 10,000 years ago.

There are lots of conversations happening nation-wide about reconciliation; what it means, and if it can ever happen in the face of so many ongoing injustices continuing to be lived by Indigenous peoples. One thing that is true is that Indigenous and Settler peoples do not live the same lives and they cannot be assured of receiving the “same” when it comes to policing services. Many people in society are able to say that the police are there to protect and create safety. They might even say, “I can expect when I call the police that they will respond quickly and effectively to resolve my concerns and needs.” Contrastingly, Indigenous peoples experience disproportionately higher numbers of violence, underprotection, mistrust, and low confidence in police interactions and responses to calls for help. Their story is likely, “don’t call the police” and “never get into the back seat of a police cruiser.” Examining the ideology that embeds policing policies and practices (as with all societal institutions) reveals systemic colonialism and racism. Is change possible? I believe so; but it will require seeing the humanity in one another, challenging preconceived notions and assumptions about Indigenous peoples, and learning what one did not know.

Speaking of the horrific impacts of Indian residential schools and 150 years of Canadian control over the lives of Indigenous peoples, Truth and Reconciliation commissioner Senator Murray Sinclair has said, “Education got us into this mess, education will get us out of it.” I believe this to be true, but we must understand that the education he is talking about is not the standard offering which reinforces the notion of western superiority and domination. Indigenous youth are the youngest and fastest growing population in Canada today and our education system will continue to fail them in its present form. Postsecondary institutions must lead the way in developing indigenized, de-colonized education not only to serve Indigenous youth, but to serve all Canadians. In this talk I will look at the ways universities are approaching the challenge of changing a system that has generally failed not only Indigenous youth, but also Canadians over the past 150 years.

Efforts to work towards reconciling the past relations between the Crown, Canadians and Indigenous peoples will be a challenging and cumbersome journey. What this relationship currently lacks is understanding and empathy. Many Canadians wonder why Indigenous people cannot find a rightful place in today’s society, and why is the population health data so poor for Indigenous populations? Why is it that Indigenous peoples cannot seem to just move beyond the past? This keynote will explore the settlement history of Canada and will answers how these alarming and devastating impacts results in the on-going transmission of trauma upon Indigenous people. This interactive talk will challenge and empower the audience; will promote the understanding of Canada’s settlement history; and will encourage a commitment to strengthen a relationship of allyship in order for all peoples to enjoy a safe, fair, and just society for generations to come.