Indigenous Relations
So, I came across a post by Carol Ann Hilton, CEO of the Indigenomics Institute and this is what it said: 'I was hired to decolonize the Institution and wondering if you have some ideas to help me....her immeidate and public reponse through this post is 'ummmmm noooooo, no thanks’.
Which ignited a lengthy participation of responses from so many Indigenous people, but more specifically Indigenous women. Here are a few responses to this post, which encapsulated everything about my work on Economic Reconciliation in BC.
“Ummmm step one, hand over ownership of the institution to the First Peoples upon whose traditional lands the institution sits... step two, move out...”
“If they need help to perform their contract to decolonize than the wrong person was hired… should have been you!”
“Before I can answer your question I wonder if you can help me first by telling me the ways that you or the institution are colonial?”
“I always ask them ‘but do you really? People always SAY they want to but then try to make me do it in a way that is comfortable for them, and I don’t do comfortable. If you want to be comfortable then don’t bring me in’.”
I get this call all the time. “So, are you ready to give the land back?” is my first question to have the reaction.
And I would have to say this is how I would directly respond. You want my help doing your job without even a mention of ‘I will honour your lived experience, knowledge, teachings, etc. in supporting what I need to do’. Really?
I speak to this directly in my BC Economic Reconciliation Framework document. But this story allows for additional discussion on ‘How to decline and defer to Indigenous knowledge holders’ to lead this work in right relationship with the local and regional Indigenous communities being impacted by whatever work is being done. Since they are the ones being directly impacted, would this not be the place to start. The BIG question to start this discussion is why is it that all of us are getting these asks? Why is that the person hired to do the Indigenous Relations in that Institution isn’t being supported internally to do this work? That they have to out to each of us and ask for our ‘free’ knowledge, wisdom, lived experiences, stories and guidance to the right thing in this work?
I know this is not the truth that Industry, corporate Canada, governments, etc. want to hear. As economic reconciliation is journey and not a destination. There is no tick boxing nor a prescribed method to pan-indigenizing, decolonizing or indigenizing anything. And I know they don’t actually really want to hold space for that long to do this work, as it doesn’t fit into their colonial timelines for outcomes.
Well it’s taken generations since contact to create the current reality of relationships between the First Peoples of this land, the Crown and Canadians. We, as Indigenous Peoples, are constantly bearing the weight of these strained relationships. Well it’s time to do things are way and sometimes it takes a long time to get the work done. However, the results are always greater for all in the end. It’s proven over and over again, that when Indigenous People lead, lay the foundation, and lend their world view to the work, the better the outcomes.
So, stop for a moment and really be curious about what it is to decolonize, reconcile and indigenize any space. Why are you committed to this work? What are your intentions behind this commitment? Why is the right thing to do? Then, be curious how can really truly support this work in a very meaningful way that transform spaces, relationships, colonial systems, policies, and the environment for all.
But then ensure you create culturally safe space for these Indigenous folx to lay the foundation and lead the way for the work. I have to acknowledge that this can be challenging, as every sector, industry, government, institution, entity, etc. is clamoring for Indigenous talent. Which gives way to a discussion on attraction, retention and advancement of Indigenous talent. There are many ways to this road:
First is missing the boat on connecting with Indigenous talent…are you using the appropriate space to attract this talent? Meaning, is this Indigenous talent seeking employment spaces you are promoting in?
Second, are you creating supportive, safe and inclusive space for them to join your work environment. I ask because there is enough research out there to say that this is not the case for many Indigenous workers.
Third, how is your work environment holding space for colonial ways that are systemically creating unsafe work spaces? How is your work environment managing and addressing racism, discrimination, unconscious/implicit bias, gender inequality, etc.?
There is so much more I could speak to but this is another story. But hopefully you get a sense of what I mean. Approaching these issues has to be from a place of holism, seeing the bigger picture to it all…the interconnectivity of all of these spaces working together to dismantle colonialism as the only way of being and doing. To incorporate Indigenous ways of being and doing in all things. And once again, this takes time, commitment at all levels, and more than one Indigenous Relations person to do this work, who generally always seeks ‘support’ from those of us that are already leading this work in many spaces. However, are mostly advising all the time on a volunteer basis, and choose not to be in these positions because it limits our ability to do this work successfully in all of those spaces.
In short, there is no easy solutions. We have to fundamentally shift the foundation of so many spaces to truly transform the possibilities of integrating our ancestral wisdom and knowledge into the world.
